We have spend the past two days exploring the Indiana Dunes National Park and the smaller Indiana Dunes State Park. There is a great deal of history in and around these particular parks, including how the State Park was opened first since a world war derailed the money originally set aside for the National Park.
IF YOU ARE A BEACH PERSON....you will love the multiple beach access areas in both of the parks.
IF YOU ARE A DUNE CLIMBER...you will love the sand dunes--some to climb for bragging rights such as 3-Dune Climb or Diana Dune Climb.
IF YOU ARE A CAMPER...there are two different locations in which to camp.
- Indiana Dunes State Park - Because we are out of state residents, there was a $12/car charge for us to enter the state park. We spent time driving around the state park, which has 30 amp electrical hookups and is close to the dune areas. There are multiple picnicking shelter houses and areas, restrooms, and a nature center (which was too crowded for us to park). One gem of this park is the Pavilion, which was an old structure made new and includes 3 floors--a grill/restaurant with deck where you can lunch near the water, a lounge (not open yet for the season), and an event space that can be rented out (i.e. wedding venue). Behind the pavilion is a large beach area, restrooms, showers, and the beautiful Lake Michigan. Most people on May 23, 2023, were laying on the sand--very few were in the water as it was too cold yet.
- Indiana Dunes National Park - Because the state park was full when I made our reservations, and I had been told that the sites were small at the state park (there actually were many open sites and many that could have easily held our truck and 30-foot Airstream), we stayed in Dunewood Campground in the national park. Pros - nice space between sites, fire pits, shower houses and restrooms, picnic tables, and a nice Camping Host couple. Cons - in Beverly Shores, no hookups, Visitor Center with no staff, no camp store or nature center. If you have a Senior Pass/America the Beautiful Pass, you can enter any of the National Park areas for free, but still need to pay for camping obviously.
That being said, the park is really a long stretch of some wetland/marsh areas (good for birding), dunes, educational facilities for summer campers, industry woven throughout, biking and hiking trails, and some history such as the Century of Progress homes brought over from the Chicago World's Fair, and some original Swedish settlements being restored such as the Chellberg Garm and Bailly Homestead. The best time to visit these parks is really earlier in the spring (birders), June-July-August (beach/swimmers), or the cooler fall of the year. We were here during a slow time, so no ranger programs, no boats for going out on the lake, some places not open on the days were were here, etc.
Now that we have been here, we can "check it off our list" so to speak.
