Place

Central Avenue Beach

Waves crash against the shoreline. Green blades of marram grass grow in a large cluster feet away.
Marram grass growing out of the sand near the shoreline.

NPS Photo / K. George

Quick Facts
Location:
Town of Pines, IN

Beach/Water Access, Benches/Seating, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Restroom - Seasonal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trash/Litter Receptacles

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.

GPS Coordinates
41.701488, -86.948473 (Decimal Degrees).

Need to Know

  • Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
  • Facilities – Seasonal restrooms and potable water.
  • Pets – Permitted on a leash (6' or shorter).
  • 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

Indiana Dunes National Park

Tags

Last updated: May 14, 2022