The Indiana Dunes in northern Indiana tower almost 200 feet above Lake Michigan and have formed over thousands of years.
It’s also a spot to enjoy miles of sandy beaches and nature preserves. Here’s a look at what you should know if you’re heading up to the lake this holiday weekend.
What can I do at the Indiana Dunes?
The Dunes, now a national park, has a diverse range of wildlife over its 15,000 acres. According to the National Park Service website, among other activities, visitors can:
How to get to Indiana Dunes
It’ll take you less than 3 hours to travel to the Dunes from Indianapolis via I-65.
Indiana Dunes National Park admission
An entrance pass is required to enter the state park or national park area at the Indiana Dunes. It’s $15 per person; $20 for a motorcycle; or $25 for a private vehicle, and can be purchased on site or online. There’s also an annual national park pass for $45 and a National Park Service pass for $80.
Find more information about fees and passes at nps.gov.
Indiana Dunes State Park admission
The state park includes more than 1,500 acres of nature preserves and landmarks. The daily entrance fee is $7 per vehicle for Indiana residents; and $12 for nonresidents.
Which Indiana Dunes beaches are closed?
Click here for a list of alerts and information about conditions at the Dunes.
Are there fireworks at Indiana Dunes for the 4th of July?
Fourth of July celebrations are taking place in communities near the national landmark, including Hebron, Portage, Porter and Valparaiso.
How photogenic are the Indiana Dunes?
A recent study by a company called Chicks Gold named the Indiana Dunes National Park one of the most photogenic in the U.S. Its research looked at Instagram hashtags to rank sites based on the highest “hashtags per acre,” according to a news release.
Here’s what else made the list:
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Is a Lake Michigan beach on your 4th of July list? Fireworks, camping, more near Indiana Dunes
Reporting by Jenny Porter Tilley and Joe Mutascio, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
