Are you in need of a campground near Chesterton, IN? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Indiana camping adventure.
$25 / night
"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!"
"General: Dunewood campground is located within Indiana Dunes National Park, established in 2019 (The national seashore was established in the 1960s)."
$30 / night
"This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us. "
"The most beautiful state park in Indiana IMO."
"This is a beautifully kept campground just outside Michigan City, IN. It is gated so will need to call in once you arrive to enter."
"It's easy access, clean spacious sites, and how quiet it was considering it proximity to S.R. 421 brought us back again this year. We visited Indiana Dunes National Park and State Park."
$30 - $90 / night
"First time to Indiana with a quick trip to the Dunes. We were disappointed the state park was full but found this campground close by."
"Privately-owned and just a short distance from Indiana Dunes. The owner was very nice and helpful at check-in."
$49 - $57 / night
"A lake with water rentals, floating water slide, playgrounds and sport courts, general store with the stardust’s “convenience mark-ups”,and water/ electric at all sites."
"We were there the week before peak season opened so none of the pools or splash pads were open, but they were very accommodating so that we could still play mini golf and ride around on the pedal cars."
"There is a path to the beach for walking but it is a long walk. We tried walking a wagon to the beach via the road but regretted it. A kind family drove us half the distance."
"There are sand dunes in the park just walking distance from some campsites. You can climb these dunes to the beach ( a farther walk) or take a short drive. They have restrooms/showers."
"We wanted a place close to my elderly parents house and Last Resort fit the bill. Overall it is a pleasant campground with a pool, a pond, and some weekend activities."
"We were super close to fellow campers.On the other side of the grounds around the pond (electric only) sites were much bigger and secluded. Despite the tight space, the kids loved it here."
$25 / night
"It’s far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy. The walk to the beach was not too long. Site one is the only site on the front end of the trail."
$20 - $100 / night
"I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."
"Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."
GuideThis was a hidden gem that we feel like not very many people know about and we loved it. The campground is very close to the beach just a short walk. The only challenge is that most of the camp spots are not level so bring your levelers! Other than that there’s lots of shade trees. The beach parking lot costs $15 but completely worth it! We would definitely stay here again!
GuideI am directly in the sun in my spot. There is trash in it as well. I barely have T-Mobile service (not the camps fault but thought I’d share) It’s ridiculous there are two bathroom stalls and complete strangers have to pass a toilet paper roll between the stalls- for the price I’d expect more. I’m normally uber easy to please but this camp is not run well in the slightest. I only gave two stars for the veterans discount. Last minute RV site- $33. Go elsewhere.
TravelerIndiana Dunes State park campground is one of our favorites. The beach, the trails, bike trails. There is everything to do here, it does not disappoint. Well the weekend traffic can be a bummer.
LegendManagement was very attentive to making sure the campground was quiet and calm. The lady checking me in warned me that we were staying among a cyclist group and to let them know if they got too rowdy (they did not lol).
The campsite was large and beautiful. The restroom area was clean and had soap and dryers.
Lots of nature, chill vibe. Great experience!
TravelerReally great park! It had a lot of really nice trails that were fairly easy to follow for being sand. The beach was well maintained, and had lifeguards during certain hours, which gave me a little bit of extra comfort in bringing my kids to the lake. It had really nice bathroom facilities, and changing room facilities there. There was also a café, but I did not go into that.
The visitor center is nice, fairly large and the workers were very friendly. They had one of the nicer programs that I have been to in the state.
The park sites were nice, most of them had grass and trees, but a few of them like sites 98 through 102 did have sand on them, which is kind of cool. It was also the nicest showers that I’ve been to to date.
The only reason I rate this park a three is that it’s very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long. If you’re a heavy sleeper and can deal with that, you’ll be just fine but us tent camping there was nothing to block the sound, and it kept waking me up. Nothing the park does wrong, clearly, but something to think about.
ScoutPulled in as the sun was coming down after a looong day of driving. Our site was right next to the playground and my kids had a blast swinging, climbing, and jumping while we set up camp.
LegendThe lake and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype. The 3 dune challenge is not really a challenge if you are moderately healthy but it is fun and scenic! The cool soft sand feels fantastic, definitely best hiked barefoot. The campground itself is pretty typical of a state park- decent spacing, level sites and well kept. It is electric only but that didn't really bother us- we just showed up with the water tank full and other tanks empty and enjoyed ourselves. Our site was right between the playground and beach trailhead, but still private. The best sites are the ones on the outside from the beach trail to the nature center. These are up against the dunes and have some shade. The middle sites are more exposed and much less private. The campground was pretty full but had a nice communal family feel to it. The beach and dunes are the star of this show, but the campground is a good supporting actor.
ScoutBroken Arrow is a pretty nice campground. We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and enjoyed our stay. We go here a lot as the In-laws have a permanent spot there. The campers are pretty nice, not too loud, but still know how to have a good time. The office is a bit of a cluster, though. We were told that they don't take reservations, but it turns out they do if you want a spot with sewer in a different area. Those spots are taken up pretty much right away at the beginning of the year, mostly for the holiday dates and Halloween, where the whole campground comes together. The spot we got in the "first-come, first-served" area was fairly nice. There was a lot of room, even though we only have a 22 ft single axle. Most other campers were 5th wheel and fit in well enough. There are shower and bathroom stalls just a walk away that were, in the camping world, clean enough. The dump station is up by their old entrance and in an odd spot. If you use it, you will have to take a long loop around the campground once you're done to get out.
3/5 because while the campground is nice enough, with nice permanent campers, the office doesn't like to answer their phones, and options and questions may be hard to get answered. The site was reasonable at $45 a night with a 3-night minimum because of the holiday.
GuideIt’s just outside of Chicago and it feels like it. It’s like camping in a city park. I kept looking for the hot dog vendor, paddle swans and a bowling pin juggling mime. The lake is a pond but the illegal fireworks were great. I gave it a 2 star just for the free hot shower.
Camping near Chesterton, Indiana, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Chesterton, Indiana, offers a variety of experiences, from serene nature to family-friendly fun. Just be prepared for the bugs and noise, and you'll have a great time!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chesterton, IN is Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 124 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Chesterton, IN that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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