Michigan Lake beach with green grassy dunes in the background, under a blue sky.

National Park

35 Activities

Indiana Dunes National Park

Plan Your Visit NPS.gov

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Park Alerts (9)

Partial Trail Closures on Bailly / Chellberg Trail: Portions of Bailly / Chellberg Trail (with stairs) will be closed through October (10/30/26), to allow completion of boardwalk replacement project.

Partial Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace: Partially open. Persistent flooding west of the campground currently limits access to the entire trail. Hikers may not always be able to traverse the full length.

Closure - Hobart Woodland Trail: Closed. The Woodland Trail is closed indefinitely, and no reopening date is available. However, the paved Oak Savannah Trail remains open.

About Indiana Dunes National Park

Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails lead through shifting sand dunes, quiet woodlands, sunny prairies and lush wetlands.

Known for its striking plant and bird diversity, it's easy to find inspiration throughout the park’s 16,000 acres.

Available Activities

Arts and Culture

Cultural Demonstrations

Auto and ATV

Scenic Driving

Astronomy

Stargazing

Biking

Boating

Camping

RV Camping

Fishing

Food

Picnicking

Guided Tours

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Self-Guided Tours - Auto

Hiking

Horse Trekking

Paddling

Canoeing

Kayaking

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Junior Ranger Program

Playground

Skiing

Cross-Country Skiing

Snow Play

Snowshoeing

Swimming

Freshwater Swimming

Wildlife Watching

Birdwatching

Park Film

Shopping

Bookstore and Park Store

Weather

On average, the warmest month is July and the highest recorded temperature was 105F in 1934. The coolest month is January, with the lowest recorded temperature of -25F in 1985. June sees the most precipitation with an average rainfall of 4.

66 Inches.

Getting There

Visitors can access the national park via Interstate 94, the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90), U.S. Highway 12, U.

S. Highway 20, Indiana State Road 49, and various other local roads. The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located on Indiana State Road 49, between U.

S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94 (1215 IN-49, Porter, IN 46304). For a driving map to the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center or other locations, check out our maps page.

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Plan Your Visit

Let Roamze help you plan the perfect trip to Indiana Dunes National Park with AI-powered itineraries.

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Hours

Indiana Dunes National Park general areas

The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation.

West Beach

West Beach hours of operation

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Motorcycle

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

$20.00

Entrance - Private Vehicle

7-Day Park Entrance Fee - Family-Size Vehicle Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).

$25.00

Entrance - Per Person

7-Day Per Person Entrance Fee (Organized, non-commercial groups) Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

$15.00

Commercial Entrance - Sedan

Entry for commercial sedans with 6 or less people. Cost is $25.00 plus $15 per person (not to exceed next highest rate).

$25.00

Commercial Entrance - Van

Commercial Tour Fee - Van (7-15 persons) - $40.00 Entry for commercial vans with 7-15 people.

$40.00

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

Commercial Tour Fee - Mini Bus (16-25 persons) - $40.00 Entry for commercial mini bus with 16-25 people.

$40.00

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

Commercial Tour Fee - Motor Coach (26+ persons) - $100.00 Entry for commercial motor coaches with 26+ persons.