## Overview

 Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles (24 km) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park\'s 15,000 acres (6070 ha) will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles (80 km) of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.\_\_ 
## Recreation

 There is no one-size-fits-all trip to the dunes. Each season offers new and different ways to enjoy Indiana Dunes National Park. Spring splashes the river banks of the Heron Rookery with an abundance of colorful wildflowers in this birder\'s paradise. Lake Michigan summer sunsets paint the skies with vibrant rays that offer a picture-perfect picnic setting. In the fall, Maple trees burst with warm red and golden hues crafting a spectacular backdrop for a hike by the Chellberg Farm and winter brings a scenic canvas of virgin white snow begging for a cross-country skiing adventure in the Glenwood Dunes.\_\_ As the seasons change, so do the recreational opportunities, park facility operating hours and closures and safety concerns. Here is a list of some of the activities that occur in the National Park: Beach-going &amp; Swimming, Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Fishing &amp; Boating, Hiking, Geocaching, Historical Sites, Horseback Riding, Interpretive Programs, Picnic, Winter Activities and Guided Tours. Check the[ Calendar][1] page on our website for our list of Ranger-led programs. 
## Facilities

 The Dunewood Campground in the Indiana Dunes National Park has 66 campsites (54 drive-in sites and 12 walk-in sites; 4 sites are fully accessible). We have nice restrooms and showers. There are no electric or water hookups. The campground has accessible for visitors with mobility impairments. Some sites are limited on recreational vehicle length (please read each campsite description carefully). 
## Natural Features

 Indiana Dunes National Park is a treasure of diverse natural resources located within an urban setting. The national park features communities that have both scientific and historic significance to the field of ecology. In addition, four National Natural Landmarks (including[ Pinhook Bog][2] and [Cowles Bog][3] ) and one National Historical Landmark (the [Bailly Homestead][4] ) are located within its boundaries.\_\_\_\_\_\_ The park is comprised of over 15,000 acres (6070 ha) of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests. It contains 15 miles (24 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning the distance from Gary to Michigan City. Lake Michigan is part of the largest complex of freshwater lakes in the world. The national park\'s beaches are the park\'s most significant recreational resource.\_\_\_\_ For more information on our natural features visit the [Nature and Science][5] page on the park website.\_\_ 
## Nearby Attractions

 Located close to the campground is Lake View Beach on Lake Michigan which is located 1.5 miles north of the campground. Several other national park beaches are within easy driving distance. Do NOT park in the Town of Beverly Shores\' beach parking lot, which is located just to the east of the Lake View lot. You will get ticketed. The town is very strict. A gas station / convenience store is located \_\_ mile north of the campground at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Broadway Avenue. The Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad station with passenger service to Chicago and South Bend is located on Broadway Avenue, \_\_ mile north of the campground. [Indiana Dunes Tourism][6] and [LaPorte County Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau][7] have lists of other activities in the area. 
## Charges &amp; Cancellations



[1]: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
[2]: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/pb16.htm
[3]: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/cb16.htm
[4]: https://www.nps.gov/indu/learn/historyculture/bailly_homestead.htm
[5]: https://www.nps.gov/indu/learn/nature/index.htm
[6]: https://www.indianadunes.com/
[7]: https://michigancitylaporte.com/

Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

We followed the signs for Indiana Dunes National Park and found ourselves here. There is also a campground directly in the park but this one is just down the road. I think it’s still part of the same place but with a self-check-in there wasn’t anybody to ask. 

  

The camp host left a list of available campsites on the check-in kiosk. We found just two sites still open and took one of them. Our site was a large pull-through with a separate area for the picnic table and a tent. Right across the road was the large restroom complete with showers and flushing toilets. After setting up camp, I heard people in the woods right on the other side of the hill. I walked up the path and found that the neighboring campsite winds back there. We could sort of see them, and definitely hear them, but we still felt separate. The camper and car in the pull through spot provided a nice barrier so our dog didn’t get distracted by people walking by. 

  

The National Park entrance is a few miles down the road. The beach was packed but the trails were emptier. We enjoyed hiking to the summit of 2 dunes. We stopped at the picnic area to have lunch in the shade. There’s also a trail that leads out from camp. However dogs are not allowed on the entire trail so we skipped it. 

  

This is a nice National Park that’s only an hour from Chicago.

Nice campground near the Indiana Dunes National Park 

I loved this area! There was a beach side so you could relax in the sun and play in the lake, and awesome difficult hiking trails! My shoes were not prepared for the sand! The only thing I did not enjoy was that it was very touristy thanks to the many beach-goers. Otherwise it was a fantastic experience

So much fun!

We went on a week day, so the camp ground was rather empty. The grounds were clean and the facilities were nice as well. The firewood at the camp store was super hard and ours wouldn't make a fire.. The beach, dunes and trails were really nice. As soon as the sun goes down the raccoons are out to play. They were around our tent messing around throughout the night, so it was hard to get a good nights sleep. 

A night with the raccoons 

This is a lovely park with awesome views of Lake Michigan & fun (somewhat challenging) hikes on the sandunes!! Campsite is pretty open & not much privacy from neighboring campers!

Awesome Views!

Pulling into the campground made me feel like I was in a beautiful oasis. The trees were really lush and the campsites felt private even though they were in the same area.  All of the sites are rustic, but there is a bathroom with showers. There are also some walk in sites and a parking area for it if you want to feel a little more like you are in the back country. There is also a camp store near the entrance if you need to restock anything. The only thing that I could say is a negative is that the beach isn't right there. It's about 1.5 miles away, but it's so close that it's not a problem. Highly recommend!

Also, on this trip, I got to try out one of my prizes from the June contest from Montana, a Buff headwear piece! I got a few with my Buff gift card, but my favorite is the slim fit. Before purchasing a Buff, I had a similar product and didn't know if the Buff would be any better than what I had. (Maybe not so) surprisingly, it was! It stayed on my head better and the material felt softer and higher quality. I usually wear it as a headband, but there's a ton of different ways to suit a lot of activities. And at only $20, it's definitely worth the money!

Ranger Review: Buff USA at Dunewood Campground

I enjoyed my recent two night stay at this campground for a vintage camper rally. Sites were clean, spacious, hookups were great and the restrooms/ showers were excellent. Very pretty place- not a lot of privacy so if seclusion is what you're after you may want to skip this one. Otherwise, fantastic!

Lovely campground

Workers were cleaning up the debris on the campsite. Unfortunately the bathrooms were locked so we have used porta-potties that did not have hand sanitizer. There was glass and bottles in the sand in some parts. But other than that the sand was really warm and soft for the most part

A quick trip

Wonderful state park on shore of Lake Michigan.  Weekend blows up with people but is manageable.  Great place to ride bikes; they had a swim beach but we did not take advantage of it.  Plenty of hiking trails (3 dune challenge is a must!).  Nice visitor's center too! Definitely check this place out!

Wonderful state park 

This is a really gorgeous place to stay.   The beach is wonderful,  there is lots of room,  although it does get crowded.   And,  of course the sand dunes make this a unique destination from other places.   I would definitely recommend it! 

Gorgeous

Calm lake during August. With slight breeze. Plenty of bathroom facilities. Porta potties. Pathways for family friendly hikes and strolls

Camping trip around Lake Michigan

I wouldn't return to this campsite but it had everything we needed

Mediocre camping

Great sites good fire pits. The spots are close together. The washrooms where clean. Tons of trails and lots of dunes to climb

Very clean and busy in the summer

We had a great time! Park is clean, bathrooms/showers clean, host was nice & friendly..... Pack bug spray Lots of Mosquitoes!!

Very nice park!

this park is right down the road from us. it is great. great beach and dunes to climb with a very clean campground.

awesome park we love going to with the family

**Indiana Dunes State Park** near Chesterton, In is a nice, well kept Campground. Modern facilities that are clean and well maintained. Gate attendants that are polite, knowledgeable and professional.

One issue...poor ole Lake Michigan is having some problems with E. coli. No swimming allowed while we were there. They check the water for levels of toxins etc. and post the information. But to me, even if it squeaked by as acceptable, do I really want to be swimming in it?!

The beach is beautiful, sand white and foliage is green. We enjoyed the walks to the beach but steered totally clear of any water. Climbed up the backside of Devils Slide and enjoyed the boardwalk trail. Eternal the campground and beach. Got sand in all those places you really don't want it.

The campground sites are close and the site we were in had little shade but it was level, bear the showerhouse and drained well when an over night storm started.

E. coli 

our visit to the Indiana Sandune's campground was great. We were able to get in there anytime in the automated that ticket service was really helpful. All the campgrounds are big and spacious.

best place in indiana!!!

We had such a great time at our site for the Questival event in Chicago! Although it was a short stay, we enjoyed the campfire and atmosphere with fellow Questivvalians

Great Area, Very Convient 

Pros: This campground is very quiet, and very private with lots of shade and privacy plants. The bath/shower houses were very modern and clean, and the showers were free! I would say the facilities were some of the best I've ever encountered in a campground.

Cons: You'll pay for the privacy/quiet in this campground; because there is so much thick plant undergrowth, the bugs in this campground were the worst I've encountered in my life. There was not a time during the entire day where I wasn't eaten alive by mosquitoes, and the bugs were so loud at night I actually had to use earplugs because I thought the sound was going to drive me to madness. If you stay here, please, PLEASE take my advice and bring a lot of insect spray, and mosquito netting (in the form of suits or a tent) if you plan to hang outside at the campsite at all.

Other general notes: When I visited they would not accept reservations, but I was there the last weekend in August and had no problem getting a site mid-afternoon. You have to pay by electronic kiosk, so have a credit card ready. And while the place is private, not 10 minutes away is a 24-hour Walmart if you need emergency supplies (or a 4 am trip to forget about the bugs!), which is really helpful in a pinch. The campground is also fairly close to Michigan City, which is a great area with lots of brew-houses, pubs, and restaurants.

Quiet, very private, but BUGGY campground

Loved the camp ground. Visited in May. Not as quiet between sites since there were no leaves on the trees yet. Each site had plenty of space and each site was very different. Our camping area was set back from the parking area which was nice. The bathrooms were clean and there was a sink for cleaning dishes on the outside of the bathroom building. Bummer that you can't reserve ahead of time but was also kind of nice because you could really see the site before reserving it. The reason for 4 stars was the lack of personnel available. The registration is thru an ATM like system. Didn't see a single ranger or anyone doing rounds during our visit, but the headquarters are near so someone probably could be called. Overall this wouldn't be an issue but there was two bus loads of college kids that came up and went to walk in sites. Needless to say, they thru quite the party. One of the other campers went around 2 am to tell them to quiet down. Not sure how often this is likely to happen but with no personnel to monitor, I could see this happening a lot. There are camp hosts, but none were there either. If given the chance, I would absolutely return to this camp ground.

Great grounds, not super well monitored

Campgrounds within the park were nice.
Alcohol is not allowed at all within campground. 

No Alcohol!

the campsites within the park were clean and more than suitable.
beach access to the lake is within a quarter mile or so from the campgrounds comma in the lake view from that beach is fantastic.
The park gets a three-star review from me, solely based on the restriction of alcohol within the park.

No Alcohol Allowed

this is a pretty great camp area if you can get a spot. they tend to fill up fast. Also, a lot of kids so if you’re looking for peace and quiet camping this isn’t your place to go. great for families though!

A little bit of everything

The park is close to me so I use it a lot for hiking and relaxing on the beach.  Most of the hiking trails are on the dunes, which makes for a great work out.  I use it more in the winter because the summers are busy.  The campground is ok.  There arent a lot of sites and they r a little close together for my liking but the park is clean and so r the bathrooms.  

Dunes state park

Very clean and very nice. It was quite busy, but only saw a few people on the trails. Which if you're hiking, make sure you're prepared. It's s different element hiking in the sand, every two steps forward is one step back. But the views are so so worth it. Lake Michigan is amazing, and you can see Chicago's city line in the distance.

Breathtaking Views

Campground sites were a little on the small side.  Bathhouse was better than other parks.  Beach is easily accessible by walking trail.  Sand dune trails are amazing!

Great park in Indiana with beach!!!

Stayed here on a Thursday night and it was quiet, lovely and beautiful. Great sites with table, fire ring, and tent pad. Clean bathrooms with nice showers and kind rangers. Cheapest campsite in the area. 3 min drive to a beautiful beachfront on the lake. Would stay here again.

Lovely spot outside of Chicago

it’s so nice to have a great beachfront in the Midwest. There is so much to do her, wineries and breweries nearby. The beaches are not too crowded. Pet friendly and lots to do for children. This is one of our favorite vacation spots.

amazing beach

We enjoyed this campground, although we would have preferred a more secluded spot. We were out in the open as were most of the spots around us, but there was decent space between each one. The bath house was clean and conveniently close. The beach was beautiful the one evening we went, but our time there was cut short as there were a lot of black flies and they were biting my husband. We also spotted a rough-looking fox who was not afraid of us and clearly used to getting handouts from visitors. Sad.

Overall, I would recommend!

Great Campground, Nice Beach (when not infested with black flies!)

We loved this park. It's a wonderful stop between major metro areas. The dunes are fun to hike through. The beaches are lovely. Many of the sites in the campground are generously spaced with wide vegetation buffers.

An amazing strip of nature so close to urbanity

This is seriously my favorite campground. My family and I have been camping here for more than ten years. We have camped in the walk-ins and the drive-up spots.

The sites are private and the bathrooms are super duper clean. Showers are great.

You can take the train from downtown Chicago and get off at the Beverly Shores stop on the south shore line. The campsite is seriously a quarter mile walk from the stop.

There is an awesome gas station at the corner where you can get coffee and donuts in the morning. Ice and beverages during the day and soft serve ice serve ice cream at night. There are also two wood stove pizza trucks next to the gas station.

There is a nice sandy beach one mile walking distance through an amazing prairie. Great walk at night back from the beach after watching the sunset. Very romantic.

Plenty if things to do in the area. Lots of pick your own berry patches and kayaking spots.

Favorite campground in the dunes

Conveniently located for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore which I used as a scenic layover point in a long drive. It was not very busy (on a Sunday night) and thus was quiet despite the individual camping sites being pretty squished together. However, the quiet at night does mean that you can hear I-94 in the background. The digital registration station for after hours is a modern touch (Credit/debit card only), but it was hard to pick a site since there was no way of knowing what was occupied vs open. $25/night. The bathroom and shower facilities were good. Picnic table and fire circle at each camp ground. Trash, recycling, and dump station for RVs.

The site itself was packed sand/dirt/gravel which was not the most comfortable spot for a tent. Also, it was incredibly buggy and the small gap between my shoes and pant leg got destroyed by mosquitoes.

Convenient

Nice campground on Lake Michigan.
Lots of hiking.
Large swimming beach on the lake.
There were quite a few mosquitos, but we managed.
The shower house was large and well maintained.

On Lake Michigan 

The dunes is a great place to camp if you’re looking to be close to the water. In just a short hike, you can take in a breath-taking view of Lake Michigan. Definitely a must visit camping spot.

Very clean and easy access to the lake front. 

This was a great State Park and loved the sand dune challenge as it got us out hiking. The sand dunes were beautiful.  The views were stunning on top of the sand dunes. The trail is well marked and should only be done by those in good shape.  It is tricky to walk on the sand.

3 Dunes Challenge 

This camp ground was a federal site that was wonderful.  It just had so much to do in the campground and near by as well. We went to look at the light house, sand dunes, lake, beach, and even rode the train into Chicago for the day.

National Treasure 

My calves still hurt from hiking up these massive sand dunes. The view is stunning which makes it feel worth it. The place has a lot of geological history that’s neat to look into. Good place to teach a person how to skip rocks.

It’s like climbing up the down escalator

Reservations can be made online as of 2019 so expect fewer FCFS sites. This is an always full, very popular campground. Being close to the Indiana Dunes is the draw. The campground does offer shuttles on some days from the campground to the parking lot near the National Lakeshore making it accessible to campers when the beach parking lots are full (every weekend).  This is a noisy campground. Surrounded by train tracks they roll through late and early and you will hear them. The property itself needs some serious maintenance and the descriptions for spots are WAY off, with sites being listed as RV that are way too small and the pictures and occasional sizes listed to individual sites are not correct. Our friends have a large pop up and were unable to fit in the spot. Bathrooms closed for cleaning at 8:00am on Sunday morning!!?! Also the Mather loop bathroom showers are DISGUSTING. I think the Mather loop is older and the sites and facilities are more worn out. They desperately need to be power washed. There is mold everywhere. Finally, while I know there has been a ton of rain and there isn’t anything that can be done, the entire area behind our campsite was a cesspool of mosquitos with no maintenance to improve low ground areas. Site 32 described as 35 foot pad, too short and too narrow for large popup camper with pickup. Someone needs to go through and do a better designation as most sites look to be park and tent sites. 

Pros and Cons

We enjoyed our stay at Indiana Dunes National Park with a few exceptions. First of all, as many of the other reviewers have mentioned, the bathrooms and showers were dirty. The noise from nearby trains was very loud, and it definitely felt like an urban camping experience. The campsite was clean and spacious, with plenty of room for our two tents and a hammock.   
  
We really enjoyed hiking the Long Lake Trail through dunes and woods and the Cowels Bog Trail to a secluded beach. We watched the sunset from the nearby Kempil Beach. It was so lovely, but we spent much of the evening picking up trash, which was everywhere. I'm glad I paid a visit to our newest national park, but I'm not sure I would go out of my way to return.

Quiet campground, except for the train

You gotta love Indiana dunes national lakeshore! A quick drive from chicago this campsite is a real good place to get away from the city and enjoy the outdoors. It’s one of my favorite places to go within an hour’s drive. The campsite has everything you need. Modern bathrooms and showers, running water. Good for tent camping. It’s clean and a quick drive to a quiet beach at Beverly Shores. I highly recommend!

Easy camping

If you’re looking to go camping with the conveniences of the modern world nearby, this is the place to be. Located off of golf way rd and duneway pkwy, this campground is located roughly about an hour from Elkhart, if that’s where you’re coming from. They have a few options as far as sites go. Sites 1-34 are reservable online and the remainder of the sites are first come, first served. Also keep in mind, sites 1-54 you’re able to park your car/RV. However, sites 55-67 are walk in only. There are showers and restrooms located center of both areas. There are also water stations which are very convenient. Most of the campsites are fairly close, but far enough where you are not sitting on top of each other. This time around I opted for the walk In. For starters, let’s just say to be prepared for whatever weather may come. My luck, it poured the entire time and was windy. Furthermore, each site has designated fire rings that have a grill. The experience was awesome, it’s $25 a night that you pay at the automated kiosk. There are rangers that drive around during the day and there are signs posted with all the latest updates, rules/regulations. Overall, great experience, definitely look forward to coming back! 

Let there Be Rain and Silence....

Nicely wooded spot with ample space between spots. Decent showers ran out of hot water though. Quick drive to points of interest in park but no good walking to those points. Plenty of last minute availability on a weeknight in October. Very few mosquitoes left by this time. Would come back!

Wooded and private

The campground is amazing! Our campsite had so much room. It was easy to back our trailer into and had room for an extra guest. The beach walk is beautiful! We played on the beach with the dog and took a 7 mile hike through the woods and onto the beach. The hike was very difficult once we hit the beach but my 8 year old pushed through. Lesson learned. I highly recommend this campground! 

Amazing Campground

This is a great area for those who (like us) have made I-80 a semi-annual migration pattern ;-) All kidding aside, this is a perfect spot either to or from the Chicago area. From Indiana Dunes State Park all the way up the coast to New Buffalo, the area is dotted with great little restaurants, wineries, and breweries. Tourist-y without being tacky. 

There are plenty or rentals for those looking for a house-type stay. 

Quick Tip: Prepare for cold water! Lake Michigan is usually pretty cold until later in the summer. 

The Great Midwestern Beach ;-)

Amazing bathrooms and showers. Great tree cover. Minutes from beach and dunes. Affordable.

Great Site

Great campground! Not right at the dunes but a great central location to each beach location. Each site has fire ring and grill grate, picnic tables, and are very spacious.  The bath house is adequate with showers and flush toilets.  There are a couple of stores/restaurants near the camp ground entrance in case you forgot something or just don’t feel like cooking a meal.

Awesome!

This is a great campground. It was clean, the sites are up kept well. The site footprints are also large. We could have easily fit 3, 2-4 person tents.  The hike in campsites aren’t close to each other. There weren’t a lot of rowdy people when we went there. Also, it is a mile walk to the beach from the campground, so you don’t have to hunt for a parking spot. There is also a gas station, restaurant, and liquor store close to the campground in case you need anything. You could walk there as well. When we were there, there was a food truck that was there making pizza! Smelled delicious!

Great campground ⛺️ 

The sites are level, large and shaded. Most appeared to have room for a tent. No hookups in the national park but water and a dump station are available. I would certainly stay there again.

Very pleasant stay in Indiana Dunes National Park.

The campground itself is very well maintained, beautiful, quiet and private. Plenty of space in between each site, and the campground host was the best! He was consistently making rounds and was eager to share tips on where to explore. A bit far from the beach, but a super quick drive to spend the day at the lake. This was actually preferable, as the campground was a nice escape from the crowds at the beach/dunes. Goblin and the Grocer is a must if you don’t feel like cooking after a long day at the dunes, and is only a few minutes walk from the campground!

Great Hidden Camground

Been here several times and still haven't see it all.   National Parks Campground a bike ride away from the beach.  At the intersection of the road to the campground and State Route 12 there is a restaurant, camp store, gas station and a church.  The campground does not have water or electric at sites.  There are water pumps near the dumpsters through out the campgrounds.  The sites are a good space apart.  In summer the leaves on the trees make the sites private.   In the fall the park is less crowded.  The Indiana Dunes are  very large.  There are bike routes in the area and stopping points to look at birds and marsh lands.   In 2019 the rangers had a number of programs and shuttle bus between the campground and the beach and learning center.   None of  these were available in 2020 as a result of COVID.

One time is  not enough

We stayed here in July 2020. Too bad they have no electricity because it was in the 80s and 90s so it would have been nice to have the AC. We made do with our ceiling exhaust fan. Showers were busy and, unsurprisingly,  not cleaned in between users.  

  

We stayed 3 nights and enjoyed having a site within the park so the beaches and trails were convenient. As it was during the pandemic, we socially distanced, but exchanged pleasantries with masked visitors and staff. Even on hiking trails, people would flip on their masks, as did we, when passing other hikers.

  

We didn't go to the beach much as people we not making or social distancing. But there are many historical sites and trails so we had plenty to do. Didn't check out everything that sounded interesting . Want to go back some day!

Shady, well-space sites

OK, I can deal with minimal privacy, but I’m a hiker and I got seriously lost on the woods trails due to very poor sinage. I was pretty furious when I finally stumbled out of the woods and met up with a couple of maintenance men who heard me lecture loud and clear on the importance of sinage. Be very careful hiking at this place. There’s a great well defined walk to the beach. It included a boardwalk that skirts a wetland restoration project that is impressive. 

Sites on top of each Other  

Beutiful 

Beautiful, well spaced campgrounds that are flat and relatively secluded.

Good location, about 1.5 miles from the beach. The walk is not very shaded though so it does get hot.

Campsites we’re very clean and well-maintained.

My only complaint was that we could hear a train pass by a few times throughout the night. It wasn’t very loud but it did take away from the outdoor experience a bit.

Beautiful sites, a little loud

You will be amazed with the beauty of this park. Whether you are seeking family time or solitude, it won’t disappoint.

Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you.  Hikers will enjoy 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.

Wow! A water paradise.

Nice spot, basic but clean. The Pin Oak trees were abundant for hammocks but a little worrisome with the wind advisory. Train tracks are quite close so light sleepers may be woken by the sound, Beverly Shores train depot very convenient if coming or going to Chicago.
A quick bike ride to the the beach and century of progress houses. Lovely sunset on the beach and close enough to make it back to the campground without it too dark via bike. Very convenient stores within walking distance across the road with just about anything you could need if you forget something. Bathrooms were decent, showers and flushable toilets were close by site 57. ADA accessible spots available. Reservations are required this year not FCFS as previous years. 

Great location 

Bathroom facilities were good. Reasonably clean and well maintained. The hike to the beach was fun and not far at all. The dogs loved it. Camp sites are decent sized. 

Camping with the doggos

Site 67 is one of the walk in sites, but it was very private.  Only one other site was visible, so we set up our tents between us and felt like the only people there.  It was great.  The walk in distance wasn't bad at all.  The bathroom facilities were very clean.  The sky was beautiful, and the beach was only a 12 minute drive away.  We had a great time!

Site 67 Douglas Loop

We spent one night at Indians Dunes National Park and we love this campground. Lots of room for our 15’ Ford F-150 and 19’4” travel trailer. Our campsite was Dunewood Campground, Mather loop, site #1.

Beautiful Indians Dunes National Park 

We arrived late and were greeted by staff a member at our site. Very helpful and friendly. I’d totally stay here again. 

Clean, Woody and Quite 

My wife and I stayed at site #8 of the Mather loop in the Dunewood campground. In terms of the site itself, it was $25 per night, pretty typical of a national park. The site was clean when we got there. We definitely had neighbors but the spacing was fair enough. We were just across the street from a water pump which was nice. 
Each loop in the campground has a water pump, dumpsters, a public bathroom and FREE showers, along with a camp sink. No complaints at all about the site. 
We only explored the national park, not the state park. The beaches were clean and nice. We had a nice hike through quite a unique forest to the beach as well. I believe it was the Paul H. Douglas hike. Quite a bit of wildlife. 
The only unfortunate thing is the steel mills on either side of the national park blowing plumes of smoke. The surrounding areas were sort of depressing especially after being in nature. Overall, I would stay again, but the national park itself isn't super high on my list to revisit. 

Tyler

Great Campground, not so great surroundings

Lake Michigan is gorgeous, next to casino an outlet malls, clean place.

Lover the dunes

Very nice wooded campground. Not too crowded. My site was huge! Nice private showers too!

Great park

Compared to the other popular campground in the state park this is way less crowded. There’s tons of trails to do along the lakeshore and none are really far from one another. I grew up in NWI so I didn’t camp in Indiana often but I did here and loved it! There are a bunch of raccoons that can come steal food so beware of that! Overall nice though! 

Great spot to stay if you’re visiting

Very well maintained sites. Typical National Park standards. Gracious camp host. Beautiful National Park.

Douglas Loop of Dunewood Campground at Indiana Dunes National Park 

We stayed for two nights and had a great experience.  Campsites had decent privacy and  even on a Friday night, quiet hours were respected.  We were on a wheelchair accessible site which was the only one available, so there was more pavement than the other sites.

  

There was a dishwashing sink which is always handy.  The bathrooms and showers were very clean, and the free showers were the best we've experienced in a campground with plenty of hot water, good water pressure, plenty of hooks and a bench. 

  

Some noise from the highway and the trains, but I like trains so it was fine.  We wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

Great campground.

Stayed in site 43 of the Douglas loop. Douglas loop is all non electric. 

Our site was big enough for our tents, a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms/showers are really close by which is nice but you do get the lights from the bathroom facing site 43. Not a big deal but if you’re looking for more darkness then definitely choose one of the other sites around 43.

All parking sites are paved for camper vans/trailers but no water or power hookups. All sites have nice huge tent pads that are nice and level.  Only noise we heard was the train every now and then.


The showers are individual rooms separate from the bathrooms. And there’s a gas station and liquor store near the entrance of the campground for fire wood and beer. 

I didn’t get to stay in the walk in campsites but they are very nice and close-ish to the showers. 

Pleasant and quiet

I’ve had a great one night stay at this campground, everything was clean and the showers had nice hot water. The cell service is not the fastest I’ve ever had but it’s been sufficient for watching videos and loading basic web searches￼.

Great Clean Campground - Very Affordable

My partner and I stayed her to visit the national park trails. Quieter campsite with bathrooms and showers. Close to lots of trails, but we did have to drive to them. No electric hookups, but there are a couple water spouts. I would stay here again if I’m in the area. 

Rooftop Tent Camping

Out of town. Quiet campground with that 'in the woods' feel. Bathrooms and showers available. Close to the main attractions in the National Park. 

Quiet campground with lots of trees

**General:** Dunewood campground is located within Indiana Dunes National Park, established in 2019 (The national seashore was established in the 1960s). The Park is spread out for many miles along the coast of northern Indiana and depending on the direction you approach the campground from, it can be confusing. We approached from the east and the visitor center is nowhere near the campground and since we arrived after 6 pm, we had no maps or other information. Fortunately, there was cell service, and we went to the NPS app for some information. The campground is divided into two loops plus a walk-in section for a total of 66 sites; all require advance reservations. Don’t confuse it with the nearby state park called Indiana Dunes State Park. 

  

**Site Quality/Facilities:** The sites are very wooded with sufficient privacy between them. Unfortunately, our site (31) was quite possibly the worst one for a campervan(would not be suitable for an RV at all) but would have made a fantastic tent site(wood stakes separated the“driveway” from the rest of the site). 13 of the 34 sites in the Mather loop were empty both at 7 pm and 7 am the next morning yet since they were all reserved, we were not able to move. The pads were all paved and most of the sites were generous in size. None of the sites have any hookups. We did hear occasional trains passing nearby. 

  

**Bathhouse:** Large, clean restroom facility with showers, not the norm for national park campgrounds. 

  

**Activities:** hiking, beach walking. There were some trails that could be accessed from the campground, but we did not explore these. After going to the Visitor Center the next morning and reading the NPS app, we decided to try the Diana Dunes Dare. The story behind this is fascinating but alas, it was humid and buggy, and we could see more rain was on the way so we only did one of the three loops (If you do all three, you can get a sticker). While there is no fee to enter Indiana Dunes National Park, there is an “amenities” fee of $6 per car ($3 if you have the senior pass) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

  

We had originally planned to spend two nights here but between the weather and bugs, and our site not working for us, we only spent one night. I would have given this campground three stars based on our personal experience, however, overall, the campground and facilities were well maintained and nice.

Choose your site carefully

I prefer this campground a lot more compared to the state park one, especially if tent camping. They have a section of walk in sites that are nicely spread apart, while still only being a few minutes walk to parking and the shower house. 

Great! 

A shout out to Dune Wood campground in Indiana Dunes National Park. Big, clean sites. They are sand/dirt pads and they rake them clean between each guest. We were impressed! 

There is a small paved parking area at each site big enough for 2 cars or epic sidewalk chalk for the little ones.🙂. Plus clean restrooms. No hook ups means it’s perfect for tents and small campers. 

The nearby state park campground is a sea of packed RVs. I’m so glad we’re here! 

There are several beaches within 5-10  minutes.

The only downside- Mosquitoes! Bring the bug spray. 

Big clean sites with lots of trees! 

Loved the proximity of this campground to Lake Michigan! The closest beach within the national park is Kimmel Beach which is beautiful. There are some biting horseflies at the beach, but not at the campground. The campground was fully booked, but not everyone showed, meaning that it didn’t really feel crowded there. We stayed in site #3, which had some good hammock trees. Restrooms and showers are nice, but not as clean as state park and other camping restrooms in the area. Would come back in the future!

Brutally hot but otherwise nice

First time at this campground. Our site was very clean and close to the bathroom witch were also kept clean. Nicer than most campground restrooms. 
We had to drive to the beach but that was not a problem. We didn’t do our research and we’re surprised when they told us we had do go to the visitor center to get a pass to be in the national park. 
Other than that, we had a great time.

Very clean

Hike-to camping at dunewood is a must. You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern. Close to shops where you can get food/beer/firewood etc. venture into portage or Michigan city for some food. Great taste of Lake Michigan for the lower midwesterners! I will be returning.

Best hike-to campsite alive

Hike-to is a must. You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern. Close to shops where you can get food/beer/firewood etc. venture into portage or Michigan city for some food. Great taste of Lake Michigan for the lower midwesterners! I will be returning.

Hike-to is awesome

Used this as a very pleasant stop over on my way west.

Plenty of available sites to book the same day on a Monday night. Nice size sites with a picnic table and fire ring. 

Quiet and accessible 

The sites are decently private with good tent pads. Shower house was clean with good hot water. Acamper sink for dishwashing was a nice bonus. The hosts were friendly. Definitely heard railroad and road noise but that's the trade off for being close to town with good cell service.