Warren Dunes State Park lies along Lake Michigan's eastern shore, with sandy beaches stretching nearly 2 miles and dunes rising to 240 feet above the lake. The nearby Bridgman area offers multiple camping options within 15 miles of town, ranging from rustic tent sites to full hookup RV spaces. Most campgrounds operate from May through mid-October, with limited winter availability at select locations.
What to do
Hiking the dune trails: At Indiana Dunes National Park, visitors can attempt the popular 3 Dune Challenge. "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," reports Jackie H.
Beach access: Most campgrounds provide beach access, though distance varies. At Weko Beach Campground, the beach is just steps away. Ryan L. notes, "Campsites are about 1/2 mile walk or less to the beach. Nice facilities, and overall kept up very well. Weko Beach is an awesome beach."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer river access for fishing. At Shamrock Park, facilities are designed specifically for anglers. Brian O. mentions, "What impressed me most was that they have a building specifically for cleaning fish, with scales, cutting boards and sinks."
Water activities: Many campgrounds offer boat and water equipment rentals. "The boat rentals were a nice plus. No luck catching fish, and it didn't look like anyone else was either. The setting was great," shares Sarah K. about her experience at Bear Cave Campground.
What campers like
Beach quality: Thousand Trails Bear Cave offers a different waterfront experience than Lake Michigan. One visitor commented, "Crystal clear waters and soft sand. Great for kids! Excellent site too although we needed a bobcat to help us in and out, but the owner is super friendly."
Recreation facilities: Many campsites offer additional amenities beyond natural features. At Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the variety. Jeffrey S. notes, "There is also the Dunes-Kankakee bike trail that leads from the park and ties to the Calumet trail that also connects to several other trails offering miles of bike trail options."
Evening activities: Campgrounds often organize special events during summer months. Kelsey G. mentions, "During the summer there are live music concerts out on the beach" at Weko Beach Campground.
Shower facilities: Shower quality varies between campgrounds. According to Heidi S., "The bathroom seemed newer (South modern loop) with clean bathrooms (cleaned at least twice a day) and private shower stalls" at Warren Dunes State Park Campground.
What you should know
Site selection: At Potato Creek State Park, site location matters for noise levels. Frank M. advises, "We recommend securing a spot in the back sites 230-287 for larger lots and quieter atmosphere. Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust."
Alcohol policies: Rules vary between campgrounds, with some strictly prohibiting alcohol. Dave E. warns about Warren Dunes: "One setback was that you can't bring alcohol into the park. If you think the rangers don't enforce that rule, you're wrong. Our neighbors got busted for it when we were there."
Noise considerations: Train noise affects some campgrounds. Kaley A. mentions Indiana Dunes State Park has "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."
Cell coverage: Some campgrounds have limited connectivity. Jack notes about Bear Cave Campground: "It's a very nice off the grid camping with no cell service but if you want wifi then its 5.95 per day or if your here for a week + then 34.95 for the month."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday offers numerous child-friendly amenities. Cassie B. shares, "It was small enough for our kids to ride bikes around alone and they frequented the park, which we could see from our site. Jumping pillow & mini golf were also a hit."
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds organize regular activities for children. Traci J. notes at Warren Dunes, "Really nice bathrooms/showers but not enough when campground is full. The bathrooms are cleaned well twice a day and there are multiple playgrounds for the kiddos."
Beach conditions: Beaches vary in terms of kid-friendliness. As Curtis notes about Fuller's Resort: "The beach is very nice and it's a great lake. Water is warm and the lake is big enough to have boats on it. You can rent canoes & paddle boards."
Weather preparedness: Temperatures can fluctuate significantly, even during summer. Katie O. cautions about Indiana Dunes National Park: "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."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: At Weko Beach Campground, Lee D. advises, "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."
Hookup access: Electric access points can be distant from some sites. Frank M. recommends at Potato Creek State Park, "Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."
Dump station timing: RVers should plan for potentially busy dump stations. Jeffrey S. observes at Indiana Dunes State Park, "Two dump stations made wait minimal."
Seasonal sites: Many campgrounds have long-term residents. Jack explains, "Most of the full hookups are taken 1st by the annuals. Sucks really but they do have an onsite honeypot which will suck out your tanks for $10 each time around."
Legend
