Indiana Dunes State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- in.gov219-926-1952
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
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Indiana Dunes State Park is a 558-acre park in Porter County, about 2 miles northeast of Porter.
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, winter sports, fishing, wildlife watching, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor center | Daily | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Nature Center/Interpretive Naturalist Services Open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CT (closed on major state holidays)
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| $7 - noncommercial vehicles with Indiana license plates, every day, including holidays. (resident) | $7 · bus |
| $20 - noncommercial vehicles with out-of-state license plates, every day, including holidays. (nonresident) | $20 · bus |
Official wording
Indiana Dunes State Park Gate Fee $7 - noncommercial vehicles with Indiana license plates, every day, including holidays. $20 - noncommercial vehicles with out-of-state license plates, every day, including holidays.
Indiana park passes
- Annual Entrance Pass — $50. Noncommercial vehicle, driver and passengers at DNR properties that charge a gate fee Details
- Non-resident Annual Entrance Pass — $120. Non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles Details
- Golden Hoosier Passport — $25. Indiana residents 65+ or eligible for SS disability; vehicle, driver and passengers Details
- Disabled Hoosier Veteran Pass — $25. Persons eligible for a Disabled Hoosier Veteran plate Details
- SSDI Pass — $25. Indiana residents receiving or eligible for SSDI Details
From the Indiana state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (Indiana State Parks) for camping, cabins, shelters, group camps; separate inn reservations
- Phone
- 1-866-622-6746 (camping, cabins, shelters, group camps); 1-877-563-4371 (inns and Brown County cabins)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: the indiana dunes state park beach.
Dogs are not allowed on the Indiana Dunes State Park beach.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
- Electric - 140 (all 50 amp service)
- Youth Tent Area
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
PicnickingHikingWinter sportsCross-country skiingFishingWildlife viewing and birding
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 2 | 3 mi | Easy | The best trail for early spring flowers and ferns. Climax forest is used for cross-country skiing during the winter season. |
| Trail 3 | 0.75 mi | Moderate | Provides an opportunity to view succession in the dunes area. Excellent for late spring wildflowers, including prickly pear cactus. |
| Trail 4 | 0.75 mi | Moderate | Goes through dunes covered with black oak forest. |
| Trail 7 | 1.1 mi | Moderate | Similar to Trail 4. Most direct route from Nature Center to the beach. |
| Trail 8 | 1.5 mi | Rugged | Goes over the tops of the three highest dunes of the Indiana Dunes. |
| Trail 9 | 3.75 mi | Moderate | Provides the best representative view of the dunes. Good view of the lake. |
| Trail 10 | 5.5 mi | Moderate | Hikers are rewarded by stands of white pine and a "tree graveyard" in Big Blowout. A good morning hike. |
Trail descriptions from the park
Indiana Dunes State Park offers motorized wheelchairs that can be taken on trails and around facilities.
2. EASY (3 miles)—The best trail for early spring flowers and ferns. Climax forest is used for cross-country skiing during the winter season.
3. MODERATE (.75 mile)—Provides an opportunity to view succession in the dunes area. Excellent for late spring wildflowers, including prickly pear cactus.
4. MODERATE (.75 mile)—Goes through dunes covered with black oak forest.
7. MODERATE (1.1 miles)—Similar to Trail 4. Most direct route from Nature Center to the beach.
8. RUGGED (1.5 miles)—Goes over the tops of the three highest dunes of the Indiana Dunes.
9. MODERATE (3.75 miles)—Provides the best representative view of the dunes. Good view of the lake.
10. MODERATE (5.5 miles)—Hikers are rewarded by stands of white pine and a "tree graveyard" in Big Blowout. A good morning hike.
Swimming
Swimming / Beach (Policy). Dogs are not allowed on the Indiana Dunes State Park beach. Mobility mats for easy beach access are available.
Fishing
Fishing (Smelt Only)
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Water
- Swimming beach
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Swimming / Beach (Policy). Dogs are not allowed on the Indiana Dunes State Park beach. Mobility mats for easy beach access are available.
Birding (Dunes Birding Blog). Accessible bird observation tower available.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 1600 N. 25 E.
Chesterton, IN 46304 - Nearest town
- Porter — about 2 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.6548, -87.0626
- Phone
- 219-926-1952
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Address: 1600 N. 25 E. Chesterton, IN 46304
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Indiana State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Indiana State Parks 'Find A Park' property list + DNR ArcGIS site layers (coordinates)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Pitcher’s thistle bloom at Indiana Dunes State Park (55377312122).jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology