Featured amenities
Parking
Pet Friendly
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Fire Pit
About Central Avenue Walk-in Sites
Number of accommodations: 5
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Pet friendly
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
- Fire Pit
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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Reviews (95)
What Guests Are Saying
Central Avenue Walk-in Sites offer a beautiful and secluded experience close to Lake Michigan, with well-separated campsites that provide privacy. Many visitors appreciated the stunning beach proximity and enjoyed the rustic charm, despite some challenges like nearby noise from trains and city sounds. While the facilities, such as restrooms and trails, need improvement, those seeking a more primitive camping experience found it enjoyable, with opportunities for stunning sunrises and sunsets.
What Guests Are Saying
Central Avenue Walk-in Sites offer a beautiful and secluded experience close to Lake Michigan, with well-separated campsites that provide privacy. Many visitors appreciated the stunning beach proximity and enjoyed the rustic charm, despite some challenges like nearby noise from trains and city sounds. While the facilities, such as restrooms and trails, need improvement, those seeking a more primitive camping experience found it enjoyable, with opportunities for stunning sunrises and sunsets.
Review Summary
Brynn T
VerifiedMay 17, 2026 • Stayed at: Central 1, Loop: Central Area
Ed S
VerifiedMay 11, 2026 • Stayed at: Central 1, Loop: Central Area
Nice site and a short 11 minute walk to the beach. Bring insect repellent as there are ticks everywhere.
Sara C
VerifiedMay 9, 2026 • Stayed at: Central 5, Loop: Central Area
Fantastic campsite, easy hike in/out. The port ‘o’ John and trash near the parking lot were clean and well maintained. Park staff were super friendly and helpful. The only downside was the number of ticks we found during our stay so plan to do lots of tick checks. Michigan City had many nearby restaurants and some great coffee options! We will be back for sure, excited to see how many people are at the beach when it gets into summer.
Kit D
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 4, Loop: Central Area
Proximity to the beach was a wonderful experience, but that was more or less the only enjoyable part of the whole trip. The port-a-potty was desperately in need of service, while the woods were so choked with undergrowth that it literally wasn't a physical option to use any backcountry toileting methods. Our site had large piles of brick and red roofing tile rubble in it. The sites are well separated and set back from the trail for an impression of seclusion, but airplane, train, and road noise still came through loud and clear. Overall, while I would have tolerated these conditions cheerfully if it were a cheap or free site like is common on forest service land, paying fifty dollars for two nights of a pretty trashed site was hard to swallow, even as someone who happily wants to fund park services more.
Kit D
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 4, Loop: Central Area
Proximity to the beach was a wonderful experience, but that was more or less the only enjoyable part of the whole trip. The port-a-potty was desperately in need of service, while the woods were so choked with undergrowth that it literally wasn't a physical option to use any backcountry toileting methods. Our site had large piles of brick and red roofing tile rubble in it. The sites are well separated and set back from the trail for an impression of seclusion, but airplane, train, and road noise still came through loud and clear. Overall, while I would have tolerated these conditions cheerfully if it were a cheap or free site like is common on forest service land, paying fifty dollars for two nights of a pretty trashed site was hard to swallow, even as someone who happily wants to fund park services more.
Daniel B
VerifiedOctober 8, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 2, Loop: Central Area
The trail to get to the campsite is not very well maintained. Was rubbing against brush and walking over/under dead limbs. The campsite itself was remote and quiet. I did not hear the lake/waves from the campsite, but did hear trains using their horns on the nearby railroad. The site had a nice table and fire pit available.
Daniel B
VerifiedOctober 8, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 2, Loop: Central Area
The trail to get to the campsite is not very well maintained. Was rubbing against brush and walking over/under dead limbs. The campsite itself was remote and quiet. I did not hear the lake/waves from the campsite, but did hear trains using their horns on the nearby railroad. The site had a nice table and fire pit available.
Ember C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 3, Loop: Central Area
This was my first time visiting a National Park! I had a wonderful time. Everyone from Indiana always talks about how amazing The Dunes are but I didn't know just how serious they were being!
Ember C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 3, Loop: Central Area
This was my first time visiting a National Park! I had a wonderful time. Everyone from Indiana always talks about how amazing The Dunes are but I didn't know just how serious they were being!
Sara D
VerifiedOctober 5, 2025 • Stayed at: Central 2, Loop: Central Area
Beautiful site. Unfortunately when we left our wood near the trail as we were walking our other items in, 4 bundles of firewood got stolen.
It was unfortunate as we didnt have a car where we could easily go replace it.
Location Central Avenue Walk-in Sites
Address:
Golf Wood Road
Beverly Shores, IN, 46360
United States
The Central Ave Beach Parking Lot is one mile (1.6 km) north of the intersection of Central Avenue and U.S. Highway 12 in the Town of Pines. NOTE: It is not possible to drive directly to the campsites. Each campsite is a walk of between .1 and .6 miles from the Central Avenue Beach Parking Lot, including a large hill with uneven terrain to get to each site.
The campground is located approximately 1 mile from U.S. Highway 12, which provides access to the area.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.7018 / -86.9478
Elevation: 188 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Site capacity
- Maximum of 8 people allowed per site.
Accessibility
- Campsites require walking from the parking area, with varying distances.
Vehicles & parking
- Limit of 2 vehicles per site, parking in designated lot required.
Safety & rules
- All trash must be packed out; no trash disposal on site.
- Maximum stay of 14 days within any 30-day period.
- Quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM; noise should be minimized during this time.
- Valuables should not be left visible in vehicles to avoid theft.
Fires & fuel
- Firewood must be brought in; collection from woods is prohibited.
Fees & deposits
- Entrance pass or receipt required for all visitors; federal passes accepted.
Site types & loops
- Tents must be set up in the designated open areas of the site.
Pets
- Pets must be leashed and attended at all times when outside tents.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 3, 2026
