Two parks share the Lake Michigan shore. The state park has electric sites and the national park has a no-hookup campground, and their passes are not interchangeable.
Indiana Dunes is two separate parks: Indiana Dunes National Park (National Park Service) and Indiana Dunes State Park (Indiana DNR). The national park says none of its passes and fees work at the state park, and the reverse.
Indiana Dunes State Park has 140 electric sites with 50-amp service, a dump station and 3 miles of Lake Michigan beach. Dunewood Campground in the national park has 67 sites with no electric or water hookups and runs April 1 to November 1.
Both campgrounds are reservable six months ahead. The state park uses Indiana’s system and the national park uses Recreation.gov.
| State park campground | 140 electric sites (50 amp) plus a youth tent area. Dump station. Reservations up to 6 months ahead |
|---|---|
| Dunewood Campground | 67 sites, no electric or water hookups, $25 per night. April 1–November 1. Reservations on Recreation.gov up to 6 months ahead |
| National park entrance | $25 per private vehicle for 7 days. Visitor centers are free |
| State park rules | Check-in 2 p.m., 14 consecutive nights then 48 hours vacant. Generators 7 a.m.–11 p.m. |
| Beaches | More than 3 miles of Lake Michigan beach at the state park. Dogs not allowed on the beach |
| Fee-free days | National park fee-free days in 2026 include October 27 and November 11 |
Plan around electric-only sites and a short list of site-length unknowns.
Dunewood runs April 1 to November 1. Beaches and trails are good in all seasons.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April–May) | Wildflowers along the Heron Rookery river banks. |
| Summer | Lake Michigan sunsets and swimming. Book months ahead. |
| Fall | Maple colors near Chellberg Farm. |
| Winter | Cross-country skiing in Glenwood Dunes. Dunewood is closed. |
Both campgrounds are public. We did not verify private RV parks around Porter and Chesterton, so look at each park’s own site if you need full hookups.
Best for: Electric hookups with direct access to dune trails and the beach.
Watch out: Pad lengths and rates were not on the map sheet we read. Confirm before booking.
Best for: Wooded sites inside the national park.
Watch out: RV length is limited in some sites and sites 55–67 are tent only.
These plans leave the RV at camp. Bring both park passes if you want to see both parks.
First visit.
Families.
Anyone who wants spare days.
More than 3 miles of Lake Michigan beach. Dogs are not allowed, and mobility mats are available.
Trails 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 range from easy to rugged. Trail 8 is rugged and Trail 10 is 5.5 miles.
The national park lists spring wildflowers along the Heron Rookery river banks.
The national park lists fall maple colors near Chellberg Farm.
The national park highlights summer sunsets over the lake.
The state park gives access to the 9-mile Calumet Trail for walking and biking.
Know which park you are in. Passes and fees do not work at both parks.
Use the free visitor centers. National park visitor centers are free to enter and a good place for conditions.
Check swimming hours. Call the state park office before you go because hours can change.
Towns around the park have groceries and fuel. The state park campground has a dump station. Dunewood has water in each loop but no hookups.
Fees are from the National Park Service and Indiana DNR where listed.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| National park entrance | $25 per vehicle | Valid 7 days. $45 annual park pass. |
| Dunewood Campground | $25 per night | Seniors with an eligible pass get 50% off. |
| State park campground | Not listed on the pages we read | Check Indiana’s reservation system for rates. |
| State park entrance | Separate fee | Not covered by national park passes. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
No. The NPS says none of the passes and fees work between the two parks.
140 electric sites with 50-amp service. We could not confirm water or sewer at sites.
The state park campground can be booked up to six months ahead. Dunewood opens reservations six months before check-in on Recreation.gov.
April 1 through November 1.
State park generators may run only 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Not at the state park beach.
Rules were checked October 22, 2026. The state park page did not list rates or pad lengths, so confirm them when you book.