How many days to spend at Indiana Dunes State Park

[buckeye_nut]

We will be going to Turkey Run State park in early Sept we are thinking of going on to Indiana Dunes State Park. Is it worth the trip? We have been to Sleeping Bear Dunes and loved it. How do the two compare? What all is there to do there and how many days would you recommend staying there?

[kknowlton]

Does anyone have site recommendations. We have trouble fitting on a lot of sites. We have a 35ft 5th wheel with 3 slides and our truck is an extended cab with long bed so we usually need a pad at least 40ft with no trees close to the back end of the pad.

The Indiana DNR website gives site descriptions, including length & width, as well as distance to (electric) hookup & to showers, etc. I've seen some pretty big rigs there - in general, those sites around the edge will have trees at their back end, and may be somewhat shorter than some of the sites in the middle. We camped in site #71 with a 34' TT, if that helps.

[rav]

while your at Turkey Run check out Shades State Park- its short drive they have some really awesome hiking as great as Turkey Run, no electric sites.
Indiana Dunes- one of our and now our camping clubs favorite state parks in our area to go to. we took them their last year and at our camping planning meeting everyone wanted to go back. those of us that are able to are staying 4-5 nights. we go at least one time each- sometimes twice.
the hiking is great and exhausting through the dunes. nothing better than an evening hike along the beach with the dogs.
Dewey02 has some great ideas- we like to eat in downtown Chesterton.
go and enjoy the Dunes it is a great park

most of the sites are great- the ones along the dunes can be short.

[rockhillmanor]

We will be going to Turkey Run State park in early Sept we are thinking of going on to Indiana Dunes State Park. Is it worth the trip? We have been to Sleeping Bear Dunes and loved it. How do the two compare? What all is there to do there and how many days would you recommend staying there?

No.

I used to live within driving distance to there.

One day to see what it is and that's that. JMHO nothing to write home about. I surely would not waste the gas to make it an RV trip destination. :W

[buckeye_nut]

Thanks for the info. Does anyone have site recommendations. We have trouble fitting on a lot of sites. We have a 35ft 5th wheel with 3 slides and our truck is an extended cab with long bed so we usually need a pad at least 40ft with no trees close to the back end of the pad.

[dewey02]

Chesterton, IN has a great little downtown.
Many places to explore in the State Park and National Lakeshore.
State Park - climb Mt. Tom, swim in the lake or just sun bathe. Lots of wooded trails.
National Lakeshore - Ranger led hikes and programs at visitor center. Visit Bailly Homestead - first European settlement in N. Indiana. Visit Chellberg Farm - historic farm. Climb Mt. Baldy tall shifting sand dune. Various Beaches east and west of the state park. Ride the bike trail along the length of the park. Visit Pinhook Bog. See the historic homes that were transported across the lake from the 1933 Chicago World's fair - House of Tomorrow, Cypress House, Florida House, Lustron House and several more. As others have said, take the South Shore electric commuter train from the Dunes Station to downtown Chicago. Or drive a short drive to Michigan City, IN and visit the zoo (pretty much right on the lake) or shop the lightouse outlet mall in Michigan City. See the 150+ yr old state penitentary.
Go to the Waterpark in Porter, IN right next to the Dunes state park.

[2gypsies1]

For comparison, since you've been to Sleeping Bear Dunes you know that there are many small quaint towns there to explore along with the park. Not so at Indiana Dunes.

[kknowlton]

To do there - hike the dunes, hang out on the beach, take the commuter train into the city (i.e. Chicago), hang out at your campsite, visit Indiana DUnes National Lakeshore next door - just for starters. The CG at IN Dunes SP is great, and very popular (be sure to have reservations, whether weekend or weekdays - and this advice stands for Turkey Run as well). Nice big sites, lots of space between them, for the most part. We've never spent more than a night or two there, on the way to somewhere else, but several nights there would be fine. Personally, I'd recommend staying there during the week, rather than over the weekend; it's likely to be a bit quieter (especially on the beach).

[2oldman]

Beautiful place, I spent my time hiking the dunes.