Things to Do in Middlebury, Indiana
The best things to do in Middlebury, Indiana, are a meal at Das Dutchman Essenhaus, a ride on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and a stop at Krider World’s Fair Garden. It’s a town of 3,466 people in Elkhart County, in the middle of northern Indiana’s Amish country.
Settlers from Middlebury, Vermont, arrived in 1832 and named the town after home, because the rolling hills reminded them of Vermont. Amish families began farming the countryside around it in 1841, coming from Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus
Bob and Sue Miller moved here from Sugarcreek, Ohio, and opened an Amish-style restaurant in a former truck stop on U.S. 20 on January 4, 1971. It started with 120 seats and now holds about 1,000, which makes it Indiana’s largest family restaurant. You can order family-style, from the buffet or off the menu; broasted chicken, bread dressing and made-from-scratch pie are the standards.
★ Good to know The restaurant and bakery are closed Sundays, and the campus also has an inn, five village shops, mini golf, carriage rides and bike rentals.
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
This paved rail trail follows the old Pumpkin Vine Railroad, which ran for about 100 years before it shut down in 1980. Its 17 miles link Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana, and the last section was finished in June 2024. Middlebury sits in the middle, so you can ride out in either direction.
★ Good to know The trail is free and open sunrise to sunset; Krider Garden, at mile marker 10, has parking and restrooms, though the lot is small.
Krider “World’s Fair” Garden
Vernon Krider’s nursery built a garden exhibit for the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair, and this 2.4-acre town park recreates it. Look for the windmill, the water wheel house, the giant toadstool sculptures, a double waterfall and a swing arbor. It also has one of the county’s Quilt Gardens, replanted each year.
★ Good to know It’s at 302 W. Bristol Ave., right on the Pumpkinvine, so it makes an easy rest stop on a ride.
Heritage Trail driving tour
The Heritage Trail is a 90-mile loop of backroads through seven Elkhart County towns, Middlebury included. The free audio tour gives timed, turn-by-turn directions past Amish-owned shops and farm country. You can pick up a CD or USB at the Elkhart County Visitor Center or stream it as a podcast.
★ Good to know The CD or USB needs a player or port in your car; if you don’t have one, stream it instead.
Quilt Gardens
Each summer, seven towns along the Heritage Trail plant flower beds in quilt patterns, and Middlebury is one of them. The gardens were up from May 30 to September 15 in 2026. They’re free to see.
★ Good to know Pair the Krider Garden and Essenhaus stops with the quilt garden map and you’ve covered Middlebury’s share in one afternoon.
Heritage Ridge Creamery
This cheese plant sits on the Heritage Trail between downtown Middlebury and Shipshewana. You can watch cheese being made, sample and shop for local Amish goods. The pepper jack is the one it’s known for.
★ Good to know It’s closed Sundays.
Town festivals
Middlebury keeps a busy calendar for a town its size. The Summer Festival in late June brings a parade, free live music, craft booths and kids’ activities. The Fall Festival on the second weekend of September adds produce, food from local churches and restaurants, and fireworks.
★ Good to know On Thursdays from May through September, the Essenhaus Classic Car Cruise-In fills the lot with old cars.
Also in town
Rise’n Roll Bakery, open since 2001 and known for its cinnamon caramel donuts; Country Lane Bakery; the Village Inn Restaurant, a home-style diner; and shops such as The Mustard Seed Marketplace at The Mill, Gathered Goods, The Barn Door and the Amish-owned Legacy Home Furniture.
What is Middlebury, Indiana, known for?
Amish country cooking and back roads, mostly. Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Indiana’s largest family restaurant, is here, and the town is home to several RV makers, including Grand Design, Jayco and Coachmen.
Is Das Dutchman Essenhaus open on Sundays?
No. The restaurant and bakery are closed Sundays, and also on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The inn stays open year-round.
How long is the Pumpkinvine Trail from Middlebury to Shipshewana?
The full trail is 17 miles from Goshen to Shipshewana, with Middlebury in the middle. It’s paved, free and open sunrise to sunset.
What towns are near Middlebury?
Shipshewana is just to the east and Goshen is to the southwest; the Pumpkinvine Trail connects all three. For more ideas, see our small towns in Indiana.
Where to find them
- Das Dutchman Essenhaus 240 US-20, Middlebury, IN 46540 Website Directions
- Krider World's Fair Garden 302 Bristol Ave, Middlebury, IN 46540 Website Directions
- Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Multiple access points; runs through town past the Krider garden Website Directions
- Elkhart County Heritage Trail Driving route, see map Website Directions
Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Middlebury, see Middlebury Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center →
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Tours and tickets in Middlebury
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