Indiana / Porter County / Beverly Shores / Indiana Dunes National Park

Central Avenue Walk-in Sites

Closed — Closed for the season. Open annually from April 1 through November 2. Reservations available up to 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov.

About

Central Avenue Walk-in Sites is a primitive campground located within Indiana Dunes National Park along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This intimate campground features just 5 walk-in tent sites, each requiring a hike between 0.1 and 0.6 miles from the Central Beach parking lot up a large hill with uneven terrain. Each campsite includes a picnic table and communal fire ring. The campground offers a more secluded camping experience while still providing easy access to Central Avenue Beach, less than 5,000 feet away. Campers can explore 50 miles of trails through rugged dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests, or enjoy swimming and beachcombing along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The park's diverse ecosystems include four National Natural Landmarks and provide excellent opportunities for bird watching, hiking, and nature observation. This is a pack-in, pack-out campground with no potable water available, so campers must bring their own water supply. A vault toilet is located at the Central Beach parking lot. The primitive nature of these sites makes them ideal for experienced campers seeking a quieter, more nature-immersed experience within easy reach of the park's beaches and trail system.

Directions

The Central Beach parking lot is located one mile north of the intersection of Central Avenue and U.S. Highway 12 in the Town of Pines. Park in the Central Beach parking lot. Campsites are walk-in only, requiring a hike of 0.1 to 0.6 miles up a large hill with uneven terrain.

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