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Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter, IN

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFamily Favorite

Indiana Dunes National Park

1100 N Mineral Springs Rd · Porter, IN

Why you should go…

Indiana Dunes National Park protects 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan, with sandy beaches backed by rugged dunes, forests and wetlands. You can pick from 50 miles of hiking trails, and the park counts over 1,100 native plant species along with notable birding. Mount Baldy, a 123-foot dune, moves roughly four feet every year. The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is the place to start, and a vehicle pass covers everyone in your car for seven days.

  • #national park
  • #beach
  • #sand dunes
  • #hiking
  • #bird watching

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Indiana Dunes National Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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    Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie style house in Hyde Park, with its cantilevered roofs and art glass.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

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    Walk Chicago's lakefront front yard, home to Buckingham Fountain, gardens, the Art Institute and the city's biggest festivals.

    34 mi awayMore like this

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    34 mi awayMore like this

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    Lincoln Park Zoo

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    One of America's last free zoos, lions, gorillas, and gardens minutes from downtown.

    36 mi awayMore like this