West Beach Picnic Shelters
Closed — Open daily year-round from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time. Picnic shelters are reservable through Recreation.gov up to six months in advance for day use.
Special Weather Statement issued January 19 at 3:05AM CST by NWS Chicago IL
Narrow bands of snow showers will continue at times through early this morning over portions of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Visibility may drop below 1 mile at times directly beneath one of these bands and lead to hazardous travel conditions. Strong west northwest winds gusting up to 40 mph will also lead to blowing and drifting snow, especially in rural and open areas. Use extra caution if traveling early this morning!
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 3:03AM CST until January 19 at 12:00PM CST by NWS Chicago IL
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero. * WHERE...Benton, Jasper, Lake IN, Newton, and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Until noon CST /1 PM EST/ today. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
About
West Beach Picnic Shelters provides an exceptional day-use picnic experience at Indiana Dunes National Park along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The facility features 8 covered picnic shelters that are wheelchair accessible and reservable up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov. Each reservation allows day use from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time. The shelters are equipped with grills for cooking, and visitors may also bring approved portable grills. The West Beach area offers extensive amenities including year-round restrooms and potable water at the main parking lot, with seasonal restrooms, potable water, showers, and lockers available at the bath house. The large paved parking lot accommodates 600 cars and 20 buses or RVs. Visitors can enjoy beach access, swim in Lake Michigan during summer months, and explore the West Beach Trails including the popular Dunes Succession Trail with its 250 stairs offering sweeping lake views. The facility is located at 376 North County Line Road in Gary, Indiana, within the diverse 16,000-acre national park that features 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 50 miles of hiking trails through dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests. Pets are permitted on leash throughout the area except the lifeguarded swimming zone during summer.
Directions
376 North County Line Road, Gary, IN 46403. The facility is located within Indiana Dunes National Park at West Beach.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | Yes |
| Price | $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | Yes |
| 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 |
Availability
Photos
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