Indiana Dunes National Park
Hours
Open daily · 6:00AM - 11:00PM
Entrance Fee
$25.00
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Trailie
Build your Indiana Dunes itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Indiana Dunes National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Indiana Dunes at a glance
- Best time
- February–May, September–December
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- 1966 Hiking Challenge
- Nearby city
- Porter, IN
Explore this park
Alerts(3)
Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
NPS detailsMarquette Greenway construction will require closing sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail (April–December 2026) and Little Calumet / Mnoké Prairie Trail (May–December 2026). Closure dates may shift as work progresses. Please follow all posted closures and check the park website or NPS App for updates.
Partial Trail Closure at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
Closed portion of Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail along Burns Waterway due to unsafe conditions from erosional damage. This trail portion will remain closed while funding is sought for repair work. Pier access remains open on either side of closure.
Partial Trail Closure - Cowles Bog - South Lot (Greenbelt)
NPS detailsThe southern (Greenbelt) trailhead (parking lot) of the Cowles Bog trail of near the NIPSCO Electric Substation will be closed to allow for contaminant removal work along the trail, which will be blocked during the construction process, from July 6 to July 8. Dates are subject to change. The bike trail will not be affected. As an alternate entryway to the Cowles Bog trail, park at the northern trailhead (turn right at the Dunes Acres entrance).
Common questions
Planning Indiana Dunes
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 2 reservation types on the Permits tab, including Indiana Dunes National Park Programs and Tours and Art in the Park-All Ages. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
