Lake County, Indiana
Miller Beach (Indiana Dunes)
Miller Beach is the western section of Indiana Dunes National Park near Gary, Indiana — a Lake Michigan shoreline that sits at the urban fringe of the Chicago metro area.
- Day use
- Freshwater
About this place
Miller Beach is the western section of Indiana Dunes National Park near Gary, Indiana — a Lake Michigan shoreline that sits at the urban fringe of the Chicago metro area. The Miller neighborhood of Gary borders the dune land, and the Lake Street Beach access leads to the park's western beach sections. The clothing-optional tradition here occupies the eastern end of the Miller Beach area, away from the main beach access at Lake Street.
Indiana Dunes National Park protects over 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and the only significant dune complex remaining on the southern Lake Michigan coast. The dune landscape — some dunes reaching 200 feet — creates a distinctive setting that makes the park genuinely scenic despite its industrial surroundings (steel mills and power plants are visible to the west). The lake water is cold but swimmable in summer.
The park is about 50 miles from Chicago via the South Shore Line commuter rail, which stops at the Miller station in Gary — making this one of the most transit-accessible naturist beaches in the Midwest. The trail system in the dunes provides hiking context for the beach visit.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Chicago metro day-trippers using the South Shore Line, Gary locals, Indiana Dunes NPS visitors who explore the western park sections.
How to find it
Take the South Shore Line commuter rail from Chicago Millennium Station to the Miller stop in Gary. From Miller Station, walk north to Lake Street and the beach. The C/O section is to the east of the main Miller Beach access.
Things to watch out for
Lake Michigan water is cold until late July. The park is managed by NPS, which technically prohibits nudity. The Miller area has historically had an informal tolerance. Gary is an economically distressed city; the beach area itself is safe and actively used.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Informal C/O tradition — stay east of the main beach access area. The park has standard family beach areas nearby.
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