Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park

NPS Collection

 

Loading weather forecast...

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Lat: 41.67808881699029 Long: -87.00924291956939

Last updated:

Current Conditions

Humidity
Wind Speed
Barometer
Dewpoint
Visibility
Wind Chill

More Weather Information on Weather.gov

Extended Graphical Forecast for This Location

Extended Text Forecast for This Location

 

Parking and Hours

Kemil Beach

• 96 total spaces
• 0 oversized spaces
• 41.677357, -87.00895

The parking lot is paved and there are facilities located on site.

Fees

7 Day Motorcycle Fee

Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).

Cost: $20.00

7-Day Park Entrance Pass - Family-Size Vehicle Pass

Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).

Cost: $25.00

7-Day Per Person Entrance Pass (Organized, non-commercial groups)

Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Cost: $15.00

Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass

This pass provides entry for the pass owner(s) and passengers in a family-sized vehicle. This pass only works at the Indiana Dunes National Park and is not accepted at the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Cost: $45.00

Annual Pass (Interagency)

Interagency passes like America the Beautiful and The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series.

Cost: $80.00

Annual Military Pass (Interagency)

Active, Veteran or Gold Star Family.

Cost: $0.00

Annual Fourth Grade Pass for US Students in Fourth Grade

Every Kid in a Park (EKIP), an initiative to encourage 4th grade children and their families to enjoy our country’s national parks and public lands, for FREE.

Cost: $0.00

Annual Senior Pass (Interagency)

The senior pass is available for citizens above the age of 62.

Cost: $20.00

Lifetime Senior Pass (Interagency)

A one-time fee for senior citizens above the age of 62.

Cost: $80.00

Operating Hours & Seasons

Description

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Check Busy Times

During the peak season (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend) the parking lot can be very busy.

Accessibility Info

Amenities

Accessible Lot

Yes

Number of ADA-designated spaces

2

Number of ADA van-accessible spaces

2

Number of ADA step-free spaces

2

Total number of spaces

96

Number of oversize vehicle spaces

0

Image Gallery

 

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

• Dunbar Beach
• Lake View Beach
• Central Avenue Beach

 

Beach Safety

Know Before You Go!

• Wave Conditions and Forecast

• Water Temperatures

• Beach Monitoring (E. coli testing)

 

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

 

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.