Pocketed between industrial towns and just a short drive away from metropolitan Chicago, Indiana Dunes National Park might not be the first image in your head when you think about the beautiful United States parks system. But these tall sandy dunes sandwiched between breezy Lake Michigan and peaceful forests make for a unique landscape that is worth a trip to escape the bustle of the city.
Founded in 2019, America’s second-newest National Park might not be the biggest or grandest, but it does make for a great weekend getaway for those in the Midwest! With plenty of hiking, beaches, and biodiversity, there’s something for everyone to do.
Ready to go? Here’s my list of the best things to do at Indiana Dunes National Park!
Indiana Dunes National Park Overview
Indiana Dunes National Park is located on the southern shores of Lake Michigan, just a short hour drive southeast of Chicago. The second-newest National Park may be smaller and less famous than other parks, but it is well renowned for its diversity – its biodiversity ranks as the fourth compared to the rest of the National Parks! The variety of terrains (beach, forest, marsh, prairies, and rivers) allows for a wide variety of flora and fauna to flourish.
Entrance to the park is $25 for a motor vehicle. If you have the America the Beautiful Annual Pass, you can use it to get into the park too.
A visit to the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center is a good first stop for all travelers. Here, you can get maps and other park information, get your national parks passport stamped, and use the restroom or refill your water. Restroom and water facilities throughout the park are in good condition. Cell phone reception is also generally good in the park due to its proximity to Chicagoland.
A short disclaimer: I would keep your expectations reasonable when visiting this park. Yes, there are sand dunes and forests and beaches, but the park is also nearby several industrial plants. Grass and brush also often cover the sand dunes, so don’t expect pure, unobstructed dunes like in White Sands National Park. That all being said, I still greatly enjoyed my visit and I recommend it to anyone looking for a weekend getaway to a unique outdoor location.
Read more: The Ultimate U.S. National Parks Guide
Map of Indiana Dunes National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service.
Best Things to Do at Indiana Dunes
There are a variety of activities to keep you busy during your visit to Indiana Dunes National Park – here are my favorites!
Hike the Dunes
There are 14 different trails that you can pick from at Indiana Dunes National Park, and each of them offers different physical challenges as well as different perspectives of the park. While some of the trails are relatively short, they can quickly become strenuous due to the extra effort required to walk in the sand as well as to hike uphill. I’ll be honest – my calves were pretty sore the day after my visit!
I had limited time in the park, so I picked two trails to complete to get the best overview of the park (and the dunes!):
Views from the top of the stairs on the Dune Succession Trail – all those stairs were still easier than hiking in the sand!
Dune Succession Trail
The Dune Succession Trail is located on the western side of the park and is the perfect introduction to the dunes! This 0.9 mile moderate hike takes you down by the lake, through the sand, up 270 stairs and through a forest to truly highlight the diverse terrain in this park. This was my first and favorite hike of the day!
If you want to keep going, there are a few other trails that leave from this parking lot. This includes the West Beach Trail, a 1.2 mile hike further inland from the Dune Succession Trail, as well as the Long Lake Trail, a 2.2 mile hike inland through forest and past a calm lake.
Mount Baldy is slowly creeping towards the parking lot at the trailhead, overtaking trees as it goes.
Mount Baldy Trail
The Mount Baldy Trail is located on the eastern side of the park and one of the largest and most dynamic dunes in the park! At 126 feet tall and visible from the parking lot, its size will definitely take your breath away when you see it. Even more, the dune moves inland at a rate of approximately 4 feet per year! You can see it overtaking the trees near the parking lot as the wind and erosion cause it to move.
You can hike around the dune to the beach on a 0.75 mile moderate hike through the forest and plenty of loose sand. Unfortunately, the trail to the summit of the dune is often closed due to hazards associated with the dune’s movement.
No matter which hike you choose, it is incredibly important to stay on the trails when hiking around the sand dunes. Not only to help protect the ecosystem, but for your safety. Many sand dunes in the area are dynamic, meaning they can shift frequently, and this can cause sinkholes and other dangers to hikers climbing on the sand.
Lunchtime views of Lake Michigan at the picnic area of Lake View Beach!
Have a Lakeside Picnic
After spending the morning hiking, you’ll likely be in need of some nourishment! I’d recommend stopping at one of the lakeshore picnic areas and soaking in the sweeping views of Lake Michigan while you eat. Lake View Beach was my personal favorite, because the parking was right near the picnic area (meaning you don’t have to lug your food across a sand dune!). There were plenty of picnic tables available, as well as restrooms and a water station.
This bright pink house is one of the Century of Progress homes and was unexpectedly one of my favorite stops of the day!
Visit the Century of Progress Homes
In the middle of the park, you’ll find five unique, modern-looking homes that might seem out of place in a national park. However, they have a unique history and are well worth a visit!
These homes were built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, called the Century of Progress, and were designed to highlight futuristic ways that homes may look in the coming years. These five homes were moved by barge from their original location in Chicago to the shores of Indiana, where they are now part of the National Park System.
Each house has a unique style – there’s a wood cabin, an all-glass house with an airplane hanger, an enamel steel house, a stone house, and my personal favorite, a pink tropical house!
The Century of Progress Homes are located on the corner of East State Park Road and Lake Front Drive. All five houses are fairly close together, so you can park on the side of the road and walk between the houses. There are also informational placards in front of each house you can read. Each house is so unique – I was fascinated learning about their histories.
Real people live there, too! Individuals can lease these homes in exchange for performing home rehabilitation. Please be respectful and keep this in mind when touring the area.
After hiking all day, relaxing at the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park was a welcome break!
Take a Detour to Indiana Dunes State Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is unique because the inner portion of the park is actually a state park! Indiana Dunes State Park has a separate entrance fee than the national park ($7 for residents, $12 for non-residents). Once inside, you can hike on more than 16 miles of trails, relax or swim at the beach, or set up for a night of camping!
The three largest dunes of the area reside in the state park – Mt. Tom at 192 feet, Mt. Holden at 184 feet, and Mt. Jackson at 176 feet. There are a few ways you can see these dunes:
You can relax and gaze at them from afar at the beach. There is a large pavilion and beach house on the western side of the park with plenty of bathrooms and changing stations. This beach does get crowded in the summer!
You can also spend time hiking around the park. There are ten trails in the park, all with varying lengths and difficulty. Similar to in the national park, for your safety and the safety of the ecosystem, it’s important to stay on the trails while hiking.
Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can complete the three dune challenge. This intense hike might seem easy at only 1.5 miles, but it takes you up and down the three tallest dunes in the area – and climbing in the sand is no joke. If you’re up for it, the views from the top of the dunes are incredible (and so is the workout)!
The Dune Succession Trail weaves through this peaceful forest – I almost forgot I was at the Dunes!
What to Bring
Walking through sand is much more strenuous than many might think, so it’s important to stay hydrated and bring lots of water on your trip. Some high energy snacks would also be helpful if you plan on spending longer hiking.
I always wear sunscreen and bug spray when out exploring – the bugs can get particularly bad if you go inland through the marshes and bogs.
Footwear is a tricky question. For a longer hike, wearing hiking shoes can help keep your feet comfortable and blister-free. However, hiking sandals – or even going barefoot! – can be a good option also, especially for shorter distances.
Finally, as with any time outdoors, be sure to follow the Leave No Trace Principles by respecting the wildlife, disposing of trash properly, and leaving the park in better condition than you found it.
Where to Stay
If you’re feeling adventurous, there is a campground on site at Indiana Dunes where you can spend the night. There are also a variety of local hotels nearby where you can unwind in comfort after a long day exploring the sand dunes.
Indiana Dunes is also a short 48 mile drive from downtown Chicago, meaning that it can be a great addition to any Chicago itinerary.
You can’t beat the views from the beach at Mount Baldy!
LGBTQ+ Considerations
As a queer traveler, it’s important for me to plan ahead and know what to expect before a trip. Indiana Dunes National Park is surrounded by small towns and industrial plants, making the area generally more conservative. However, with its proximity to Chicago and to several major universities in Indiana, there are a diverse array of visitors at the park, which made me feel very comfortable visiting with my wife. We didn’t have any problems, nor did we receive any unwelcome looks as we explored the park. As always with national parks, being outside and away from people is one of the most relaxing and freeing travel experiences I can have as a queer person.
Read more: Top Safety Tips for Queer Travelers
Overall
Between hiking through the sandy terrain, taking in the biodiversity, and relaxing on the beach, there are a surprising amount of things to do in Indiana Dunes!
Have you been to Indiana Dunes National Park? What are your other favorite things to do? Let me know in the comments!
Read more: United States Travel Guide
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This post was last updated on May 16, 2022.
Thank you for sharing! My family is planning a visit in June, and we are so excited.
Glad you enjoyed! Have a fun trip!