Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park

NPS Collection

 

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Lat: 41.67808881699029 Long: -87.00924291956939

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Parking and Hours

Kemil Beach

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

Open

About this status

Usually Light Now

About this prediction

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

• Every Day:Open 24 hours

Check Busy Times

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

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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

 

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.