I am planning a trip to Yellowstone NP from CT. I noticed Indiana Dunes NP and SP was not far from Rt 80. Is this worth the stop or will I get caught in a lot of Chicago traffic going west? Has anyone been to both? Any suggested route to avoid traffic?

Chicago has around 10 million pop and it's always busy on the south side roads /interstates 24/7. All traffic and trucks going to or thru from the east, west, and south have to travel/use these roads because of huge Lake Michigan they must go around the southside of.Indiana Dunes are very nice and worth a visit if you have never seen or been in real sandunes. Although the dunes are much smaller than those going north of them starting about 60 miles north where they will be 300' to 500' high of pure golden quartz sand. It sings when you walk thru/across it and why it's called "singing sand". They will very interesting and a real treat to walk barefood in the type of sugar soft very clean golden sand that continues right out into and forms the bottom of very deep Lake Michigan (923' deep, 100 miles wide and 340 miles long of pure unsalted potable water). We live in the sandunes by Grand Haven, Michigan which is approx 100 miles north of Indiana dunes and wouldn't move away period as it's so wonderful. This never breaking down salt or sugar sized grains of pure sand only occurs in 2 areas on the planet Earth. The Great Lakes, mainly in Michigan and in Australia. The sand constantly filters the water to Caribbean blue color and never gets silty and murky like lakes or water at/on clay bearing soils or runoff from normal lands. We often can see our boat anchor on the bottom when it's 30/40/50+ feet down in Lake Michigan when it's smooth. The real biggies (dunes) are at Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore National Park west of Traverse City, Michigan (about 60 miles of them). Also many very large dunes for the public to play in at PJ Hoffmaster State Park between Grand Haven and Muskegon. 2-1/2 miles of dunes and pristene pure sand beach in the State Park alone with 300 campsites in the thick woods behind the dunes and a very cool visitor center etc. Roughly 1200 acres in size along the shoreline.

Travelnutz, thanks for this very informative post. I only heard of the Indiana dunes. Sounds like on the return trip I would be better off coming back through MI. along Rt 31 and visiting these dunes, this would route me away from Chicago. Do you know how RT 30 would be south off Chicago as it connects with Rt 80? My plan was to take RT 30 across Ohio and IN. and connect with Rt 80 either by RT 49 or Rt 30 near Joliet IL. I just am not familiar with the area to know the traffic in this area.

Stayed at the Dunes last fall.. via I-80 from the west. No traffic problems.

We used to use US-30 to go around Chicago but it's a zoo now as it goes thru a lot of business/shopping areas at 25-30 mph. Actually, we avoid Chicago entirely and go up to Michigan's U.P. on US-31 which is divided limited access all the way north from South Bend Indiana and is called I-96 to Benton Harbor, then becomes I-196 to Holland, and then US-31 from there to Mackinaw City at the Straits and it goes thru Traverse City. Across the huge very high 5 mile long Big Mac Bridge across the Straits to the U.P. and take US-2 west or when coming back east, Excellent scenic route and good roads and take no longer than going thru Chicago but a whole lot more pleasant and relaxing and so much to see and/or do. Sometimes we take US-131 to the Straits as it's also mostly limited access divided highway but it's inland and goes thru Grand Rapids which has over a million pop but is a very neat and clean prograssive city with many tall buildings and has so much to do and/or see. Further south the the Kalamazoo area which has around half a million pop and then US-131 continues south to I-80 at the Indiana border. Thousands of CG's in Michigan and so many are along the lakeshore. Over 100 State Parks to go with the National Parks, State and National forests CG's, county and private CG's. Camping, boating, and RV'ing is huge in Michigan and US-31 goes right alnong the gold coast of tourism and popularity for visitors.At the Straits, there's a short passenger ferry trip (no vehicles allowed on the Island) over to Mackinac Island. Very popular and the ferries go from both St Ignace on the north side and Mackinaw City on the south side. A whole different world!The most popular Michigan State Parks are Grand Haven, Holland, and Ludington with Hoffmaster not far behind. Grand Haven SP annually gets a little over 2 million visitors each year and Holland SP close to 2 million. Why? Because there's so much to do for all ages in these areas and very family orienated and extremely clean, friendly, and inexpensive. Most visitors come back year after year so they must like it! We've lived here for over 73 years now and know.

I would take I-80 over US 30 along the southern edge of Chicagoland ANY day. As noted, 30 is a zoo, very busy road, lots of stoplights and traffic. Traffic on 80 is always busy but only really bad during rush hours, especially (heading west) on Sunday afternoons or M-F early AM (5-9). IN Dunes SP has a very nice CG. Very popular, so you will need reservations on weekends and will probably want them for weeknights as well. It makes a good stop, either overnight or spending an extra day, along that route. I believe it's closer to I-94 than I-80, but still not bad, and probably better than other choices along I-80. In Illinois, southwest of the city, Starved Rock SP could also be a good stop, and not as far off I-80. Again, very popular; reservations a necessity on weekends. I think most of the sites at the Dunes have electric hookups; Starved Rock will be a mix of electric & non-electric sites.

Indiana Dunes NP | Good Sam Community

LowRyter
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
I just completed a trip there.

We stayed at the Dunewood National Park campgrounds in IN dunes (no hook ups). Really nice restaurant next door (Barletts) and close to train station to Chicago. Also great view of skyline across the lake. Mich City is OK place too.

If you want to stay at a nice resort village, I really liked the Michigan Van Buren Campground (electric) in South Haven. South Haven and Saugatuck are destinations unto themselves. It's picturesque. By comparison, Indiana is a little run down with terrible roads. South Haven is too far for Chicago day trips.
Itching2go
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2015
Gjac wrote:
Thanks for all the helpful reply's. Based on the suggestions it sounds like I would be better off taking rt 65 from rt 30 to pickup 80 heading west then return the northern rt 2 then down rt 31 on the east side of Lake Michigan.

I think this sounds like a plan with one suggested change. Rather than use I-65 as the connector between 30 and I-80, I'd go with 49 north which connects into 30 on the east side of Valparaiso. IMHO, I-80 skirting the south end of Lake Michigan and Chicago is a PITA, with lots of traffic. this is, of course, understandable since all of the east/west interstate traffic on the northern tier of the country has to funnel down through this stretch due to the great lakes. But unless you choose to either take I 70 or go north through the upper peninsula, there really is not good alternative, especially since you're heading to Yellowstone and the Tetons.
retispcsi
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
One last word of advice. We will be traveling up from Iowa to Door County and then the UP of Mich. and Mackinaw Is. in about a month. As far as reservations you might want to check soon as that area is mighty popular in the summer. But as said before really a neat area.
Gjac
Explorer III
Jun 07, 2015
Thanks for all the helpful reply's. Based on the suggestions it sounds like I would be better off taking rt 65 from rt 30 to pickup 80 heading west then return the northern rt 2 then down rt 31 on the east side of Lake Michigan.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 05, 2015
On your return from Yellowstone you might want to consider taking the northern route of Hwy 2 into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and continue into Lower Michigan. Plan a stop around Traverse City, Michigan and tour Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. I think you'd be very impressed with the whole area. The Dunes and the park are huge and awesome. The area small towns are fun to poke around and there are wineries in the area. It's absolutely gorgeous.

After crossing the Mackinac Bridge you could do a day tour on Mackinac Island by taking the ferry. No vehicles are allowed on the island but there are ways to get around - mainly by renting a bike. It's a fun day.

Then you can skip Indiana Dunes and head back home. Have fun!
dturm
Moderator
Jun 05, 2015
Good information given regarding US30 vs I-80. I live in the area and avoid 30 if I can - even in my car.

There are two campgrounds, the National Park - Dunewood Campground is a few miles east of the Indiana Dunes State Park. Dunewood is much smaller and no hookups, but is a fairly nice campground. Not as scenic as the state park.

Indiana Dunes state park is one of our favorites for a quick get away. It was rebuilt several years ago and has updated electric service and very nice restrooms. It is electric only, but is a very nice park. They widened the campground sites and access roads so it is a breeze to drive through now.

The dunes and beach are a must see if you are in the area. They have great trails both walking and biking.
retispcsi
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
Stay off U.S.30 unless you want a long slow scenic tour. As others have said use I 80 just avoid rush hour. In fact we will be going that way in about two weeks.
brirene
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
Don't be afraid of taking 80 across the south end of Chicago. They've made many improvements over the past several years, and traffic generally moves very well. Avoid the times as noted by kknowlton above. I've been through there many times and most often don't even have to slow down.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2015
As for the MI. Dunes, don't forget Silver Lake S.P. Put a flag on the front of your truck and an access fee and you can drive around on the dunes. A lot of fun and different if you haven't done it before!
kknowlton
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2015
I would take I-80 over US 30 along the southern edge of Chicagoland ANY day. As noted, 30 is a zoo, very busy road, lots of stoplights and traffic. Traffic on 80 is always busy but only really bad during rush hours, especially (heading west) on Sunday afternoons or M-F early AM (5-9).

IN Dunes SP has a very nice CG. Very popular, so you will need reservations on weekends and will probably want them for weeknights as well. It makes a good stop, either overnight or spending an extra day, along that route. I believe it's closer to I-94 than I-80, but still not bad, and probably better than other choices along I-80. In Illinois, southwest of the city, Starved Rock SP could also be a good stop, and not as far off I-80. Again, very popular; reservations a necessity on weekends. I think most of the sites at the Dunes have electric hookups; Starved Rock will be a mix of electric & non-electric sites.

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