Indiana Dunes National Park entrance fee at Indiana Dunes: what applies in 2026?

Direct answer

Indiana Dunes National Park entrance fee (7-day pass)

Exact conditions

Status: Required under the listed conditions
Applies to: all visitors
Place or corridor: Entire Indiana Dunes National Park, including West Beach, Porter Beach, Mount Baldy, Cowles Bog, Dunewood and all trails and beaches
Effective dates: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026
Published fee: $25
Release model: on sale now

Release detail: Passes are sold on demand at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, the seasonal West Beach kiosk, online at Recreation.gov, and at listed local retailers. Nothing sells out and nothing is released on a schedule.

Fee detail: $25 private vehicle (7 days), $20 motorcycle (7 days, up to 2 motorcycles / 4 people), $15 per person on foot or bicycle (7 days), $45 park annual pass. Commercial: sedan $25 + $15/person capped, van $40, mini-bus $40, motor coach $100.

Exceptions and limits

Children under 16 do not need an entrance pass.
Simply passing through the park on roads, bike trails or by water does not require an entrance fee.
There is no fee required to enter the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center or the Paul H. Douglas Center.
Vehicles entering the park to do work or deliver goods do not have to pay the fee.
Educational groups can receive fee waivers after an educational field trip request.
The 2026 NPS fee-free days waive the fee for U.S. citizens and residents.

Open the official action page

Official source

National Park Service · reviewed August 27, 2026

Do you have to pay an entrance fee every day? The $25 vehicle pass is good for 7 days or you can buy an annual pass for that is good for a year from when it is purchased.

Fees & Passes - Indiana Dunes National Park (U.S. National Park Service)