Campgrounds and RV parks near Portage, IN

Portage sits on Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline in Porter County, minutes from the entrances to both Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park. The national park hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and stretches from Gary to Michigan City, and the state park anchors the eastern half of that corridor with its own beach and campground. RV renters use Portage as a base for beach days, dune hikes, and short drives into Chicago. Campground options near the city cover the full range of RV needs. Lakeshore Camp Resort operates seasonally in Portage and accommodates RVs with full hookups. Indiana Dunes State Park's campground sits close to the beach and offers electrical hookups, modern restrooms, and shower houses. For a more rustic stay, Dunewood inside the national park and Sand Creek Campground offer wooded sites, while Michigan City Campground to the east provides another option along the shoreline.

Reservations run through separate systems depending on the park. Dunewood reservations are handled through Recreation.gov on a rolling 6-month window, with sites first available starting November 15 for the following camping season. Dunewood has no electric or water hookups, so plan for dry camping, though a dump station and potable water are available on-site. Indiana Dunes State Park uses the Indiana DNR reservation system, which accepts bookings up to six months in advance online or by phone. Private campgrounds including Lakeshore Camp Resort, Sand Creek Campground, and Michigan City Campground book directly through their own websites or by phone, and summer weekends often sell out weeks in advance.