Driving the Garfield Trail in Indiana.
Do you remember the fat, lazy, cynical, lasagna-eating cat named Garfield?
In Indiana, there is a Garfield Trail where you will find Garfield statues scattered in several small towns by following the trails.
Grant County, Indiana, is the exact place, around 90 minutes drive north of Indianapolis.
“Why Grant County?” you might ask.
It’s because Jim Davis, the creator of the comic strip Garfield, America’s orange-loving fat cat, was born and raised there.
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Garfield Trail Indiana
The Garfield Trail covers nine small towns in Grant County.
The towns’ locations are on I-69 N between Indy and Fort Wayne. Three of them are on the east side of the Highway, and the other six are on the west side. They are not far from the Highway.
If you come from Indy, you may want to start from the east side and move to the west. Start with the west side and cross the bridge to the east side if you come from Fort Wayne directions.
If you look at the map, you will see that the drive is not a loop. At some point, you will drive back and forth from one location to another.
But the Garfield Trail Map is easy to follow. And it is fun!
Print or screenshot the Garfield Trail Brochure and Map before you leave for the trip.
Garfield Statues Indiana
Each Garfield statue is made of fiberglass and measures approximately five feet.
They depict the heritage and character of the location in which it stands.
The statues are giving you endless fun photo opportunities.
Check out my post on another series of fiberglass statues of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, beloved Phantastic Phils.
How many Garfield statues are there in Indiana?
There are fourteen Garfield Statues scattered in surrounding Grant County, Indiana.
It takes around two to two and a half hours to drive the Garfield Trail from the beginning to the end.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see them all. We arrived at night in Marion, Grant County, from Fort Wayne. I thought we would be there earlier to check out some statues before dark fall. The next day, we had a long drive to Texas. So, we decided only to follow the trail to Highway I-69. Besides, the temperature was in the teens. It’s too cold for outdoor activities.
Now, let us check out the Garfield Trail in Grant County, Indiana, starting from Marion to the other eight Grant County cities.
Garfield Statues Marion
Marion was the birthplace of Jim Davis. There are five colorful Garfield Statues in town.
1. PAWS FOR THOUGHT
The statue is in the Garfield Garden Trailhead behind the Community Foundation of Grant County.
In the brochure, it is stated that the staff will unlock the gates upon request.
We were lucky it was open when we got there in the early morning.
Address: 505 W 3rd Street
2. BOOKWORM GARFIELD
It is inside the Marion Public Library.
Again, we were lucky the library was open when we arrived there.
And who would have thought that the previous person who stopped here was from Texas, too?
Address: 600 S Washington Street
3. DR. GARFIELD
It is in front of Marion General Hospital, at the corner.
I took the picture from inside the car. Fortunately, traffic in Marion is not bad.
Address: 441 N Wabash Avenue
4. FIT FOR LIFE GARFIELD
The statue is in Matter Park Gardens on River Road & Quarry Road.
5. DUFFER GARFIELD
Garfield Statue is in the Arbor Trace Golf Clubhouse. Visitors can see it from April to November during daylight hours.
Address: 2500 E 550 N
Garfield Statue in Sweetser
There is one Garfield Statue in Sweetser.
6. COLLEGE BOUND
You will find the statue at the Sweetser Switch Trail and Depot.
Address: 113 N Main Street
It takes around a ten-minute drive to the west of Marion.
Garfield Statue in Swayzee
You will also find one Garfield Statue in this town.
7. SPEEDKING
It is near Alumni Park and Swayzee Elementary School.
Address: 405 S Washington Street
We were driving back and forth around S Washington Street in Marion looking for the statue. It wasn’t until I checked on the map again that I found it was in Swayzee, not Marion. Lol.
From Sweetser to Swayzee is around an 11-minute drive to the south.
Garfield Statue in Jonesboro
About seventeen minutes east of Swayzee, you will find one more of Garfield Statue in Jonesboro.
8. FIREFIGHTER
The firefighter Garfield is standing in front of the Jonesboro City Hall.
You may miss it, so pay attention when driving to this address.
Address: 414 S Main Street
Garfield Statues in Gas City
There are two Garfield statues in Gas City. One is on the west side of the Highway, and the other one is on the east side.
From Jonesboro to Gas City is only around five-minute drive to the east.
9. GLASS BLOWER
In front of the Gas City Mill Township Public Library.
Address: 135 E Main Street
10. BRITISH GARFIELD
You will find it outside of Payne’s Restaurant on the east side of the Highway.
Address: 4925 South Kay Bee Drive
Garfield Statue in Fairmount
Fairmount is about a 15-minute drive south of Gas City.
It is the birthplace of James Dean, the famous movie star in the 1950s.
In honor of his fellow Fairmount native, Garfield dressed in James Dean’s legendary rebel pose.
11. COOL CAT
Find Garfield outside of the Fairmount Historical Museum.
Address: 203 E Washington Street
Garfield Statue in Matthews
Drive about fifteen minutes east to Matthews for another Garfield statue.
12. GONE FISHIN’
You will see Garfield in front of Matthews Town Hall.
Address: 816 S Wisconsin Street
Garfield Statue in Upland
About ten minutes to the north is Upland.
Even though Garfield loves lasagna, he posed with three scoops of ice cream here.
13. SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM
Garfield is holding an ice cream in front of Ivanhoe’s Drive-in.
Address: 979 S Main Street
Garfiel Statue in Van Buren
It is the last Garfield statue on the list.
14. WORDLY CAT
Garfield is standing on a stack of books by the Van Buren Public Library.
Address: 115 S 1st Street
Garfield Trail Cell Phone Tour
If you want to know more about the fat cat during your driving tour, call (765) 997-7034 from each statue. You will hear entertaining commentary as well as information on nearby attractions.
Other things to know about the Garfield Trail
– It is available year-round with the exception I mentioned above. However, the best time to search the statues is late spring to early fall.
– Bring your cell phone and camera.
– Don’t forget your sunscreen when visiting in the summer.
– Check the weather before you leave.
Are you looking for more Garfield in Indiana?
Continue to Muncie, Indiana, in Delaware County. You will find 17 Garfield statues in and around Muncie, in public and private spaces.
Stop by the Muncie Visitors Bureau to find additional Garfield items for sale.
Other things to do in Fairmount
As mentioned above, Fairmount was the hometown of legendary actor James Dean. I suggest you do the James Dean Trail Landmarks while in Fairmount.
There are two large James Dean cut-out murals in town that you can see. Another one is in Marion. John Cerney, a renowned muralist from Salinas, California, created the murals.
The murals reminded me of the cut-out murals of James Dean and Liz Taylor I saw in Marfa, Texas. When I googled it, John Cerney also created them.
And don’t forget to stop at the Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store in Anderson, between Marion and Indianapolis. Their fudge and ice cream are the best!
