Sunshine and sandy beaches are two of my favorite attributes for a summer vacation. Lucky for me, I live close to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and State Park and am able to frequently visit this national jewel. The Indiana Dunes is a top destination for many campers and tourists alike, there are many great family activities to enjoy at this park. Not only does it offer a summertime getaway destination but this park is great to visit in any season. In this post I hope to share some of the amazing ways to enjoy the Indiana Dunes while camping.
The Indiana Dunes State Park located in Chesterton, Indiana has over 2100 acres of unique landscape to explore including large sand dunes and beaches on Lake Michigan, wetland habitats, and woods. The Indiana Dunes State Park beach is host to thousands of park visitors each year and is a great place to take the family for a day in the sun. Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty and lake conditions are favorable. There is also a historic beach house with showers, restrooms, snacks, and a restaurant to enjoy. If you are lucky to get a campsite at this park in the summer you can walk right to the beach from the campground. This is an extremely popular park to stay at in the summer, reservations can be made 6 months in advance. Check out more info about the beach here.
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Another great activity is checking out the trail system at this park. There are miles of incredible trails to explore ranging from easy to rugged, including the awesome 3 Dune Challenge. Though the trail is only 1.5 miles long you will have to traverse 3 giant dunes and climb 552 vertical feet! It is tough but the reward of the amazing views along the way is worth it. Be sure to stop by the Nature Center as well to check out some great wildlife and historical exhibits, there are many interpretive programs throughout the year as well to enjoy.
The Indiana Dunes State Park campground offers 140 sites nestled between the beach and woods. There is a camp store, clean showers and restrooms, and many sites offer a paved pad which is nice. Insider camper tip: make sure to bring outdoor rugs for your camper or tent as the sand will go everywhere. Our family not only likes to camp there for a beach day in the summer, but the fall is an amazing time to stay.
The fall colors surround the campground and trails, truly an amazing site. Each year we like to participate in the “Howl-O-Ween” weekend with trick-or-treating, campsite decorating, and tons of family activities all weekend. Check out my other post Halloween Campsite Decorating on this for more fun details.
If you want to check out a truly unique are to camp with your family I definitely recommend checking out the Indiana Dunes State Park. Check out some of my other posts about family camping in Indiana and Michigan with some great recipes and activities for kids as well. Happy Camping!
