Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park

Kemil Beach

NPS Collection

 

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Parking and Hours

Parking Lot

Kemil Beach

  • 96 total spaces
  • 0 oversized spaces
  • 41.677357, -87.00895
The parking lot is paved and there are facilities located on site.

 
Getting There

Kemil Beach and Dune Ridge Trail Parking Lot

One mile north of U.S. Highway 12 on East State Park Road (300E), Beverly Shores, IN 46301.

Note: East State Park Road is called Kemil Road to the south of U.S. Highway 12.

Need to Know

  • Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water.
  • Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach, littering.
  • Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
  • Parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends.
  • Parking lot is the site of a former homesite.

Safety

  • Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
  • Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
  • Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the parking lot and on the trails to the beach.
  • In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

  • The restroom is wheelchair accessible. The beach is not wheelchair accessible.

Visitor Activities

  • Swimming. No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk. Rip currents and large waves can make swimming hazardous.
  • Hike the Dunes Ridge Trail for great views of the Great Marsh. (Although the parking area is open 24 hours, the trail's hours are 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM CDT.)
  • Enjoying the night sky and nocturnal wildlife (parking lot and beach area only): Kemil Beach, which includes the Kemil Beach parking lot off East State Park Road and the beach area is open 24 hours a day. The beach area is defined from a line 300 feet north of the shoreline of Lake Michigan to Lake Front Drive and from the eastern edge of Indiana Dunes State Park to Windsor Avenue.
  • Walk past five historic homes from the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair, which are located 1/2 mile to the east along Lake Front Drive.
  • Smelt fishing in the spring (no permit required).
Nearby Beaches
 
 
Rip Tides Poster

Rip Currents:

Be on the lookout this summer for rip currents on Lake Michigan.

Before your next visit to the beach, learn how to spot a rip current and what to do if you get caught in one. Always check the local beach forecast for any warnings, and exercise caution.

IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT

♦ Don't fight the current
♦ Swim out of the current, then to shore
♦ If you can't escape, float or tread water
♦ If you need help, call or wave for assistance

SAFETY

♦ Know how to swim
♦ Never swim alone
♦ If in doubt, don't go out
More information about rip currents can be found at the following websites: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov and www.usla.org

 
Infographic explaining to flip, float, and follow when drowning.

Drowning? Flip, Float, and Follow

“Flip, Float, and Follow,” is a campaign and drowning survival technique by Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to help people remember how to successfully escape a variety of drowning accidents in the Great Lakes such as rip currents, long-shore currents, and structural currents.

1️⃣FLIP: Flip over onto your back and float.

2️⃣FLOAT: Float to: keep head above water; calm yourself down, and conserve energy.

3️⃣FOLLOW: Follow the safest course to safety: do not fight current; follow current to assess which way it's flowing. Swim perpendicular to the flow. If too tired to swim, continue floating and try to signal for help.

 
The Dangers of Shelf Ice
The Dangers of Shelf Ice

Stay off the shelf ice! Despite its unusual beauty, don't risk your life. Enjoy the view of the shelf ice—from a distance!

Last updated: August 24, 2023

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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