Central Avenue Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park

Central Avenue Beach at low water levels.

 

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Hazardous Weather Conditions

Lat: 41.70135900448293 Long: -86.94842778060764

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Parking and Hours

Central Avenue Beach

• 68 total spaces
• 0 oversized spaces
• 41.701488, -86.948473

About this status

About this prediction

Live Status

Paved parking lot with 68 parking spaces. 0 spaces are accessible. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

Fees

7 Day Motorcycle Fee

Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).

Cost: $20.00

7-Day Park Entrance Pass - Family-Size Vehicle Pass

Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).

Cost: $25.00

7-Day Per Person Entrance Pass (Organized, non-commercial groups)

Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Cost: $15.00

Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass

This pass provides entry for the pass owner(s) and passengers in a family-sized vehicle. This pass only works at the Indiana Dunes National Park and is not accepted at the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Cost: $45.00

Annual Pass (Interagency)

Interagency passes like America the Beautiful and The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series.

Cost: $80.00

Annual Military Pass (Interagency)

Active, Veteran or Gold Star Family.

Cost: $0.00

Annual Fourth Grade Pass for US Students in Fourth Grade

Every Kid in a Park (EKIP), an initiative to encourage 4th grade children and their families to enjoy our country’s national parks and public lands, for FREE.

Cost: $0.00

Annual Senior Pass (Interagency)

The senior pass is available for citizens above the age of 62.

Cost: $20.00

Lifetime Senior Pass (Interagency)

A one-time fee for senior citizens above the age of 62.

Cost: $80.00

Lifetime Access Pass

The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to United States citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, that have a permanent disability.

Cost: $0.00

Operating Hours & Seasons

Check Busy Times

During the peak season (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend), the parking lot can fill up fast.

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Accessibility Info

Amenities

Accessible Lot

No

Number of ADA-designated spaces

0

Number of ADA van-accessible spaces

0

Number of ADA step-free spaces

0

Total number of spaces

68

Number of oversize vehicle spaces

0

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Getting There

Central Avenue Beach Parking Lot

One mile north of the intersection of Central Avenue and U.S. Highway 12 in the Town of Pines.

Need to Know

• Facilities – Seasonal restrooms and potable water.
• Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach, littering.
• Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
• Parking lot is paved.
• There are two picnic tables at the west end of the parking lot up the stairs.

Safety

• Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
• Visitors are strongly urged to safely remain on the beach area and not to climb up on the dune slopes directly behind the beach.
• Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
• Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the parking lot and on the trails to the beach.
• In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

• The restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The beach and picnic tables are not wheelchair accessible.

Visitor Activities

• Swimming. 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.

Nearby Beaches

• Lake View Beach
• Dunbar Beach
• Mount Baldy Beach

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Beach Safety

Know Before You Go!

• Wave Conditions and Forecast

• Water Temperatures

• Beach Monitoring (E. coli testing)

 

Rip Currents:

Be on the lookout this summer for rip currents on Lake Michigan.

Before your next visit to the beach, learn how to spot a rip current and what to do if you get caught in one. Always check the local beach forecast for any warnings, and exercise caution.

IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT

♦ Don't fight the current
♦ Swim out of the current, then to shore
♦ If you can't escape, float or tread water
♦ If you need help, call or wave for assistance

SAFETY

♦ Know how to swim
♦ Never swim alone
♦ If in doubt, don't go out
More information about rip currents can be found at the following websites: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov and www.usla.org

 

Drowning? Flip, Float, and Follow

“Flip, Float, and Follow,” is a campaign and drowning survival technique by Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to help people remember how to successfully escape a variety of drowning accidents in the Great Lakes such as rip currents, long-shore currents, and structural currents.

1️⃣FLIP: Flip over onto your back and float.

2️⃣FLOAT: Float to: keep head above water; calm yourself down, and conserve energy.

3️⃣FOLLOW: Follow the safest course to safety: do not fight current; follow current to assess which way it's flowing. Swim perpendicular to the flow. If too tired to swim, continue floating and try to signal for help.