Indiana Dunes
Please note: New park entrance fee begins at the National Park on March 31, 2022. Learn more here.
Enjoy a family camping trip, an ecological study or just a relaxing day at the beach. Stretching 25 miles east along the south shore of Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park welcome nearly four million guests to their sandy beaches and beautiful trails each year.
Head to the beach and dip your toes in Lake Michigan. Walk or bike miles of trails. Hike along the sunny prairies, peaceful forests and towering sand dunes. The landscapes along the southern shores of Lake Michigan are some of the most biologically diverse in the nation. Keep your eyes open for the more than 350 bird species and hundreds of animal species that call the Indiana Dunes home. There are also more than 1,400 species of ferns and flowering plants that grow here.
Learn about more activities with our list of 61 Things to Do at the Indiana Dunes!
The Indiana Dunes National Park is comprised of more than 15,000 acres of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers and forests, offering a wide variety of activities year-round.
Visitors can take advantage of beautiful beaches, unique hiking trails and the historic sites of Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm.
The national park is a beautiful spot for hiking, with 11 trails throughout the park of varying lengths and difficulty levels.
At the Indiana Dunes State Park, large sand dunes, located beyond the entire shoreline, have taken thousands of years to form, and tower nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan.
Three miles of beach run along Lake Michigan’s southern shore. The park also offers 16.5 miles of trails, several that traverse Mount Tom. Enjoy everything the park has to offer with a stay at their campground.
There is a small fee for parking at the state park.
Beach Safety Warning: Do not swim in large crashing waves, which can cause rip currents or when rip current warnings are posted. These strong currents rushing out into Lake Michigan can carry even the strongest swimmer with them and cause a number of fatalities every year.
If you get caught in a rip current, do not try to swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the current. Check for beach hazard warnings before you go - visit the National Weather Service website or view a map of swim risks on the Great Lakes here. Learn more on the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project site.
In & Around the Dunes
Events Calendar
Every season at Indiana Dunes National Park and the State Park is full of events. From Maple Sugar Time to…
Camping
Camping in the Indiana Dunes is a fantastic way to get away from it all. Visitors can enjoy Lake…
Things to Do
The Indiana Dunes is a popular destination for almost four million visitors each year. Starting in Gary…
History
13,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, glaciers retreated leaving behind the Great Lakes along with the…
Brochure
Download information in the Indiana Dunes including beaches, activities, history and more!
Nearby Restaurants
Savor a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant while enjoying all that the Indiana Dunes has to offer. Choose…
Nearby Hotels & Cabins
With all the fun you can have year round at the Indiana Dunes, make your visit a getaway by staying at a…
Cabins Near the Dunes
The Indiana Dunes is a beautiful location for a vacation with beaches, hiking trails, special events, bird…
Beaches
There are miles of beautiful Lake Michigan beaches in Northwest Indiana including some of the best beaches in…
Last Minute Updates
For beach and park updates at the National Park, follow them on facebook.
You can also call 219-395-1003 to get recorded information on available parking at Indiana Dunes National Park beaches and the nearby Indiana Dunes State Park.
Request More Information
Would you like more information about the South Shore and the Indiana Dunes? Use the links below to request a visitor's guide be mailed to you, download our Indiana Dunes brochure, join our e-newsletter list or sign up for text alerts.
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