• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

    Indiana Dunes

    National Lakeshore Indiana

Central Avenue Access Point

Park Facility

Trail Map

Latitude

Longitude

Street Address
Central Avenue Access Point no trail map 041.42.05N 087.05.15W Central Avenue & Valley Avenue, Michigan City 46360
 
Visitor Activities:
  • No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous.
  • During the spring and summer watch the Bank Swallows come and go from their nests in the dunes.
  • Observe the dragon flies fly overhead as you walk to the beach.
Facilities:
  • Area opens at 7 a.m. and closes 30 minutes past sunset, daily, in spring, summer and fall
  • Area closed, November 15 to April 15
  • 100-car parking lot
  • Restrooms
  • Information board listing current park activities
 

Driving Directions:

  1. Starting at I-94 and Indiana 49, go north about 3 miles to U.S. Highway 12.
  2. Take the U.S. Highway 12 exit (exit is on the left). Go right (east) 7 miles on U.S. Highway 12 to Central Ave.
  3. Turn left (north), go 1 mile to the parking area for Central Avenue Access Point that is on the left (west) side of the road.
 
central_driving_map

Did You Know?

water color painting of a wetland

Poet Carl Sandburg and Artist Frank Dudley were inspired by the dunes. Today, through the park's Artist-in-Residence program, artists come to the dunes to create and share their work.