Indiana Dunes National Park

Year Established: 2019
Annual Visitors: 3.18 Million
Size: 15,349 Acres
State: Indiana

Best Time to Visit Indiana Dunes National Park

March to May, September to November

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Indiana Dunes National Park

• West Beach
• Swim in Lake Michigan
• Mount Baldy

A Brief History

As poet Carl Sandburg put it, these dunes “are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and Yosemite is to California.” The park is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, and its 15 miles of beaches are easily accessible from Chicago. From the taller sand dunes, such as the 192-foot-tall Mount Tom, you can see the city skyline.

Around a third of the state’s uncommon, threatened, and endangered plant species may be found here. Among them is the federally protected Pitcher’s thistle, which blooms only every five to eight years and only produces white or pink petals. The park is home to over 350 different bird species, and despite its relatively modest size, its hills and marshes have helped it achieve the fifth highest degree of biodiversity of any national park in the world.

The park’s paths and the Great Marsh Observation Deck draw professional and amateur ornithologists all year long to see the migratory birds like the yellow-breasted prairie warbler, the red-headed woodpecker, and, on occasion, the lesser sand plover. The annual birding festival is held in the park every May, and draws a large crowd who come for the conservation-oriented workshops and bird-calling competitions.

Indiana Dunes RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Indiana Dunes National Park or in Indiana, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Indiana
• Best RV Resorts in Indiana

Visitor Information

Fees

Weekly Park Passes

$15.00 per person/cyclist

$25.00 per vehicle

$20.00 per motorcycle

All park passes valid for up to 7 days. People who are 16 years old or younger can get in for free.

Annual Park Passes

Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass – $45.00

Contacting Indiana Dunes National Park

Visitor Centers

Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

The Indiana Dunes National Park and Dunes State Park are located in Porter County and are well worth a visit. Learn from the informational booths and two quick films about the area. Browse the shelves at Eastern National bookstore.

Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education

The beautiful Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods can be accessed from the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. The facility’s interactive exhibits, ranger-led hikes, lectures, animals, crafts, and Nature Play Zone help bring visitors closer to nature.