Indiana Dunes State Park

AGC wrote:
Sorry about that I meant Indiana Dune State Park.

We're going to be passing by on our way to Yellowstone and will be spending a night at Kankakee South KOA (IL). We wanted something to do for the day and was thinking of going to Indiana Dune State Park. We'll be in a 35' Class A and will not have a toad with us so wanted to know if we're going to be able to get around in our MH.

Thanks

Unless you know someone from Kankakee KOA, why would you ever go there? I live nearby. I would move my itinerary to Kankakee River State Park Chippewa Campground. It is MUCH nicer. Again, unless you are meeting someone there, it is one hour south of I80 which is the major route to Yellowstone. I'm sure you have other plans that take you this way, though.

As dewey02 mentioned, Indiana Dunes State Park doesn't really have anywhere to drive but into the campground area or beach parking lot. From the campground it's an easy walk to the beach area. This is a great park to consider a stop over. If you stayed here, you may need to book a site a few days before, or even more ahead if you stop here on a weekend. Also, the South Shore Line trains run all day to downtown Chicago and have a stop very close to the park.(maybe 1/2 mile away) It's an easy way to go into Chicago for the day. We stayed here many times and always enjoyed this park, often staying a day or 2 longer than planned. Also it is far enough away from the Interstate, it's
quiet at night.

I spent a couple of nights at the state park and I had no problem getting around in my 35 footer.

Sorry about that I meant Indiana Dune State Park.

We're going to be passing by on our way to Yellowstone and will be spending a night at Kankakee South KOA (IL). We wanted something to do for the day and was thinking of going to Indiana Dune State Park. We'll be in a 35' Class A and will not have a toad with us so wanted to know if we're going to be able to get around in our MH.

Thanks

You actually mention two DIFFERENT parks in your title and post.

Indiana Dunes State Park was established in 1925 and is about 2000 acres with about 3 miles of beach/shoreline. The park is mostly beach, dunes and oak forest. Only about 1 mile of road which goes to beach parking and the campground (very nice campground, by the way). Only one entrance and they charge a fee.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (the National Park) was dedicated in the 1970's (Tricia Nixon came to speak on behalf of her father's "Bringing Parks to the People" campaign). It is much larger at over 15,000 acres and 15 miles of beach/shoreline. It essentially runs from Gary to Michigan City, Indiana (except for the steel mills at Burns Harbor). There are many places you can drive in the National Lakeshore, including Chellberg Farm (historic farm), Bailly Homestead (first European settler in the area), West Beach, Pinhook Bog, Mount Baldy (moving dune), and various beach access points. Many, many roads that are all driveable by your vehicle because they are nearly all US or State Highways (US-2, US-20, State Highway 49, or county or town public roads. Also a couple of visitor centers to see. The new one is on SH 49 and is a joint visitor center for both the State Park and National Lakeshore. The old visitor center is on Kemil Road and is now an interpretive center. The National Lakeshore has a small campground not far from Kemil Road, but I don't know if it would accommodate a motor home. I used to work as a Ranger at the National Lakeshore a long time ago.

In short, the State Park is nicer for its unspoiled dunes, its pristine beach, its good campground and its many hiking trails. The National Park is nicer for its many and historic places to visit and drive to, and for Mount Baldy, the big moving dune. The national park offers more interpreters and programs than the state park.


Link to State Park Map

Link to National Lakeshore Map

Here's a link to the web site.