You planned this visit months ago. The hotel, the time off work, the right outfit — all locked in for one day. And now it's here.
Graduation weekend at IU East or Earlham College is a big deal. Not just for the graduate, but for every family member who drove hours to sit in that auditorium. After the ceremony, after the photos, after the moment finally feels real — you want a place to land that was ready for you.
This guide is for families visiting Richmond, Indiana for college graduation in May 2026. It covers where to stay, how to plan the day, and where to celebrate — so the logistics stay out of the way of the memory.
Graduation Ceremonies in Richmond — May 2026
Richmond is home to two colleges holding spring commencement this month.
IU East — Saturday, May 16, 2026
📍 2325 Chester Blvd, Richmond, IN 47374 | Ceremony: 10:00 AM | Whitewater Hall parking lot (outdoors)
IU East holds its commencement ceremony outdoors on campus. The ceremony is confirmed for 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 16. Families should plan to arrive early — parking on and near campus fills quickly before a 10 AM start. Confirm up-to-date parking information at east.iu.edu before you travel.
Distance from Best Western Plus Richmond: approximately 8 minutes.
Earlham College — Saturday, May 16, 2026
📍 801 National Rd W, Richmond, IN | Ceremony: 2:30 PM | Druley Performance Gym, Wellness Center
Earlham College celebrates the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16. The commencement ceremony begins at 2:30 PM. Each graduate receives up to 8 guest tickets — additional tickets can be requested through the Registrar's Office at (765) 983-1515. The ceremony will also be livestreamed.
Distance from Best Western Plus Richmond: approximately 10 minutes.
Note: Both ceremonies fall on the same day — Saturday, May 16. If you're attending IU East in the morning and have a free afternoon, Richmond has plenty to fill the gap before an evening celebration dinner.
Planning Your Graduation Weekend Stay
Book Now — Hotels Fill Up Fast
Graduation weekend is one of the busiest hotel weekends of the year in Richmond. With two college ceremonies on the same Saturday, availability disappears weeks in advance. If you haven't booked yet, do it today.
Book direct at richmondbw.com or call (765) 939-9500. Our front desk team can answer questions about local dining, campus directions, and weekend recommendations.
What Best Western Plus Richmond Offers Graduation Families
- Complimentary full breakfast buffet — hot eggs, waffles, fresh fruit, and coffee every morning. Send the graduate off to their ceremony well-fed without hunting for a restaurant.
- Indoor heated pool — open 6 AM to 11 PM. Let the kids decompress after a long day, or take a quiet morning swim before the ceremony.
- Free parking — including trucks and RVs. No worrying about where to put the van of relatives who drove in from Ohio.
- Pet-friendly — $20/night. Plenty of graduation families bring the dog along.
- Free WiFi — for uploading those graduation photos the second they happen.
- Microwave and refrigerator in every room — handy for storing a graduation cake or keeping drinks cold before the room toast.
Weekend Getaway Package: Book Friday and Saturday nights together and receive 10% off your total stay. Graduation weekend is exactly what this package was designed for.
Graduation Day — How to Plan the Timeline
Ceremony days can run away from you. Here's a suggested framework that keeps the focus on the graduate — not the schedule.
Friday Evening — Arrive and Settle In
Drive in Friday to avoid any Saturday morning rush. Check into Best Western Plus, grab dinner downtown, and confirm your parking plan for the ceremony. Getting settled the night before makes everything Saturday smoother.
Dinner suggestion: Old Richmond Inn (138 S 5th St) — Richmond's top celebration dinner spot. Reservations strongly recommended, especially on Friday of graduation weekend.
Saturday Morning — IU East Ceremony (10:00 AM)
Breakfast is ready at the hotel starting early. Hot eggs, waffles, and coffee — no restaurant scramble before a 10 AM ceremony. Plan to leave the hotel by 9:00–9:15 AM to allow time for parking and seating.
After the IU East ceremony, campus makes for great graduation photos — plan on at least 30 minutes with your graduate before heading back.
Saturday Afternoon — Earlham Ceremony (2:30 PM)
If you're attending the Earlham ceremony, the afternoon gap between morning arrival and 2:30 PM is a perfect window to grab lunch and explore a bit of Richmond. Glen Miller Park is a 10-minute drive and beautiful in mid-May — a good place for family photos before the afternoon ceremony.
Saturday Evening — Celebration Dinner
This is the meal everyone remembers. Reservation recommended at either of the top spots below — Saturday evening of graduation weekend books up fast.
Sunday Morning — Relax Before Checkout
Hotel breakfast is available. The pool opens at 6 AM. If you're staying through Sunday, a morning walk through the Rose Garden at Glen Miller Park or a trail at Hayes Arboretum is a peaceful way to end the weekend before hitting the road.
Where to Celebrate: Richmond's Best Graduation Dinner Spots
Old Richmond Inn — The Celebration Dinner
📍 138 S 5th St, Richmond, IN | Reservations strongly recommended | (765) 962-2247
Richmond's go-to for a real celebration. Chef Galo Molina has been running this Victorian mansion restaurant for over 26 years — steaks, fresh seafood, rotating daily specials, and a patio that opens in May. It's the kind of place that feels like the dinner already knew it was a big night. Call ahead; graduation weekend tables go fast.
Galo's Italian Grill — Family-Friendly and Relaxed
📍 Call (765) 973-9000 | Walk-ins welcome for smaller groups
Same family as Old Richmond Inn — more casual, larger space, better for bigger groups. Imported Italian pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks. Great value, no pretension, easy for mixed-age groups with kids and grandparents at the same table.
No. 9 Grill
A consistent local favorite for families who want a comfortable, quality dinner without full fine-dining formality. Good food, relaxed atmosphere.
Roscoe's Coffee Bar & Tap Room — Morning of the Ceremony
Richmond's best local coffee spot. Good coffee, light food, a quirky interior. Works well as a pre-ceremony stop or a wind-down after the dinner. Comfortable, unhurried, local.
Beyond the Ceremony: Things to Do in Richmond with Family
Glen Miller Park & the Rose Garden
The Richmond Rose Garden in Glen Miller Park peaks in mid-to-late May — over 4,000 rose bushes maintained by community volunteers, completely free to visit. One of the most overlooked graduation photo backdrops in eastern Indiana. Combine with a walk through the park's paths and fishing pond.
📍 2500 National Rd E, Richmond, IN | Free | Peak bloom: mid-to-late May
Hayes Arboretum
466 acres of forest trails and wildflower meadows — free to visit, dog-friendly, and at its absolute best in May. If your family needs a quiet Sunday morning before checkout, a trail walk at Hayes Arboretum is hard to beat.
📍 801 Elks Rd, Richmond, IN | Free | Tues–Sat 9 AM–5 PM; east entrance daily dawn to dusk
Wayne County Chocolate Trail
Pick up a free passport at the Old National Road Welcome Center on US-40 at I-70. Visit local bakeries, candy shops, and cafés across the county — free samples at every stop. Collect 10 stamps and earn a free t-shirt. A lighthearted way to fill a Saturday afternoon before the graduation dinner.
A Note for Out-of-State Families
Richmond sits directly on I-70. Driving distances to keep in mind:
- Columbus, OH — approximately 1 hour 45 minutes
- Cincinnati, OH — approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
- Indianapolis, IN — approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
- Dayton, OH — approximately 45 minutes
If you're coming from a distance, arriving Friday evening is the right move. It eliminates any Saturday morning rush and gives the family time to settle in, find dinner, and get a real night's sleep before a big day.
Book Your Graduation Weekend Stay
Best Western Plus Richmond Indiana I-70 533 W Eaton Pike, Richmond, IN 47374 Hotel Direct: (765) 939-9500 | Toll-Free: 1 (800) 780-7234 Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 11:00 AM | 24-hour front desk
Book online at richmondbw.com →
Graduation weekend moves fast. The ceremony is over before it feels like it started. What you remember afterward isn't just the walk across the stage — it's the dinner, the morning everyone had breakfast together, the moment the weekend finally slowed down enough to feel real.
Best Western Plus Richmond Indiana I-70 is here to make that part easy.
