Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10177495
When Central Avenue Walk-in Sites reopens
Central Avenue Walk-in Sites's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
4
Openings · last 90 days
11
Only 11 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Apr 1 – May 3, 2027 · of 5 monitored sites
Of the 165 tracked site-nights (Apr 1 – May 3, 2027): 162 open for online reservation · 3 reserved.
Where the open windows are
1.8% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 162 of 165 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Apr 1 – May 3, 2027Not open online1.8%
Open site-nights162 / 165
Reserved (of online inventory)3 / 165
Weekday openings90
Weekend openings72
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 90 fall on weekdays and 72 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Apr 2027 – May 2027April holds the most room. 147 of 150 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 5 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Central 2 | 33 |
| Central 3 | 33 |
| Central 4 | 33 |
| Central 5 | 32 |
| Central 1 | 31 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Apr 1, 2027. That is about 150 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Apr 1, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The site-nights shown on this page describe Apr 1, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Stays and site detail
162 open site-nights across 5 sites at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 7 2-night, 7 3-night, 7 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Apr 1, 2027 at site Central 2.
All 5 sites with current availability
| Site | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central 2 | None | 33 | 33 nights | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +21 more |
| Central 3 | None | 33 | 33 nights | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +21 more |
| Central 4 | None | 33 | 33 nights | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +21 more |
| Central 5 | None | 32 | 23 nights | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +20 more |
| Central 1 | None | 31 | 22 nights | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +19 more |
About Central Avenue Walk-in Sites
Overview
Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles (24 km) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 16,000 acres will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles (80 km) of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.
Recreation
There is no one-size-fits-all trip to the dunes. Each season offers new and different ways to enjoy Indiana Dunes National Park. Spring splashes the river banks of the Heron Rookery with an abundance of colorful wildflowers in this birder's paradise. Lake Michigan summer sunsets paint the skies with vibrant rays that offer a picture-perfect picnic setting. In the fall, Maple trees burst with warm red and golden hues crafting a spectacular backdrop for a hike by the Chellberg Farm and winter brings a scenic canvas of virgin white snow begging for a cross-country skiing adventure in the Glenwood Dunes.
As the seasons change, so do the recreational opportunities, park facility operating hours and closures and safety concerns. Here is a list of some of the activities that occur in the National Park: Beach-going & Swimming, Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Fishing & Boating, Hiking, Geocaching, Historical Sites, Horseback Riding, Interpretive Programs, Picnic, Winter Activities and Guided Tours. Check the Calendar page on our website for our list of Ranger-led programs.
Facilities
The Central Beach Walk-In Sites has 5 sites that will require a walk to get to your campsite. There is a vault toilet by the Central Beach Parking Lot. There is no drinkable water in the area so you must bring your own water. There is a Picnic table and a fire pit at each site.
Natural Features
Indiana Dunes National Park is a treasure of diverse natural resources located within an urban setting. The national park features communities that have both scientific and historic significance to the field of ecology. In addition, four National Natural Landmarks (including Pinhook Bog and Cowles Bog ) and one National Historical Landmark (the Bailly Homestead ) are located within its boundaries.
The park is comprised of over 15,000 acres (6070 ha) of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests. It contains 15 miles (24 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning the distance from Gary to Michigan City. Lake Michigan is part of the largest complex of freshwater lakes in the world. The national park's beaches are the park's most significant recreational resource.
For more information on our natural features visit the Nature and Science page on the park website.
Nearby Attractions
Central Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan is located nearby, less than 5,000 feet (1524 m) from the campground.
Several other national park beaches are within easy driving distance.
A gas station / convenience store is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the campground on U.S. Highway 12.
The Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad station with passenger service to Chicago and South Bend is located on Broadway Avenue.
Indiana Dunes Tourism and LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau have lists of other activities in the area.
5 monitored sitesNo hookups5 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
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.
Golf Wood Road, Beverly Shores, IN 46360219-395-1882
BackpackingCampingHikingSwimmingWilderness
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10177495 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10177495 · Central Avenue Walk-in Sites · Beverly Shores IN5 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites?
Reservations for Central Avenue Walk-in Sites are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 162 of 165 tracked site-nights are open (98.2%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 11 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites?
Campsite Sniper detected 11 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites?
7 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Apr 1, 2027 at site Central 2. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites?
April 2027, with 147 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 150.
When is the next open date at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Central Avenue Walk-in Sites begins Apr 1, 2027 — about 150 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Apr 1, 2027.
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