Camping at Indiana Dunes: Which Campground to Choose, Reservations and Fees

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Indiana Dunes

The short answer: yes, you can camp at Indiana Dunes National Park. The park has one NPS-operated campground that you can reserve through Recreation.gov. Right next door, Indiana Dunes State Park offers a second campground with more facilities. Book ahead in summer. Sites disappear within hours on weekends from June through August.

Campgrounds in the park (3)

• Campground Dunewood Campground recreation.gov · 66 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Dunbar Group Site recreation.gov · 1 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Central Avenue Walk-in Sites recreation.gov · 5 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can You Camp Inside Indiana Dunes?

Yes. Backcountry camping isn't allowed, and you can't spend the night outside a designated site. The NPS operates an official campground that's open for much of the year. The park's general areas are accessible year-round, but some areas, including West Beach, have their own hours. Check the NPS website before you arrive.

Indiana Dunes is a compact park squeezed between Lake Michigan and the Chicago metropolitan area. You don't come here for total isolation. You come for the unusual combination of dunes, forest, and beach less than two hours from the city.

Campgrounds Inside the Park

Dunewood Campground

This is the national park's only NPS campground. It accommodates tents and RVs in a wooded setting, close to several trails. You'll find basic amenities here: restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings. There are no electrical hookups or Wi-Fi. Reserve through Recreation.gov. A few sites remain available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dunewood is intentionally simple. Birds at sunrise and sunsets over the dunes more than make up for the lack of a swimming pool.

Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

The State of Indiana operates this campground separately from the NPS. It's in the adjacent state park, a few miles from the national park. RV sites have electrical hookups, and there are more sites overall. Reservations are available through ReserveAmerica (indiana.reserveamerica.com). Keep in mind that the state park entrance fee is separate from the national park pass.

RV vs. Tent Camping: Which Site Is Right for You?

RVs are allowed at Dunewood (NPS), but there are no hookups. There is no water or electricity at the sites, so you need to be self-contained or use the campground's designated fill and dump facilities, if available. Some sites may have maximum vehicle-length limits. Check the details on Recreation.gov before booking.

For a full-hookup RV site, Indiana Dunes State Park Campground is the most convenient option. Private campgrounds along U.S. Highway 12 and outside the park round out the choices. See the next section. If you're planning a longer RV visit, the RV camping guide for Indiana Dunes covers RV-friendly campgrounds and rules specific to RVs.

For tent campers, Dunewood works well for two or three nights. It's shady, quiet, and well placed for combining beach time and trails from the campground.

Camping Nearby: Private Campgrounds Outside the Park

When the park is full, which is common on July and August weekends, private campgrounds along U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 20 take over. The towns of Chesterton, Portage, and Michigan City have most of the options, including tent sites, RV sites with water, electric, and sewer hookups, and sometimes rental cabins. Rates are often higher than at NPS campgrounds, but the extra services make up the difference.

For alternatives to camping, the overview of lodging at Indiana Dunes and our selection of hotels and lodges near the park cover the other options.

Backcountry Camping and Wilderness Camping

Indiana Dunes doesn't offer backcountry camping in the strict sense. The park is too small and too interwoven with developed areas to allow overnight stays outside designated sites. Spending the night anywhere other than an official campground is prohibited.

If you like the idea of self-sufficient backcountry camping, other parks in the region offer more developed backcountry programs. All Indiana Dunes trails work well as day hikes or half-day hikes from the campground.

How and When to Reserve a Campsite at Indiana Dunes

For Dunewood (NPS), reserve through Recreation.gov up to six months in advance. That's the general NPS rule. June, July, and August weekends fill within the first few hours after the booking window opens.

For Indiana Dunes State Park, reserve through ReserveAmerica (indiana.reserveamerica.com). It uses a separate system with its own booking window.

Practical tip: if you're targeting a July weekend, open Recreation.gov at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on the exact day the six-month window opens. Wait a few days and you'll usually be choosing between weekday dates and the least sought-after sites.

In the off-season, from September through May, last-minute reservations are still possible and can be easy to get on weekdays.

Fees: How Much Does a Night of Camping Cost at Indiana Dunes?

Dunewood rates are listed on Recreation.gov and vary by season and site type. A standard site at an NPS campground in the Midwest generally costs between $20 and $30 per night. Recreation.gov service fees are added to the reservation.

The park entrance fee ($25 per private vehicle, $15 per person on foot or by bicycle, and $20 for motorcycles) isn't included in the camping fee. You pay it separately at the entrance unless you already have an Annual Pass ($45 per year) or an America the Beautiful Pass. Our Fees and passes page explains entrance fees and pass options.

Camping Safety and Best Practices

Indiana Dunes has no bears or alligators, but a few rules still deserve your attention.

Nocturnal wildlife: Raccoons and foxes regularly visit the campgrounds at night. Never leave food unattended, even for a few minutes. Store food, trash, and scented products in your vehicle's trunk or in the provided storage lockers. Keeping food in your tent will inevitably attract unwanted visitors.

Fires: Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. During drought conditions, the NPS may impose a total fire ban. Check current alerts on the park website before you leave.

Swimming: Lake Michigan can produce powerful rip currents, especially with wind from the north. Colored flags indicate the risk level at each beach. A red flag means swimming is prohibited, no exceptions. Don't underestimate these conditions, even if you're a strong swimmer. The Indiana Dunes guide covers swimming conditions and the safety rules to follow.

Weather: Summers are hot and humid. Average summer temperatures top 77°F, and the park's all-time record is close to 106°F, recorded in 1934. Severe thunderstorms are common in June, the wettest month, and in July. Check the forecast every evening and set up camp away from isolated tall trees. The month-by-month temperatures and precipitation at Indiana Dunes page can help you plan the best time to visit.

Which Campground Should You Choose?

You're arriving by tent for two or three nights. Dunewood Campground is the logical base. It's centrally located in the national park, with direct access to trails, and you can reserve it through Recreation.gov.

You're traveling by RV and need hookups. Start with Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, or look at private campgrounds along U.S. Highway 12.

You're visiting during the off-season or on a weekday. Both campgrounds are often available without much advance planning, sometimes even the same day.

You're visiting with kids. Dunewood is a good choice for quiet nights. Pair it with the family activities guide for Indiana Dunes and our Things to Do page to plan your days. The Indiana Dunes guide brings together everything you need to prepare for your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions