An Inside Look at Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center

Without a doubt, the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is our “go-to spot” when visiting the Indiana Dunes community. It is often referred to as the Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is full of information about the Indiana Dunes State Park, the Indiana Dunes National Park, surrounding duneland community and local dining, as well as shopping and attractions for the whole family.

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Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is operated by Indiana Dunes Tourism, in partnership with the Indiana Dunes National Park, and is where you’ll find the best information on all things “Indiana Dunes.”

Conveniently located just north of the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90) and Interstate 94, the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is minutes away from the Indiana Dunes State Park, the Indiana Dunes National Park and top local attractions.

In addition to speaking with staff about things to do around the Dunes, guests to the Visitor Center can also take a stroll along the Art Walk, attend an educational film in the theater, or enjoy artwork, wildlife and interactive displays in the Exhibit Hall.

Come Inside the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center

Lobby

The Indiana Dunes and Northwest Indiana community have a lot to offer and thankfully the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is here to help you make the most of your visit.

In the lobby, you’ll find brochures and magazines with tons of information on:

• Local Duneland Communities
• Places of Interest
• Activities
• Dining
• Lodging
• Indiana Dunes State Park
• Indiana Dunes National Park

By the way, the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center even offers Travel Planner brochures in several foreign languages. (Chinese, Japanese, French, Hindi, Korean, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Polish and Spanish.)

Pet Friendly

If you are travelling with a furry, four-legged friend, definitely pick-up a copy of the Pet Guide! It is full of pet-friendly places to visit and lodge. There’s also lots of information on pet stores and a list of local restaurants that offer outdoor dining for guests with pets.

If you plan on visiting the Indiana Dunes State Park or the Indiana Dunes National Park with your dog, please be sure to review and follow each park’s rules regarding pets. Overall, leashed pets are allowed in both parks, however, there are restrictions in both, regarding certain trails and beaches pets are not permitted to visit.

Pet Policy Links: Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana Dunes National Park.

Gift Shop

Information isn’t the only thing you’ll find at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center. You’re sure to discover some unique souvenirs in their gift shop, too! They offer a variety of Indiana Dunes apparel, postcards, books, games, and birding guides.

We love the vibrant, poster prints available, that celebrate train travel on the South Shore Line, which stretches from Millennium Park in Chicago to the South Bend International Airport.

Incredibly, the South Shore Line has brought visitors to the Indiana Dunes region since the early 1900s, and it is still in operation today!

Exhibit Hall

The Visitor Center has a large Exhibit Hall featuring a variety of wildlife exhibits, interactive displays and artwork from area artists. A gorgeous wall mural depicting plants, animals and scenery of the Indiana Dunes region is a highlight of this area.

We recommend taking a moment to stop and really admire the detail and beauty of this charming mural. Native animals can be found hidden throughout the painting, going about their daily activities, just as they would in the wild. We’ve played plenty of “I Spy” games thanks to this gorgeous artwork!

Another creature to try and find within the Exhibit Hall is the Karner Blue butterfly, found in the display of Lupine flowers. This tiny butterfly is about the size of a nickel and can be found in parts of the Indiana Dunes. It is listed as endangered, so spotting one in the wild would be quite special!

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If you are in search of ways to exercise your imagination, don’t miss the opportunity to put on a puppet show. There is a mini-stage, puppets, and props found in the Exhibit Hall. There are even wildlife games available to play while you wait for the show to begin!

Nature themed children’s picture books can be found in the reading corner. Perfect if you prefer a quieter way to spend some time together learning.

The Exhibit Hall is a great place to get to know the Indiana Dunes’ unique landscape, and native plants and animals. It always seems to get us excited to explore the region.

Before heading off on your adventure, don’t forget to visit the restroom and drinking fountain. Both are located across from the entrance to the Exhibit Hall.

Art Walk

(Just Outside the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center)

In addition to exploring the Visitor Center, we highly recommend taking a stroll through the property, along the Art Walk. It features five enormous murals and a bench depicting native wildlife that were painted by artist Ryan “ARCY” Christenson. He has also created large scale murals throughout North America, Australia and Europe.

Also included on the Art Walk is a life-sized “Bison-tennial bison” sculpture, painted by ARCY. It is located near the entrance to the Visitor Center, across from the Art Walk map and information station.

Our first stop is always the Red Fox mural, located near the southeastern edge of the Visitor Center. We are fascinated by Red Foxes and love how the eyes on the mural seem to capture their playful, mysterious personalities.

Keep an eye out for the Mickey Mouse ears that the artist has hidden in each mural. Can you spot the mouse ears in the Red Fox mural pictured above?

Also, another treasure found throughout the Art Walk are the beautiful, native plants that have been incorporated into the surrounding landscape. Many of their flowers attract pollinators, such as hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

The Rainbow Trout mural is another favorite of ours and is located along the road, where you turn to get into the Visitor Center parking lot.

Also, there are murals featuring a Deer, Saw Whet Owl, and a Sandhill Crane, which are familiar faces to the region.

The Art Walk has plenty of beautiful places to stop for a photo-op and is the perfect way to start, or end, your visit to the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center!

Know Before You Go

Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center

As you can see, there is so much to see and do in the Indiana Dunes region. Lastly, we suggest checking out the information we’ve listed below, which has helped us to plan our many trips to the area.

• Address: 1215 N. State Road 49, Porter, IN 46304
• Phone Number: Toll Free: 800-283-8687; Local: 219-926-2255
• Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day: Daily 8am-6pm; Labor Day to Memorial Day: Daily 8:30am-6pm (times are subject to change, so please be sure to check their hours before visiting)
• Website (Indiana Dunes Tourism): http://www.indianadunes.com/
• To Request a Printed Copy of the Activities Guide Visit: http://www.indianadunes.com/destination-guides/printed-guides/
• To Download a Copy of the Activities Guide Visit: http://www.indianadunes.com/destination-guides/electronic-guides/
• Connect with Indiana Dunes Tourism on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Check Out Our Other Adventures in Indiana

• Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
• Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center

What will you discover at the Indiana Dunes?

Leave us a comment below and let us know!