Washington Park Beach
Michigan City, Indiana · on Lake Michigan · Washington Park / Michigan City
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Washington Park Beach
Washington Park Beach is Michigan City, Indiana's designated public swimming beach on Lake Michigan, part of the historic 99-140 acre Washington Park that also holds a zoo, marina, and Indiana's only working lighthouse. It is a staffed, official swim area with lifeguards, daily water-quality testing, and posted rules, making it a well-documented and heavily used freshwater swimming destination rather than an informal spot.
The beach sits within Washington Park, a 99-140 acre lakefront park established in 1891 and further developed by the WPA in the 1930s, now a National Register Historic District with monuments, a bandstand, gardens, dunes, and the Michigan City Zoo. The park stretches about two miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and abuts a marina and the East Pierhead Lighthouse (built 1904), with a pier extending out to it.
Swimming at Washington Park Beach
Swimming takes place directly in Lake Michigan along a sandy public beach with a designated lifeguarded swim area; this is open lake swimming (large, wave-driven, occasionally cold and rough water) rather than a sheltered swimming hole, suited to families and casual swimmers who stay within the guarded zone, with an adjacent splash pad for young kids.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 6 On the Lake, Michigan City, Indiana, at the north end of the city adjacent to Indiana Dunes National Park; reached via city streets to the lakefront park entrance.
Parking: Annual and daily parking stickers/passes are sold through the park office for park lots; vehicles are restricted to designated parking areas.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up public beach within Washington Park; visitors park in one of the city-owned lots and walk directly onto the sand, a short (a few minutes at most) walk with no trail or hiking required.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy, shallow, gently sloping lake entry with a lifeguarded swim zone, adjacent splash pad, and playground make it very family-friendly within the guarded area, but news reports document a rip-current drowning and a separate rescue near the Lighthouse Pier, so families should stay well inside the flagged/lifeguarded zone and away from the pier.
Parking
Paid, $5/hr (Mon-Thu) or $7/hr (Fri-Sun) for cars in the Main Lot; cheaper rates ($3-4/hr weekdays) at the Zoo Lot and North Pointe Pavilion/Senior Center/Fedder's Alley lots; annual resident stickers are free for Michigan City residents, $40 for La Porte County residents, $100 for other Indiana residents, $150 for out-of-state visitors; $40 flat rate for special-event days (July 4th, Aug 2)
Multiple city-owned lots serve the park (Main Lot, Zoo Lot, North Pointe Pavilion/Senior Center/Fedder's Alley); passes/stickers sold at the park office, (219) 873-1506.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms with changing rooms and showers are available at the beach (per Open Water Data facility listing); exact bathhouse location within the park not separately confirmed.
Hours
Park open 5am-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 5am-midnight Friday-Saturday; lifeguards on duty seasonally (2026 season May 22-Sept 7), weekdays 10am-5pm and weekends 9am-6pm.
On the water
Restrictions: The lifeguarded swim area itself is for swimmers only; water inflatables/rafts are restricted to outside the guarded zone. Motorized craft and rental watercraft launch from the adjacent Michigan City Marina (permit required, per mcmarina.org) rather than directly off the swim beach.
Washington Park includes a public marina adjacent to the beach; kayak and wave-runner (jet ski) rentals and Lake Michigan boat tours are offered nearby by a local outfitter (see rentals).
Rentals nearby
Kayak rentals (Perception kayaks, for Lake Michigan or Trail Creek paddling), Yamaha wave runner (jet ski) rentals, and Lake Michigan boat tours (classic tours, high-speed "Sea Rocket" rides, sunset and party cruises)
200 Heisman Harbor, Michigan City, IN 46360, at the marina adjacent to Washington Park · Wed-Sun 9am-6pm (holiday hours may differ)
Backstory
Washington Park was established in 1891 and developed further by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as a historic district with numerous contributing structures, including the 1904 East Pierhead Lighthouse, a 1896 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, a 1911 bandstand, and a 1936 observation tower.
Washington Park Beach: FAQ
Does Washington Park Beach charge a fee?
Parking requires a daily or annual pass (fee-based); the beach and park itself have posted rules but no separate swimming admission fee is described.
Is Washington Park Beach kid friendly?
Sandy, shallow, gently sloping lake entry with a lifeguarded swim zone, adjacent splash pad, and playground make it very family-friendly within the guarded area, but news reports document a rip-current drowning and a separate rescue near the Lighthouse Pier, so families should stay well inside the flagged/lifeguarded zone and away from the pier.
Do I need to hike to reach Washington Park Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Washington Park Beach?
Multiple city-owned lots serve the park (Main Lot, Zoo Lot, North Pointe Pavilion/Senior Center/Fedder's Alley); passes/stickers sold at the park office, (219) 873-1506.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Washington Park Beach?
Washington Park includes a public marina adjacent to the beach; kayak and wave-runner (jet ski) rentals and Lake Michigan boat tours are offered nearby by a local outfitter (see rentals).
When is the best time to visit Washington Park Beach?
Summer, coinciding with the lifeguard season (late May through early September) and warmer Lake Michigan water temperatures.
What are the rules at Washington Park Beach?
Lifeguards are on duty seasonally (May 22-Sept 7 in 2026), weekdays 10am-5pm and weekends 9am-6pm; swimming is prohibited when daily bacteria testing shows levels above 1,000; park hours are 5am-10pm Sun-Thu and 5am-midnight Fri-Sat; glass containers, pets (except service animals), ground fires, fireworks, and alcohol within 50 feet of parking/roadways are prohibited; water inflatables/rafts are restricted to outside the lifeguarded swim area.
What water body is Washington Park Beach on?
Washington Park Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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