Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Est. 2019

Indiana Dunes National Park

Lake Ocean
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
2019
Size
15,349 acres
Visits in 2025
2.6M
Entrance
$25
Best season
June through September
Nearest airport
ORD Chicago O'Hare International
Park Closure: Partial Trail Closures on Bailly / Chellberg Trail +8 more Wildfire Tracker
01

Why Indiana Dunes is worth the trip

Indiana · Established 2019

Indiana Dunes is the park that converts skeptics. Fifteen miles of Lake Michigan shoreline within sight of Chicago's skyline, with broad swimming beaches and dunes well over a hundred feet tall that would pass for ocean coast anywhere.

The dunes carry scientific weight, too. Botanist Henry Cowles did his pioneering work on ecological succession here in the 1890s, because these ridges compress bog, prairie, forest, and oak savanna into a few walkable miles. The bird list tops 350 species, absurd for a park this size.

The honest pitch is simpler. Swim at West Beach, earn your legs on a dune climb, watch a summer sun drop behind the Chicago skyline across the water, and be home by bedtime. Millions of Midwesterners live within an hour of a national park. Plenty still have not noticed.

Indiana Dunes National Park drew 2.63 million visits in 2025, the 13th most visited of the 63 national parks.

Start with our full Indiana Dunes guide, then use the planning below.

Visits are 2025 recreation visits from NPS Visitor Use Statistics (irma.nps.gov), read July 30, 2026.

02

Top things to do in Indiana Dunes

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Indiana Dunes National Park
Start here

20 Indiana Dunes Things to Do (+ Camping at the Dunes)

Read the guide
01 1966 Hiking Challenge Hiking · nps.gov 1966 Hiking Challenge The 1966 Hiking Challenge is comprised of 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of trail in the park, celebrating the park’s founding in 1966.... 02 One Hour Excursions Self-Guided Tours - Auto · nps.gov One Hour Excursions Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of the Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration,... 03 Half Day Adventures Self-Guided Tours - Auto · nps.gov Half Day Adventures Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration, and... 04 Full Day Expeditions Self-Guided Tours - Auto · nps.gov Full Day Expeditions Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration, and...
Before you go

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03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Indiana Dunes.

Things to Do Fun Facts

Where do people stay when visiting Indiana Dunes?

Lodging, food and outfitters are in the gateway towns of Porter, Chesterton and Michigan City, and inside the park you can camp at Dunewood Campground, Dunbar Group Site and other park campgrounds.

  • Porter, INGateway town
  • Chesterton, INGateway town
  • Michigan City, INGateway town
  • Dunewood Campground 66 sites · Reserve
  • Dunbar Group Site 1 sites · Reserve
Compare stays near Indiana Dunes

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Trail Shoes
    Lightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
  • Rain Jacket
    Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
  • Merino Hiking Socks
    Prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI
  • Day Hiking Pack
    A 22-30L pack fits water, layers, snacks, and a first aid kit. View on REI

Getting there

  • ORD Chicago O'Hare International 55 mi
  • MDW Chicago Midway 45 mi
  • SBN South Bend International 50 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Indiana Dunes map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

Loading weather...

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
32°
18°
Low
Open
Feb
36°
21°
Low
Open
Mar
46°
30°
Light
Open
Apr
57°
40°
Light
Open
May
68°
50°
Heavy
Open
Jun Best
78°
60°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
82°
64°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
80°
63°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
74°
56°
Heavy
Open
Oct
62°
45°
Moderate
Open
Nov
49°
34°
Light
Open
Dec
37°
24°
Light
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More Indiana Dunes guides

06

Parks near Indiana Dunes

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri

Gateway Arch

267 miles away
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley

285 miles away
Mammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky

Mammoth Cave

313 miles away
New River Gorge National Park
West Virginia

New River Gorge

402 miles away

Worth protecting

Indiana Dunes belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for Indiana

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

View the Tracker
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