Visiting Indiana Dunes National Park: Things to See and Do

Indiana Dunes National Park, formerly known as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, gained national park status in February 2019.

This park is most recognizable by its miles of shoreline and sand dunes (i.e. mounds or ridges of sand) along the southern tip of Lake Michigan. In other words, it is mostly a series of beaches with high mounds of sand.

When I visited in 2020, the park was still deciding if cardboard signs were a good idea. Hopefully, in the future, once all refinements are in place, Indiana Dunes will live up to its prestigious national park status.

Indiana Dunes National Park: Important Information
Dimensions	23.4 miles² (60.6 kilometers²) of sand dunes, wetlands, and forest ecosystems alongside 25 miles of shoreline.
Duration	You can spend 2 – 6 hours here.
Best Time	For warmer weather, it would be ideal to visit around noon or the afternoon. Note that Lake Michigan can be quite cold regardless.
Cost	When I arrived in 2020, this park was free to visit. Do note that its national park status is relatively new, so fees might be imposed in the future.
Parking	There is plenty of free parking available throughout the park.
Adventure Gear: Gear varies widely depending on activity. In addition to the situational camping equipment, boating equipment, and fishing equipment, make sure to consider good hiking shoes, sun protection, and general beachwear.

Seas of Water and Sand

Indiana Dunes National Park is essentially a collection of beaches scattered along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Lakeview is easily one of the best stops for photogenic and beautiful views.

Porter Beach, the main central beach, is also the closest beach to the visitor center.

As a bonus, the beaches are often flanked by the forest, making for a rather peaceful yet scenic drive.

I will be honest. This national park is mostly water, sand, and forests. That’s pretty much it.

Oh, here’s a photo of a bison wearing a mask. This dude is definitely taking COVID-19 seriously.

I’m not really sure what else to say. I’m not being lazy, I swear. Check out the Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, or Glacier national park guides if you want far more interesting national parks with more in-depth information. I seriously don’t have a lot to work with here. It’s literally all about sand in this park.

So, yeah, Indiana Dunes National Park is all about sand and stuff. Go get some.

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Addie says:
January 23, 2021 at 8:54 am

It sounds to me like you didn’t really think this place was all that great haha
Reply
- Ace says:
  January 25, 2021 at 11:17 am
  
  I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t think it was anything terribly special. Just a bunch of sand and cold beaches.
  Reply