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Indiana Dunes National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- June[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 2,629,497[3]
- Campgrounds
- 5[4]
Indiana Dunes is a National Park in Indiana and part of the U.S. National Park System[5]. NPS lists a 7-day entrance fee of $25 for a private vehicle[1], and the park also takes the America the Beautiful pass[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $45 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[6].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[10] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[10] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[10] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[10] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[10] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[10] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says the general park areas are open all year, but some areas set their own hours, so check each one you plan to visit[11]. In 2025 the busiest month was June with 425,848 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month that year was February with 68,915 visits[2]. NPS weather data puts the warmest month in July and the coolest in January[12]. June is the wettest month on average[12].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 86,797 |
| February | 68,915 |
| March | 124,329 |
| April | 137,336 |
| May | 271,854 |
| June | 425,848 |
| July | 423,731 |
| August | 393,665 |
| September | 259,298 |
| October | 202,163 |
| November | 103,630 |
| December | 131,931 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 5 campgrounds and group sites in the park[4]. The largest is Dunewood Campground with 67 sites[4]. Other options include the Central Avenue Walk-in Sites with 5 sites and the Dunbar Group Site[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees of up to $25[4].
- Dunewood Campground, 67 sites[4]
- West Beach Picnic Shelters, 8 sites
- Central Avenue Walk-in Sites, 5 sites
- Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters, 3 sites
- Dunbar Group Site, 1 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS rule, pets must be on a leash of six feet or less, or crated or caged, wherever they are allowed[13]. They cannot go into public buildings or onto designated swimming beaches, though service animals are an exception[13]. The park can close extra areas to pets, so check before you bring a dog[13].
Before you go
- NPS lists a 7-day motorcycle fee of $20[7].
- Visitors aged 16 or older who enter on foot, bike or boat pay $15 per person, per NPS[8].
- The Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass costs $45, and NPS notes it is not valid at Indiana Dunes State Park[9].
- The America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass is listed at $80[10].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official NPS park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Indiana Dunes National Park?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle, good for up to 7 days[1]. A motorcycle pays $20[7], and a person aged 16 or older entering on foot, bike or boat pays $15[8].
- Is the Indiana Dunes annual pass valid at the state park?
- No. NPS notes that the $45 Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass works only at the national park, not at Indiana Dunes State Park[9].
- When is the busiest time at Indiana Dunes?
- In 2025 the busiest month was June with 425,848 recreation visits[2]. February was the quietest month that year[2].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 3,177,210, 2022: 2,834,180, 2023: 2,765,892, 2024: 2,705,209, 2025: 2,629,497. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Indiana Dunes National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Indiana Dunes National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Indiana. National Park Service
- Indiana Dunes National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $45. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Indiana Dunes National Park general areas: The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation. National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Indiana Dunes National Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15