A second visit can favor the park pass
Two separate vehicle passes cost $50. The $45 national park annual pass costs less for an eligible buyer, but adds no state park coverage.
Indiana Dunes National Park national park entrance fees
These rates cover Indiana Dunes National Park. Simply passing through and visits to the two visitor centers are exempt.
Indiana Dunes National Park national park entrance fees · 2026 · U.S. dollars
| Pass or entry | Price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $25 | One private family-size vehicle and everyone in it, valid 1 to 7 days from purchase |
| Motorcycle | $20 | Up to two private motorcycles with up to four people in all, 7 days |
| Per person (foot, bike, boat) | $15 | Each visitor 16 or older on foot, bicycle, or boat, or in an organized non-commercial group, 7 days. 15 and under free |
| Passing through | Free | Driving, biking, or boating through without stopping. The Visitor Center and Douglas Center are free to enter |
National park and federal passes
Compare these passes for the national park only. Indiana state park passes are a different system.
National park and federal passes · 2026 · U.S. dollars
| Pass or entry | Price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass | $45 | U.S. citizens and residents: the pass owner and passengers in a family-size vehicle, for a year from purchase. Not accepted at Indiana Dunes State Park |
| America the Beautiful annual | $80 | U.S. citizens and residents: entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation lands for a year |
| America the Beautiful annual, non-resident | $250 | Non-U.S. residents: the whole vehicle, two motorcycles, or the holder plus three adults where fees are per person |
| Senior annual / lifetime | $20 / $80 | U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older |
| Access pass | Free | U.S. citizens and residents with a permanent disability |
| Military annual / lifetime | Free | Current U.S. military and dependents (annual); Gold Star Family members and veterans (lifetime) |
| 4th grade pass | Free | U.S. 4th graders |
| Volunteer pass | Free | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours |
Passing through is exempt
Driving, biking, or boating through without stopping does not require the national park entrance fee. Stop to use a beach, trail, picnic shelter, or other park facility and the entrance fee applies.
Estimate your entrance cost
Estimate one private entry and compare America the Beautiful options using your group’s ages and residency. Separately charged activities and organized groups are excluded.
Standard private entry only. Children under 16 do not pay individual entrance or nonresident fees. Annual-pass estimates assume no existing pass; they cover one private vehicle or the holder plus three adults on foot. Motorcycle estimates cover up to two motorcycles and four people. Check pass eligibility and group rules before paying.
Where to buy your pass
Choose the park’s accepted payment method, keep the pass or tag ready, and bring any required proof of eligibility.
Buy at the visitor center or online
NPS lists entrance and interagency passes at Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, the seasonal West Beach kiosk, and Recreation.gov. The visitor center accepts cash or cards; West Beach takes cards.
Keep the two parks separate
A national park entrance pass does not pay the Indiana Dunes State Park gate fee. An Indiana State Parks pass does not cover the national park entrance fee.
The separate state park fee
Indiana Dunes State Park charges its own gate fee according to the vehicle license plate.
Indiana Dunes State Park gate fee
$7 / $20
A separate state park. Per day for noncommercial vehicles with Indiana or out-of-state plates. National park passes don't work there
Entrance fee-free days
Check the official NPS dates and eligibility for your travel year. Separately charged services and reservations may still cost money.
Find an eligible fee-free day
Use the official calendar before choosing a free entrance day. Confirm who qualifies and which charges are waived.
Questions about Indiana Dunes fees
Quick answers to the practical questions below.
Does an Indiana Dunes pass cover both parks?
No. Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park collect separate fees and do not accept each other's passes.
Does America the Beautiful work at Indiana Dunes?
Yes for the national park entrance fee. It does not cover Indiana Dunes State Park.
Do I pay to drive through the national park?
No. Passing through without stopping is exempt. Using national park trails, beaches, or other facilities requires the entrance fee.
Are the visitor centers free?
Yes. Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and the Paul H. Douglas Center have no entrance fee.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Official guidance
- NPS and the relevant operators. The linked official pages support the access, facilities and rules described here. Confirm details before traveling.
- Schedules and conditions
- Planning patterns, not live status. Seasonal information describes the normal pattern or explicitly dated source schedule. Current conditions are handled separately. The official source is the place to confirm today’s access.
Topic sources and data details
Fees, coverage, eligibility and buying instructions come from the official sources linked beside the tables and cards. The displayed price inventory is dated 2026. Prices retain the listed charging unit and eligibility.
Cost estimates use the listed standard-entry rates and documented interagency pass coverage. They exclude organized or commercial groups, separately charged activities, and guessed fees at other parks. A residency choice does not replace the eligibility documents required by NPS.
The fee-free section points to official dates and eligibility without storing a fixed calendar in this page. Current closures, temporary rules and services are carried separately by Current conditions. A design review does not refresh an underlying table verification date.
Operational source check: September 11, 2026. Design and emphasized source review: 2026-10-21. A design review does not refresh every underlying record.