Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes is a surprise, a national park of sweeping sand dunes and open beaches, strung along the southern shore of Lake Michigan within sight of Chicago's skyline. One of America's newest national parks, redesignated in 2019, it protects a ribbon of shoreline where great wind-sculpted dunes rise behind wide, freshwater beaches.

Sand, water and unexpected variety

What makes it special is the diversity packed into a small area: beaches and towering dunes give way to oak savanna, wetlands, bogs and woodland, making this one of the most biologically varied parks in the country and a magnet for birdwatchers. You can climb a dune for a view across the lake to distant Chicago, then wander a marsh boardwalk minutes later. Because Lake Michigan is so vast, the 'beach' feels almost coastal, without a drop of salt water.

For a UK family, it's an easy, low-key contrast to the dramatic western parks: a place to swim, walk the dune trails and let teens burn off energy on the sand, all within an hour or so of a major city. Genuinely relaxed, and easy to fold into a Chicago trip.

You come to Indiana Dunes for the unlikely joy of a proper beach day inside a national park, with Chicago shimmering across the water. It's the antidote to the big, effortful western parks: no permits, no long approaches, just sand, freshwater swimming and dune trails that teens can scramble up until they're satisfyingly worn out. The famous 3 Dune Challenge, up and over the park's three tallest dunes, is a proper little workout with a lake-and-skyline payoff. Beyond the beaches lies a startling variety of habitats, wetlands, bogs, oak savanna, that make it one of the best birding spots in the Midwest. Its real gift is convenience: an hour from Chicago's airports, it slots neatly onto the front or back of a city break, giving a UK family a genuine outdoor day without committing to a full wilderness expedition. Easy, breezy and better than it sounds.

A car is the most flexible way to explore, as the park stretches in a thin band along roughly 15 miles of shoreline, with beaches, trailheads and the visitor centre scattered along it and threaded through by public roads and the town of Chesterton. There's no park shuttle, so you'll drive between the various beaches (West Beach, Kemil, Porter) and inland trailheads. Distances are short and roads are ordinary, so this is easy, undramatic driving with none of the mountain passes or seasonal closures of the western parks, though some beach car parks and facilities operate seasonally and can fill on hot summer weekends. Arrive early on busy days to secure parking. Within each beach or trail area, everything is walkable, and boardwalks link many of the wetland and dune sections.

Unusually for a US national park, Indiana Dunes is reachable by train: the South Shore Line runs from downtown Chicago and O'Hare-adjacent connections to stations near the park, making a car-free day trip genuinely feasible. From the stations, some beaches and trails are within walking distance, though not all corners of the park are easily reached on foot. For maximum flexibility, especially if you want to hop between several beaches and inland trailheads, a hire car is still the better choice, and essential if you plan to combine the dunes with wider exploration. But for a simple beach-and-city break, the train is a real, welcome alternative.

• Take on the 3 Dune Challenge for the best effort-to-reward ratio, three steep dunes, big lake views, and worn-out teens by the end.
• Weekday mornings are far quieter; this park draws big weekend crowds from Chicago in summer.
• Indiana Dunes State Park sits within the national park boundary and charges its own fee, be aware you may pass between the two.
• Bring water shoes; Lake Michigan is chilly and the sand scorches on hot days.
• Spring and autumn are prime birding, the marshes and savannas draw remarkable variety on migration.
• Check for beach hazard and rip current warnings before swimming, the lake can turn rough.

Indiana Dunes has a classic Midwest climate. Summers are warm to hot and humid, ideal for the beaches, but bring sun protection and plenty of water, as the open sand offers little shade and gets fiercely hot underfoot. Spring and autumn are cooler and often lovely for walking and birding; pack layers, as lake breezes can be brisk even on mild days. Winters are cold, sometimes snowy, and the beaches take on a stark, wind-blown beauty, dress warmly if visiting then. Lake Michigan moderates the temperature but also generates sudden weather and, at times, rough water and rip currents, so heed posted swimming advisories. In short: swimwear and sun cream in summer, a windproof layer the rest of the year.

Indiana Dunes' great advantage is proximity to Chicago. Chicago Midway (MDW) is the closest major airport, around an hour's drive, while O'Hare (ORD) is a little further at roughly 75 to 90 minutes but often the easier gateway for UK travellers, as it takes direct flights from London and other UK cities. South Bend (SBN) is nearer but has fewer connections. From the UK, O'Hare is the natural choice: fly direct, then pick up a hire car. The drive out to the dunes along the lakeshore is simple interstate motoring. Because the park sits so close to the city, many families treat it as a day trip from a Chicago base or bookend a city break with a beach day here. If you'd rather not drive, the South Shore Line commuter train from Chicago stops near the park, a genuinely useful option.