A Day Trip on the Garfield Trail
Exploring while social distancing? Yes, it’s possible. Last week we enjoyed a unique day trip on the Garfield Trail in Grant County, Indiana searching for 14 Garfield statues as well as enjoying the charm of several small towns.
What is the Garfield Trail?
Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis’s hometown is Fairmont, Indiana, so the county Fairmount is in, Grant, created a Garfield Trail. There are 14 Garfield statues all over Grant County, in towns such as Marion, Gas City, and of course, Fairmount. The weather was lovely, so we had a fun time hopping in the car and seeing how many we could find.
To participate, download the map from the visitor’s site. In addition to a map of the locations of all the statues, the addresses, and a short description are mentioned – it made it very easy to find each Garfield. Each sign also has a handy phone number to call to learn a little more about the statue as well as the location. Pretty cool!
Insider Tip: Be sure to call or text the number listed on the map ahead of time so you can learn which statues are currently out for renovation – you don’t want to drive all the way to a location and find out the statue isn’t there. Talk about frustrating!
Garfield Statues in Marion, Indiana
We started our day in Marion as it was the furthest city North of Indy and we figured we’d work our way back. We checked out three of the four statues in Marion AND took some time to enjoy the beautiful Matter Park.
Matter Park is 101 acres with exciting playgrounds, several paved trails, lots of open space for picnics, and an enclosed area called the Gardens at Matter Park.
The Gardens contain a beautiful Koi pond, several secluded sitting areas, a butterfly garden, a number of statues, and of course, Garfield.
After checking out the Gardens and enjoying a picnic on the grounds, we headed south to Gas City.
💥 Related post: Pack the Perfect Picnic
Gas City Garfield Statues
Our favorite Garfield was found in front of Payne’s. Sadly we had just eaten or we would have been sorely tempted to try some of Payne’s famous fish & chips. This will definitely be a return trip. Their outdoor patio and menu looked inviting!
Gas City is a charming small town with a number of antique shops, local restaurants, and even a speedway. The other Garfield statue we stopped at in Gas City was right in front of the local library.
The Fairmount Garfield Statue
Sadly it was time to head home, but we made a short stop in Fairmount to check out the Garfield in front of the Historical Museum. The museum wasn’t open, so I know we’ll be heading back to visit it in the future. In addition to Jim Davis, Fairmount’s other hometown hero is James Dean so when we return we can also visit the James Dean museum and gravesite.
Just a few hours exploring a nearby county felt like quite the adventure! With a tank of gas, a full cooler, and a free afternoon, this is a day trip worth replicating! After all, we have more Garfields to find!
Want to discover fun things to do with your family closer to home?
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FAQs about the Garfield Trail in Grant County
Where is the Garfield Trail in Indiana?
The Garfield Trail is located in Grant County Indiana.
Why are there Garfield Statues in Indiana?
Fairmount, Indiana is the hometown of Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield.
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