Indiana Dunes National Park

Visitor Centers:
Unless otherwise posted, all public use areas are open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Check the park's website for current operating hours and alerts.

Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center:
Open daily, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
8:00 am to 6:00 pm Central Time, from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
8:30 am to 4:30 pm Central Time, for the remainder of the year.

Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education:
Open daily, except for federal holidays.
8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time, from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
8:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time, for the remainder of the year.

Indiana Dunes National Park is open year round. Unless otherwise posted, all public use areas are open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. The national park's weather is greatly affected by Lake Michigan and can change quickly. Summers are warm and humid with abundant sunshine. Winters tend to be cloudy except for periods of extreme cold when skies are clear.

Fees & Passes:
All areas in the park are free with the following exceptions:

West Beach collects an expanded amenity fee daily for every vehicle from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend from 8:00 am to as late as 7:00 pm Central Time. $6.00 per vehicle or motorcycle per day, $30.00 per bus per day. 50% discount for Senior Lifetime, Senior Annual and Access Passes.

Dunewood Campground is open from April 1 through November 1. $25.00 per night camping fee (expanded amenity fee). Sites 1 - 34 are reservable at recreation.gov starting six months in advance of the check-in date. Sites 35 - 67 are first come, first served. No advance registration. Sites are paid for at the campground entrance automated kiosk. 50% discount for Senior and Access Passes.

To learn more about the park fees, click here.
Purchase an annual pass for all national park service sites and federal lands, $80

- Campground open from April 1 through November 1.
- $25.00 per night camping fee (expanded amenity fee).
- Sites 1 - 34 are reservable at recreation.gov starting six months in advance of the check-in date.
- Sites 35 - 67 are first come, first served. No advance registration. Sites are paid for at the campground entrance automated kiosk.
- 50% discount for Senior and Access Passes.
- Credit, debit and gift cards (MasterCard, Visa and Discover) accepted.
- No electrical or water hook-ups at individual sites. Potable water is available at several locations.
- Shower and restroom facilities are located at the center of each loop.
- Allowed to stay 14 nights per 30 day period.
- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual (non-senior), Volunteer and Military Passes are not accepted.

Indiana Dunes is located in a highly developed area with services and goods available at several locations. Nearby large shopping areas can be found in Michigan City along Highways 421 and 20 and in Chesterton just south of I-94 on Indiana 49.

Guided Tours:
Indiana Dunes offers a large number of ranger-led walks and talks and interpretive programs in various locations throughout the summer. A limited number of programs are also offered throughout the rest of the year. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

Enjoy the outdoors year round at Indiana Dunes National Park. From snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter, to swimming, sunbathing, camping, and fishing in the summer, every season offers visitors a unique way to experience the park. With the many trails in the area, hiking is a great year-round activity. Visit the National Park's website for more information on the park's many activities.

To download a variety of free brochures to help plan your visit, click here.