Pool season · State index
Indiana Pool Season 2026: Opening & Closing Dates by City
Last updated: July 25, 2026 · 13 cities covered
Both halves of the pool year for all 13 covered Indiana cities. The median calendar runs May 1 to October 8. Every row links to a one-page season overview with the live water-temperature model; the opening and closing hubs carry the full checklists.
Indiana: a moderate-season pool state| City | Open by | Close by | 80°F+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | Apr 27 | Oct 10 | 87 |
| Bloomington | Apr 25 | Oct 11 | 98 |
| Carmel | May 1 | Oct 8 | 89 |
| Elkhart | May 3 | Oct 5 | 77 |
| Evansville | Apr 6 | Oct 27 | 127 |
| Fishers | May 1 | Oct 8 | 89 |
| Fort Wayne | May 1 | Oct 6 | 84 |
| Hammond | May 6 | Oct 6 | 80 |
| Indianapolis | Apr 28 | Oct 8 | 87 |
| Lafayette | May 1 | Oct 8 | 91 |
| Muncie | Apr 22 | Oct 12 | 102 |
| South Bend | May 5 | Oct 6 | 71 |
| Terre Haute | Apr 15 | Oct 12 | 126 |
What the columns mean
"Open by" is the recommended spring date — two weeks before the city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F, the model's proxy for water approaching the 65°F algae-growth zone. "Close by" is the fall deadline — ten days after the water leaves that zone, capped a week ahead of the local 50% first-freeze date. "80°F+ days" counts days whose normal high reaches 80°F: the length of the true warm-swim season, and the fairest single number for comparing Indiana cities against each other.
Every figure comes from each city's own NOAA 1991–2020 normals station (named in its guide's footer), so neighboring cities can legitimately differ by a few days. The season overview linked from each row adds the live water-temperature model and the full-year season bar; the state hubs above carry the step-by-step checklists.
Swim-season length across Indiana
The fairest way to compare Indiana cities is the number of days with 80°F+ normal highs — the practical warm-swim season. Every bar links to that city's one-page season overview with the live water model.
Indiana pool climate at a glance
Humid Midwest summers support a dependable Memorial Day to Labor Day season, with lake-effect clouds cooling the northern counties while the Ohio Valley south warms noticeably earlier. In model terms that makes Indiana a moderate-season state. The spread shows up clearly on the local pages: compare Evansville's pool season with Fishers's and the difference is measured in weeks, not days. Neighbors in the index run on their own normals too — see Illinois and Iowa for the adjacent calendars.
Indiana pool season FAQ
When do pools open in Indiana?
Model openings in Indiana run from April 6 in Evansville to May 6 in Hammond, with the statewide median on May 1. Each date is two weeks before that city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F — early enough to start up in algae-cold water.
When should you close a pool in Indiana?
The median Indiana closing deadline is October 8, and every city's own deadline is capped a week ahead of its NOAA 50% first-freeze date. Closing late and cold beats closing early and warm — cool water holds its winter chemistry far better.
Which Indiana city has the longest swim season?
Evansville leads with 127 days of 80°F+ highs per year, while South Bend brings up the rear at 71 days. The chart above ranks every covered city by the same metric.