Indiana · National Park
Indiana Dunes: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Indiana Dunes charges $25 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). The $80 America the Beautiful pass beats paying at the gate after 4 visits. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $6.25 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $25 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $25 | $25 |
| 2 people | $25 | $12.50 |
| 4 people | $25 | $6.25 |
| 6 people | $25 | $4.17 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $25. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25 | 7-Day Park Entrance Fee - Family-Size Vehicle Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase). |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15 | 7-Day Per Person Entrance Fee (Organized, non-commercial groups) Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | Entry for commercial sedans with 6 or less people. Cost is $25.00 plus $15 per person (not to exceed next highest rate). |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40 | Commercial Tour Fee - Van (7-15 persons) - $40.00 Entry for commercial vans with 7-15 people. |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $40 | Commercial Tour Fee - Mini Bus (16-25 persons) - $40.00 Entry for commercial mini bus with 16-25 people. |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100 | Commercial Tour Fee - Motor Coach (26+ persons) - $100.00 Entry for commercial motor coaches with 26+ persons. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Indiana Dunes via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 4 visits at $25 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Indiana Dunes also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $45.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. June had 16% of the year; February was the quietest month, with about 16% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 86,797 |
| February | 68,915 |
| March | 124,329 |
| April | 137,336 |
| May | 271,854 |
| June | 425,848 |
| July | 423,731 |
| August | 393,665 |
| September | 259,298 |
| October | 202,163 |
| November | 103,630 |
| December | 131,931 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
9 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 6 closures. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Partial Trail Closures on Bailly / Chellberg Trail
Portions of Bailly / Chellberg Trail (with stairs) will be closed through October (10/30/26), to allow completion of boardwalk replacement project. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Partial Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Partially open. Persistent flooding west of the campground currently limits access to the entire trail. Hikers may not always be able to traverse the full length. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Closure - Hobart Woodland Trail
Closed. The Woodland Trail is closed indefinitely, and no reopening date is available. However, the paved Oak Savannah Trail remains open. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Partial Closure - Upland Trail
The middle boardwalk was lost due to a tree strike, making the full loop inaccessible. At this time, there is no timeline for replacement. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Closure - Heron Rookery Trail
Closed. The trail is undergoing tree removal and rerouting due to riverbank collapse. It is expected to reopen in the fall, after mosquito activity decreases. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Partial Closures to Little Calumet River Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Marquette Greenway construction will require closing sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail (April–December 2026) and Little Calumet River / Mnoké Prairie Trail (May–December 2026). Closure dates may shift as work progresses. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Fishing
- Food
- Freshwater Swimming
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Kayaking
- Paddling
- Park Film
- Picnicking
- Playground
- RV Camping
- +11 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Indiana Dunes?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for Indiana DunesQuestions
How much does it cost to enter Indiana Dunes by car?
The NPS lists $25 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
When is Indiana Dunes busiest?
June had the most recreation visits in 2025 (16% of the year). February had the fewest, so June drew about 6.2 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.