Campsites at Dunewood Campground (2026 Guide)

Plan your visit with complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, and hiking trails.

Two Loops, 66 Sites, and What Each Offers

Dunewood Campground sits 1 Golf Wood Road in Beverly Shores, a quarter-mile south of the intersection where US-12 meets Broadway Avenue. The campground splits into two loops containing 66 total sites: 53 conventional drive-in sites and 13 walk/carry-in sites for tent campers who don't mind a short hike from the parking area.

Drive-In Sites: What to Know

Four sites are wheelchair accessible: numbers 15, 30, 41, and 55. If accessibility matters, request one of these four when booking. The rest of the drive-in sites vary in length - some have limited recreational vehicle capacity, so check the specific site dimensions on Recreation.gov before bringing anything longer than 30 feet.

Each loop has modern restrooms with hot and cold showers. That's not universal in NPS campgrounds, and it matters after a day on the lakeshore. The water pressure fluctuates during peak hours (roughly 7-9 AM and 6-8 PM), so plan your shower timing accordingly.

Walk/Carry-In Sites: The Quieter Option

The 13 walk-in sites require carrying your gear from the parking area. These tend to book up later than the drive-in sites and offer more separation between neighbors. The hike in ranges from roughly 50 to 200 yards depending on the site - nothing brutal, but pack a headlamp if arriving after dark because the paths aren't lit.

Reservations, Fees, and Seasonal Access

All sites at Dunewood Campground require reservations through Recreation.gov. Walk-ups are not accepted. Check-out time is noon, and new check-ins cannot occupy a site until after that time.

2026 Fees

Standard Night Fee runs $25.00 per night. Holders of the America the Beautiful Access Pass or Senior Pass pay $12.50 per night - that 50% discount applies at the time of booking when you enter your pass number. These passes require the cardholder to be present at the site.

Seasonal Closure

The campground closes November 2 through March 31 each year. Open dates run April 1 through October 31. That's a hard closure - the water systems are winterized, the restrooms are locked, and the access road gates are closed. No off-season camping.

What the Park Website Doesn't Mention About Staying Here

Rangers will tell you that the biggest surprise for most first-time visitors isn't the campground itself - it's the noise profile. Dunewood sits close enough to US-12 that road noise carries into the loops, particularly in the sites closer to the entrance. Sites near the back of each loop (upper 20s and 50s in the numbering) pick up less traffic sound. Worth remembering if you're a light sleeper.

The parking situation here is straightforward for drive-in sites: you park at your site. For walk-in sites, there's a designated parking area near the entrance of each loop. It's small - roughly 15-20 spots - and it fills on holiday weekends. Arriving after 6 PM on a Friday during peak season means you might be parking along the access road.

Cell service drops out at certain points within the loops, particularly on the outer edges. Verizon and AT&T customers report spotty data coverage; T-Mobile users have better luck near the restroom buildings. Download your reservation confirmation and directions before arriving.

Current Alerts Affecting Your 2026 Visit

Three active alerts from the NPS affect access to nearby areas in 2026:

Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail: Construction will close sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail from April through December 2026, and portions of the Little Calumet / Mnoké Prairie Trail from May through December 2026. Closure dates may shift as work progresses. This affects trail access south of the campground - you'll need to check posted signs at trailheads and the NPS App for daily updates.

Mount Baldy Access Site: Closed from late March through mid-June 2026 for sand removal and shoreline stabilization. This is the dune climbing area east of the campground, and it's a popular day-use destination. If you're visiting before mid-June, plan alternative hiking routes.

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: A portion of the trail along Burns Waterway is closed due to erosional damage. Pier access remains open on either side of the closure, but the trail segment between them is unsafe and will remain closed while funding for repairs is sought.

None of these closures affect the campground itself - Dunewood Campground operates normally throughout these periods. But they do change what day-use activities are accessible from your campsite.

Nearby Conveniences and What to Bring

Convenience stores and a gas station sit 1/4 mile north of the campground at the intersection of US-12 and Broadway Avenue in Beverly Shores. You can walk it in about five minutes. The stores stock basic camping supplies, ice, firewood, and food. Prices are higher than the grocery stores in Chesterton (10 minutes west by car), so arrive stocked if budget matters.

Firewood: the park recommends purchasing wood locally to avoid spreading invasive pests. The convenience stores sell bundles. Collecting dead wood from within the campground is not permitted.

Practical Takeaways

• Book six months out for weekend dates between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Weekdays in late April, early May, September, and October are easier to get.
• Choose site numbers 15, 30, 41, or 55 if wheelchair accessibility is needed. These have paved paths to restrooms.
• Request back-of-loop sites (20s and 50s) for reduced road noise.
• Carry cash or card - the convenience stores quarter-mile north accept both, but the nearest ATM is in Chesterton.
• Download trail maps before arrival - cell service drops out at points within the loops, and trail closures are active in 2026 along the Glenwood Dunes and Little Calumet corridors.
• Pack for variable Lake Michigan weather - April and October nights drop into the 30s; July and August afternoons push 85°F with lake breeze keeping evenings cool. Rain gear is non-negotiable.
• Check-out is noon. Strictly enforced. The host patrols the loops starting at 11:30 AM.

For a full list of camping options across the park, including backcountry sites and nearby private campgrounds, see our guide to all campgrounds in the Indiana Dunes area.

Final Thoughts

Dunewood Campground does its job well. It provides clean, functional camping inside a national park that sees over two million visitors annually, and it does so at a price point that remains reasonable by 2026 standards. The site variety - from accessible drive-in spots to quieter walk-in tent sites - means most campers can find something that fits their style.

The 2026 trail closures complicate some day-use plans, particularly for hikers who wanted to use the Glenwood Dunes system or climb Mount Baldy before June. But the campground itself is unaffected, and the Lake Michigan shoreline is a 10-minute drive north. The campground's value is in its location: you wake up inside the park, not outside it, and that changes how you experience Indiana Dunes.