Campsites at Dunbar Group Site (2026 Guide) — Planning Tips

For more, see Campsites at Dunewood Campground (2026 Guide).

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For more, see complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, hiking trails, and lodging and accommodations.

It's a single site operation. One group per night, and you get the whole thing to yourselves. Located less than 500 feet from the Dunbar Beach shoreline, the site overlooks the Great Marsh and Lake Michigan from an elevated position. As of 2026, the rate is $100 per night with no discounts - meaning every group pays the same flat fee regardless of size.

Before you book, understand what you're getting into. This isn't a full-service campground with hookups, a camp store, or individual fire rings at every tent pad. It's a dedicated group space designed for self-sufficient parties. The park service provides the location, the restrooms, and the parking. You provide everything else.

Location and Layout

The Dunbar Group Site sits on a rise overlooking the marsh. From the site itself, you can see the Great Marsh stretching south and Lake Michigan to the north. The beach access is straightforward - roughly 500 feet down a path, which puts the water within easy walking distance even for younger kids carrying buckets and towels.

Parking and restrooms are in the Dunbar Beach parking lot, 400 feet from the site. That distance is worth noting if you're hauling coolers, tents, and gear. You'll want a wagon or a couple of strong volunteers for the carry.

The site accommodates up to 30 people in 10 tents. This isn't a suggestion - the reservation is capped at 30 individuals, and the tent count matters because the designated tent pads are sized for 10 tents. You can't bring more tents and squeeze them in. The group rate covers your entire party, so splitting costs per person makes this a good deal compared to booking multiple individual sites elsewhere in the park.

Reservations and Booking

You book through Recreation.gov, not the park's main website. The official listing is at recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10177496. Reservations open on a rolling window, and the site is available from April 1 through October 31. Winter closure runs from November 2 through March 31 - the site is completely unavailable during those months.

Rangers will tell you that weekends in July and August fill first. If you're flexible, aim for a weekday or a mid-September date when the lake is still warm and the crowds have thinned. The website handles cancellations and modifications, but there are no discounts on the group rate. No senior pass, no military discount, no America the Beautiful annual pass reduction. The $100 fee is firm.

Call the park at 219-395-1882 if you have specific questions about group size limits or what's allowed. The email address for fee-related questions is INDU_Fee_Collection@nps.gov.

Current Trail and Access Alerts for 2026

Three active closures affect access to the broader park in 2026. Know them before you plan your itinerary.

The Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail have partial closures starting April 2026 through December 2026 for construction. Sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail and the Little Calumet / Mnoké Prairie Trail are closed. Dates may shift as work progresses - check the park website or NPS App for the latest before you head out.

Mount Baldy Access Site is closed from late March through mid-June 2026 for sand removal and shoreline stabilization. This doesn't affect the Dunbar Group Site directly - Mount Baldy is on the eastern end of the park - but if your group had plans to hike the dune, those won't work until after mid-June.

At Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, a portion of the trail along Burns Waterway is closed due to erosion damage. The closure is indefinite while funding is sought for repairs. Pier access remains open on either side of the closure, so you can still get out onto the pier from either direction.

What the Park Website Doesn't Mention

The official listing tells you the basics. Here's what experienced group leaders will tell you.

Cell service drops out at certain points along the beach and in the marsh area. Don't plan on streaming music or making last-minute calls from the site. Download your directions, your reservation confirmation, and any park maps before you arrive.

The parking lot at Dunbar Beach serves both day-use visitors and the group site. On summer weekends, the lot fills early - sometimes by 9 AM. Your group site reservation does not guarantee you a parking spot. Arrive early enough to claim space, or coordinate vehicle logistics so you don't waste time circling.

The restrooms in the parking lot are standard vault toilets. They're cleaned regularly during the operating season, but they're not flush toilets. If your group includes people who need accessible or flush facilities, the visitor center at Indiana Dunes is a short drive west on Lake Front Drive.

There is no potable water at the site. Pack in all the water your group needs. For 30 people for a weekend, that's roughly 15 to 20 gallons minimum depending on weather and activity level. Fill your containers before you get to the park.

How to Get There

The physical address is Lake Front Drive, Beverly Shores, IN, 46304. Driving directions from Broadway and Lake Front Drive: head west on Lake Front Drive. At the stop sign at Dunbar Avenue, turn south. The parking lot is at the top of the hill on the west side of the road.

Beverly Shores is a small community, so don't expect lots of services nearby. The closest grocery stores and gas stations are in Michigan City or Chesterton, both about a 10-minute drive. Stock up before you arrive.

Activities From the Site

The group site's main advantage is beach access. Dunbar Beach is one of the quieter stretches of Lake Michigan shoreline in the park. Early morning is your best bet for finding sea glass, watching the sunrise over the lake, or having the sand mostly to yourself.

From this overlook you can see the Great Marsh, which is a significant wetland habitat. Birders will want binoculars - herons, egrets, and waterfowl are common. The marsh is part of the larger Indiana Dunes ecosystem, and you're positioned right at its edge.

The Dunbar Beach area also connects to the Marquette Greenway Trail - though sections are closed for construction in 2026, so check current conditions. The trail network runs along the lakefront and through the marsh, offering flat walking and biking routes.

Practical Takeaways

• Book on Recreation.gov. The NPS main website does not handle reservations for this site.
• The group rate is $100 per night, no discounts. Valid April 1 through October 31.
• Site holds 30 people max in 10 tents. No overfilling.
• Parking is in the Dunbar Beach lot, 400 feet from the site. Arrive early on weekends.
• Restrooms are vault toilets in the parking lot. No flush toilets, no showers, no potable water.
• Bring all your own water. Minimum half-gallon per person per day, more in hot weather.
• The site overlooks the Great Marsh and Lake Michigan - you're 500 feet from the beach.
• Three trail closures in 2026 may affect your hiking plans. Check the park app before you arrive.
• Park at the top of the hill on the west side of Dunbar Avenue off Lake Front Drive.
• Call 219-395-1882 for questions, but booking and payment go through Recreation.gov.

Final Thoughts

The Dunbar Group Site isn't for everyone. If your group wants full hookups, flush toilets, hot showers, and a camp store, this isn't the place. But if you're comfortable carrying your own water, using vault toilets, and dragging a wagon full of gear 400 feet from the parking lot, you get something most Indiana Dunes campers don't: a private group site with Lake Michigan beach access, fewer neighbors, and a view across the marsh that shifts with every hour of daylight. Book early, bring what you need, and treat the site like the backcountry camp it functionally is - and you'll have a trip that beats anything the day-use crowds experience.

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For more information, see our complete Indiana Dunes National Park Guide.