Warren Dunes or Indiana Dunes? Choose your outing.

From a Grand Beach base, you can plan an outing to Indiana Dunes National Park or Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan. They are different destinations with separate entry requirements. Choose the park before choosing the route.

Indiana Dunes National Park: choose a trail before you go

Best starting point: a group that wants to compare trails and activities before committing.

Use the National Park Service trip planner to pick a route around your group’s walking comfort. Check entrance passes before departure. Indiana Dunes State Park is a separate park and its pass is not interchangeable with the national park’s.

Warren Dunes State Park: a shoreline and dunes outing

Best starting point: a Michigan shoreline outing with dunes and walking routes.

Use Michigan DNR’s park page for the map, access information and entry requirements. Sand climbs can be demanding; choose a route everyone wants to do, not just a summit photo.

Check trail access, parking and what to bring

• Share the exact trailhead or parking destination, not simply “the dunes.”
• Check weather, closures and beach conditions.
• Pack water, sun protection, suitable footwear and a picnic.
• Check the specific route’s accessibility rather than assuming beach access is step-free.
• If bringing a dog, check national park pet rules or the Warren Dunes park page for the chosen destination.

Return to EpitoMI for dinner and downtime

Leave dinner simple and enjoy the living rooms or game room back at EpitoMI. For a lower-effort alternative, choose a local beach walk and New Buffalo lunch.

Photo: neighborhood lake access near EpitoMI, not either park.

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