Loading park…
Indiana Dunes · April
April is a good time to visit Indiana Dunes — busier than March, quieter than May.
Expect moderate crowds (4/10), about 13.4 hours of daylight, and 3 seasonal closures in effect.
Crowd score
A comfortable middle ground: some company on popular trails, but no gridlock.
About 32% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
April draws about 6% of Indiana Dunes’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, CRETE 2.6 E, IL US
What's open
The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation.
Seasonal closures may apply:
Closed portion of Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail along Burns Waterway due to unsafe conditions from erosional damage. This trail portion will remain closed while funding is sought for repair work. Pier access remains open on either side of closure.
Hobart Woodland is closed until further notice while park crews work to clear several downed trees that are creating hazardous conditions for visitors.
Marquette Greenway construction will require closing sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail (April–December 2026) and Little Calumet River / Mnoké Prairie Trail (May–December 2026). Closure dates may shift as work progresses. Please follow all posted closures and check the park website or NPS App for updates.
Details on nps.gov →Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Closed portion of Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail along Burns Waterway due to unsafe conditions from erosional damage. This trail portion will remain closed while funding is sought for repair work. Pier access remains open on either side of closure.
Hobart Woodland is closed until further notice while park crews work to clear several downed trees that are creating hazardous conditions for visitors.
Marquette Greenway construction will require closing sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail (April–December 2026) and Little Calumet River / Mnoké Prairie Trail (May–December 2026). Closure dates may shift as work progresses. Please follow all posted closures and check the park website or NPS App for updates.
Details on nps.gov →Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
April rates 4/10 for crowds (Moderate) at Indiana Dunes National Park — about 32% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 152,072.
In April, Indiana Dunes averages a high of 0°F and a low of 0°F, with about 3.9 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Indiana Dunes costs $20 (Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.).
Indiana Dunes is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-April, Indiana Dunes gets about 13.4 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 5:07 AM and sunset around 6:29 PM.