Picnicking at Indiana Dunes National Park

Wooden picnic shelter in view with a sandy dune and forest behind; as seen from underneath the overhang of another wooden picnic shelter.
West Beach Picnic Area with reservable shelters.

NPS/J.Gruzalski

Covered picnic shelters with tables are located at the following locations along with modern restrooms. Cooking fires are permitted in the provided grills or an approved carry-in grill. An approved grill is a noncombustible container with an enclosed bottom and enclosed sides with a minimum depth of two inches. Charcoal must be cooled and safely disposed of in a noncombustible container or removed from the area.

The following picnic shelters can be reserved in advance:

  • Bailly Chellberg. There are three covered picnic shelters near the parking lot with one that is wheelchair accessible. The shelters are reservable at www.recreation.gov starting six months in advance of the desired use date. The reservation is good for day use from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm Central Time.
  • West Beach. There are eight covered picnic shelters near the parking lot with two that are wheelchair accessible. The shelters are reservable at www.recreation.gov starting six months in advance of the desired use date. The reservation is good for day use from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time. The shelter reservation does not waive the West Beach car entrance fee collected during the summer months.


The following picnic shelters are available on a first come, first served basis:


Picnic tables are also provided in the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education's picnic area and Nature Play Zone, Central Avenue Beach parking lot, Dunbar Beach parking lot, Porter Beach south parking lot, Pinhook Bog parking lot, and at the Tolleston Dunes Overlook. Cooking fires are not permitted at these locations.

 
Picnic Area Map of Indiana Dunes National Park
Park Map of sheltered, non-sheltered, and reservable picnic areas.

Last updated: September 20, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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