Indiana 145 — Hoosier National Forest to French Lick

SR-145 runs 45 miles north from Tell City (US-37) through Perry, Crawford, and Orange counties to French Lick, crossing the Hoosier National Forest and skirting Patoka Lake along the way. The middle third through the national forest is the scenic high point: a 25-mile stretch with almost no traffic, sweeping bends across forested ridgelines, and a Patoka Lake reservoir crossing. The road terminates in French Lick, best known for its Beaux-Arts French Lick Springs Hotel and the equally grand West Baden Springs Hotel — once called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' for its 200-foot domed atrium. Rider Magazine identifies this stretch as one of the standout sections of a full southern Indiana tour.