Chesterton sits at the southern tip of Lake Michigan with an elevation of 640 feet. The surrounding camping areas feature a mix of sandy dune environments and forested terrain with oak and maple trees. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with cooler nights, while fall camping features color changes typically beginning in mid-October.
What to do
Beach access and swimming: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground offers direct hiking access to Lake Michigan beaches. A camper noted, "The nature center is right next to the campground. The pavilion is being renovated, the ice cream shop was open, but they were still doing construction on the rest."
Dune hiking: Complete the 3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground. "If you are able, do the 3 dune challenge. It wasn't easy for this old body, but I was glad to have marked it off my list," shares one visitor.
Kayaking and fishing: Thousand Trails Bear Cave offers river access. "Great kayaking and fishing campground! Bathrooms need work but I have my own so it didn't really affect me. Beautiful area and really nice campsites," according to a camper.
River swimming: Lake Alexander RV Park provides river swimming opportunities about 45 minutes from Chesterton. "There's a river that's a 5 min walk from the campground that we swam in and it kept us cool from the heat," mentions one visitor.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Michigan City Campground receives high marks for cleanliness. "The shower/Bathroom situation is actually fairly nice for a campground! The water pressure was great, and the hot water was amazing," reports a camper.
Security features: Gated access provides peace of mind at several rv parks in Chesterton, Indiana area. "Love the secure entrance and key card access. Pool and bathrooms were clean, although the bathroom could use a slight update," writes one Michigan City Campground visitor.
Lake views: Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park offers lake access. "There was a nice big field for the dog to run. Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly," notes a camper.
Spacious sites: Some campgrounds offer larger sites for bigger rigs. "Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago," explains one reviewer.
What you should know
Train noise: At certain Chesterton Indiana camping areas, passing trains can disrupt sleep. "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," explains a camper at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Site selection matters: Site quality varies across rv parks near Chesterton. "The sites are not big rig friendly. We are 35' and barely fit," noted one camper about certain sites at state parks in the region.
Water limitations: Many campgrounds offer electricity but limited water options. One camper at Indiana Dunes explains, "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."
Seasonal operation: Oak Lake RV Resort operates from April 15 to October 15, typical of many campgrounds in the region. A visitor notes, "Great park just off interstate. Gated for security and plenty of shade."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. "Pulled 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," says one Oak Lake RV Resort visitor.
Recreation amenities: Love's RV Stop-Demotte includes family-friendly features. "Great stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids."
Swimming options: Multiple locations offer water recreation. "Pond swimming & obstacle course, movies on our inflatable screen, golf cart glow parades, s'mores, homemade campfire pizzas & endless family memories," shares an Oak Lake RV Resort camper about their extended family stay.
Weekend traffic considerations: Plan around busy times. "Indiana 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."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup options: Most rv parks near Chesterton, Indiana offer different hookup levels. "Found this on Dyrt and stopped for one night. Easy on and off I 65 yet barely any traffic noise. It just opened and it is well designed," notes a Love's RV Stop visitor.
Check electrical systems: Inspect hookups upon arrival. "The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue."
Site surface variations: Be aware of different site compositions. "This place is more of a trailer park for more long term residents. They don't provide any showers toilets or wifi. As well every spot has cemented runners which is a nice touch but you must back into them," explains a visitor to Woodland Village Mobile Home & RV Park.
Self-contained recommendations: When camping at sites with limited amenities, prepare accordingly. "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."
