West Beach Picnic Shelters
This is a day-use picnic shelter facility only; overnight camping is not available. The shelters are currently closed and reopen around May 22, 2026. Seasonal amenities including restrooms, potable water at the picnic area, and the bathhouse with showers operate from mid-May through mid-October. Year-round restrooms and water are available at the contact station.
Tornado Watch issued June 11 at 2:02PM CDT until June 11 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 313 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /10 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 18 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIVINGSTON IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS FORD IROQUOIS IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BOONE DE KALB LA SALLE LEE OGLE WINNEBAGO IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS COOK DUPAGE GRUNDY KANE KANKAKEE KENDALL LAKE IL MCHENRY WILL IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA BENTON JASPER LAKE IN NEWTON PORTER THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALGONQUIN, AURORA, BELVIDERE, BOLINGBROOK, BOURBONNAIS, BUFFALO GROVE, BYRON, CAROL STREAM, CHESTERTON, CHICAGO, COAL CITY, CRYSTAL LAKE, DEKALB, DEMOTTE, DIXON, DOWNERS GROVE, DWIGHT, ELGIN, EVANSTON, FAIRBURY, FOWLER, GARY, GIBSON CITY, GILMAN, GURNEE, HAMMOND, JOLIET, KANKAKEE, KENTLAND, LA SALLE, LEMONT, LOMBARD, MARSEILLES, MCHENRY, MENDOTA, MERRILLVILLE, MINOOKA, MOROCCO, MORRIS, MUNDELEIN, NAPERVILLE, OAK LAWN, OREGON, ORLAND PARK, OSWEGO, OTTAWA, OXFORD, PARK FOREST, PAXTON, PLANO, PONTIAC, PORTAGE, RENSSELAER, ROCHELLE, ROCKFORD, ROSELAWN, SCHAUMBURG, STREATOR, SYCAMORE, VALPARAISO, WATSEKA, WAUKEGAN, WHEATON, WILMINGTON, WOODSTOCK, AND YORKVILLE.
Flood Watch issued June 11 at 12:39PM CDT until June 11 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Illinois, including the following areas, Boone, Central Cook, De Kalb, DuPage, Eastern Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Lake IL, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Northern Cook, Northern Will, Ogle, Southern Cook, Southern Will and Winnebago and northwest Indiana, including the following areas, Lake IN and Porter. * WHEN...Until 11 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Underpasses may be flooded. Roads and streets may be flooded. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, with rain rates up to 1 to 3 inches per hour. The most likely areas for flooding include urban areas and locations and received heavy rainfall over the last few days. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
About
West Beach Picnic Shelters provides eight covered picnic shelters for day-use visitors at Indiana Dunes National Park. The shelters are located near the main West Beach parking lot, which accommodates 596 vehicles including spaces for buses and RVs. Each shelter includes picnic tables, and reservations can be made up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov for use from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This is one of only six locations within the national park where cooking fires and grilling are authorized. Visitors may use provided grills or bring approved carry-in grills with noncombustible containers. Seasonal restrooms and potable water at the picnic area operate from mid-May through mid-October, while year-round restrooms and water are available at the contact station. A bathhouse with showers and lockers is open seasonally. West Beach offers access to Lake Michigan beaches and hiking trails. Pets are allowed on leash except in lifeguarded swimming areas. Glass containers, rock/shell collecting, and confetti are prohibited. A valid park entrance pass or fee receipt is required in addition to the shelter reservation fee.
Directions
The address for West Beach is 376 North County Line Road, Gary, IN 46403. The picnic shelters are located near the main West Beach parking lot.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| INDU_Communications@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (219) 395-1882 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Useful Links
| View on Recreation.gov | |
| Picnic Areas - Indiana Dunes NPS |
Availability
Photos
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