More About Know Before You Go: Choosing the Right Beach in Northwest Indiana 🏊🛟👙
Know Before You Go: Choosing the Right Beach
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🏖️ Best Beaches with Amenities
These are the most developed beaches with restrooms, large parking lots, and easy access.
• Indiana Dunes State Park Beach – huge beach, pavilion, trails, and lifeguards in summer
• West Beach – bathhouse, concessions, and lifeguards
• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk – boardwalk, pavilion, accessible paths
• Washington Park Beach – family beach with nearby attractions
➡️ Best for: families, swimming, and full beach-day amenities.
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🌿 Best for Quiet or Scenic Beaches
These beaches tend to have fewer crowds and limited facilities, but beautiful scenery.
• Kemil Beach
• Dunbar Beach
• Central Avenue Beach
• Lake View Beach
• Porter Beach
➡️ Best for: peaceful beach days, nature walks, and fewer crowds.
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🥾 Beaches You Reach by Hiking
These require a trail hike to reach the shoreline, but the scenery is worth it.
• Miller Woods Beach – accessed via trails near the Paul H. Douglas Center
• Cowles Bog Beach – rugged trail through wetlands and dunes
• Crescent Dune Beach – quiet “secret beach” near Mount Baldy
➡️ Best for: hiking, wildlife, and secluded beaches.
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🌆 Other Popular Lake Michigan Beaches
Outside the national park, these offer local beach experiences.
• Marquette Park Beach – historic park and pavilion
• Lake Street Beach – family-friendly with lifeguards in summer
• Wells Street Beach – smaller beach with food options
• Whihala Beach – skyline views and floating water park
• Jeorse Park Beach – quiet and tucked away
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⚠️ Quick Beach Tips
• Lifeguards are typically only at Indiana Dunes State Park Beach and West Beach.
• Many national park beaches have limited parking.
• Pets must be leashed and are restricted in some swimming areas.
• Check swim warnings for Lake Michigan conditions before entering the water.
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See our "Public Beaches" list for additional information: Click for Details
Photo Courtesy of Tim Flint
══════════════
🏖️ Best Beaches with Amenities
These are the most developed beaches with restrooms, large parking lots, and easy access.
• Indiana Dunes State Park Beach – huge beach, pavilion, trails, and lifeguards in summer
• West Beach – bathhouse, concessions, and lifeguards
• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk – boardwalk, pavilion, accessible paths
• Washington Park Beach – family beach with nearby attractions
➡️ Best for: families, swimming, and full beach-day amenities.
══════════════
🌿 Best for Quiet or Scenic Beaches
These beaches tend to have fewer crowds and limited facilities, but beautiful scenery.
• Kemil Beach
• Dunbar Beach
• Central Avenue Beach
• Lake View Beach
• Porter Beach
➡️ Best for: peaceful beach days, nature walks, and fewer crowds.
══════════════
🥾 Beaches You Reach by Hiking
These require a trail hike to reach the shoreline, but the scenery is worth it.
• Miller Woods Beach – accessed via trails near the Paul H. Douglas Center
• Cowles Bog Beach – rugged trail through wetlands and dunes
• Crescent Dune Beach – quiet “secret beach” near Mount Baldy
➡️ Best for: hiking, wildlife, and secluded beaches.
══════════════
🌆 Other Popular Lake Michigan Beaches
Outside the national park, these offer local beach experiences.
• Marquette Park Beach – historic park and pavilion
• Lake Street Beach – family-friendly with lifeguards in summer
• Wells Street Beach – smaller beach with food options
• Whihala Beach – skyline views and floating water park
• Jeorse Park Beach – quiet and tucked away
══════════════
⚠️ Quick Beach Tips
• Lifeguards are typically only at Indiana Dunes State Park Beach and West Beach.
• Many national park beaches have limited parking.
• Pets must be leashed and are restricted in some swimming areas.
• Check swim warnings for Lake Michigan conditions before entering the water.
══════════════
See our "Public Beaches" list for additional information: Click for Details
Photo Courtesy of Tim Flint
Date & Time
August 24, 2025
Communities
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More About Town Planner of NWI
The Town Planner of NWI is a wonderful community resource that brings homes & businesses together throughout Northwest Indiana by providing year-round information about your community.
The Town Planner calendar is mailed FREE via the USPS to over 106,000 homes across the region annually and offers superb savings from local businesses and organizations alongside gorgeous color photos of our area. Our calendars provide daily exposure as your business is put on display every day alongside important events and community information.
In addition to our annual printed calendar, we offer intuitive digital resources such as our website that is sourced locally from many Northwest Indiana businesses and organizations. It features all of the benefits of our calendar but makes it easy for the community to check events, click on local business links, and access coupons on the go.
You can also sign up for our FREE weekly e-newsletter to ensure that you never miss an event or chance to save money. Simply click on “newsletter” at the top of the page, fill in your zip code & email address!
The Town Planner calendar is mailed FREE via the USPS to over 106,000 homes across the region annually and offers superb savings from local businesses and organizations alongside gorgeous color photos of our area. Our calendars provide daily exposure as your business is put on display every day alongside important events and community information.
In addition to our annual printed calendar, we offer intuitive digital resources such as our website that is sourced locally from many Northwest Indiana businesses and organizations. It features all of the benefits of our calendar but makes it easy for the community to check events, click on local business links, and access coupons on the go.
You can also sign up for our FREE weekly e-newsletter to ensure that you never miss an event or chance to save money. Simply click on “newsletter” at the top of the page, fill in your zip code & email address!
Additional Details
Location
Town Planner of NWI
228 W. Lincoln Highway, #188
Schererville, Indiana 46375
Learn More
Did you know you can follow any of our 175 Special Interest calendars and stay informed better than ever before? See them here. You can also create your own public or private calendar here. Post events to your calendar and ours at the same time! Terms and conditions may vary based on the policies of your local Town Planner publisher.
To learn more, watch our intro video!