The best camping near Indiana Dunes State Park

Just outside of Gary, on the banks of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dune State Park offers year-round recreation, with over 2,000 acres of dunes and forest and nine miles of trails for hiking in summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. It’s popular with families, particularly in summer when locals come in droves to hang out on the park’s sandy beach. For those who want to spend the night, the two-loop Indiana Dunes Campground features 140 electric tent and RV sites, plus showers, two playgrounds, a camp store, and a dump station.

1. You can reserve a campsite at Indiana Dunes through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website or by calling the Indiana state park's reservation hotline.
2. Campsite availability opens at noon, six months in advance.
3. Sites that haven't been pre-booked are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Arrive early to guarantee your chances of snagging something, but note that check-in/check-out isn't until 2pm (5pm on Sundays and public holidays).
4. If you can’t find a site at Indiana Dunes State Park, look into camping at the adjacent Indiana Dunes National Park or reserve a private Hipcamp in the area

Indiana Dunes State Park is open year-round, though the nature center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays from November through March. Winters are cold and snowy, and the park is a popular destination for cross-country skiing from December through February, and often into March. Summers are hot and humid, with highs in the low 80s from June through August, while September is a little cooler and less crowded, particularly on weekdays.

• You can pick up groceries and supplies in the suburb of Chesterton, right by the park. For better selection, head to the city of Gary, about a 25-minute drive away.
• Dogs are allowed at the campground, provided they’re on leashes no longer than six feet in length. Dogs are not allowed at the beach.
• Campsites 7, 22, 28, 53, 119, and 127 are wheelchair accessible. If you book an accessible site and don’t need ADA accommodations, you may be reassigned to a different site.
• For winter campers, Indiana Dunes keeps one heated restroom open.