Camping options within 30 miles of Dune Acres, Indiana range from lakefront sites to wooded retreats with family-friendly activities. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures of 85°F and cold winters that can drop below 20°F. Most campgrounds in the region offer extended seasonal availability from April through October, with a few providing year-round access.
What to do
Explore Lake Michigan beaches: Thousand Trails Bear Cave in Buchanan is situated near Lake Michigan's shoreline. One camper notes, "Close to nearby Lake Michigan and beaches. Great for a few nights and the weather was perfect!"
Enjoy waterway recreation: Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park provides access to Cedar Lake with boating opportunities. A visitor explains, "There was a nice big field for the dog to run. Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly."
Try fishing: Lake Alexander RV Park offers excellent fishing opportunities along the Kankakee River. One camper shared, "Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River."
What campers like
Secure accommodations: Michigan City Campground provides gated access for added security. A reviewer mentioned, "Gated campground so not just anyone can come in, very clean and a nice pool" while another appreciated the "secure entrance and key card access."
Convenient overnight stops: Love's RV Stop offers easy access for travelers passing through the region. As one camper stated, "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."
Natural beauty: Thousand Trails Bear Cave features scenic outdoor spaces. A reviewer shared, "We love this quaint little campground. Great clubhouse with library, air hockey, beautiful views... There was still a playground, pool and little walking trail near the waterfall."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Oak Lake RV Resort operates from April 15 to October 15, similar to other regional campgrounds. Lake Alexander RV Park notes, "They're open from April 15 to October 15" with comparable rates for different site types.
Facilities availability: Woodland Village Mobile Home & RV Park has limited facilities. A reviewer pointed out, "This place is more of a trailer park for more long term residents. They don't provide any showers toilets or wifi."
Transportation options: Michigan City Campground offers convenient access to Chicago via public transit. One reviewer explained, "For those who wish to visit the city, the South Shore commuter train will transport visitors from Michigan City to Chicago without the hassle of city traffic and expensive parking fees."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground offers beach access with lifeguard supervision. A camper shared, "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."
Playground proximity: Oak Lake RV Resort has convenient play areas for children. One camper noted, "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."
Structured activities: Bear Cave RV Campground provides recreational options for families. A visitor reported, "Great clubhouse with library, air hockey, beautiful views, but most of the coin operated games were out of order. The cave was closed with no plan to reopen in 2025. But even without the cave there was still a playground, pool and little walking trail near the waterfall."
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: Bear Cave RV Campground has varying site types and hookup availability. One RVer explained, "The only sewer hook-ups are all taken by seasonal campers" while another mentioned that "most of the full hookups are taken 1st by the annuals."
Campground navigation: Love's RV Stop provides easy maneuvering for larger rigs. A camper noted, "Clean and convienent. Great stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities... Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online."
Electrical considerations: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground offers electric-only sites. A visitor mentioned, "The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight... There was plenty of room to maneuver around with our 37' motorhome."