Indiana Dunes National Park

The Essential Guide to Indiana Dunes National Park

"Just an hour from Chicago, this 15,000-acre sweep along Lake Michigan’s southern shore delivers dunes, wetlands, forests, prairies, and rivers in one remarkably biodiverse park, with nearly 2,000 recorded species and more than 350 kinds of birds. After decades of advocacy, it earned national park status in 2019, and each season reshapes the experience—spring brings wildflowers and a funnel of migratory birds, summer crowds flock to West Beach’s lifeguarded shoreline, fall makes dune and forest hikes unforgettable, and winter forms otherworldly shelf ice you should never climb. Spread across 15 miles with no single entrance, it rewards planning: popular areas fill early on summer weekends, Lake Michigan can produce fast-forming rip currents, and checking swim conditions before heading into the water is smart." - Iona Brannon Iona Brannon Iona Brannon is a journalist with a love for food and travel. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines