Overview
Northwestern Indiana is in Indiana.
1 things to do · 4 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Northwestern Indiana
Pierogi Fest
The street is only open to foot traffic during the festival. There are food booths set up along the streets. The main attraction is walking up and down the street tasting food from the many different food vendors, listen…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Indiana Dunes National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MGC Michigan City Municipal Airport, Michigan City — 26 mi away. Directions
- GYY Gary/Chicago International Airport, Gary — 27 mi away. Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 48 mi away (major hub). Directions
This area deals with plenty of traffic thanks to Chicago, so be prepared for occasional delays. I-65N heads in from Chicago, I-94S heads in from Michigan. I-90/80 is also part tollroad that heads east/west through the area. I-65S heads north through the area from central Indiana.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: La Porte — LaPorte County Courthouse, Marion Ridgeway Polygonal Barn, Downtown LaPorte Historic District.
- Day 2: Indiana Dunes National Park — Century of Progress Homes, Mt Baldy, West Beach.
- Day 3: Valparaiso — Valparaiso University, Brauer Museum of Art, PoCo Muse.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Food for you
Lake Perch is a local favorite that a traveler isn't going to find outside the Great Lakes regions. That being said, several locations in Northwest Indiana serve quality lake perch fresh from the Great Lakes.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Places in Northwestern Indiana
La Porte
City / town · 22 listings
Indiana Dunes National Park
Park · 13 listings
Valparaiso
City / town · 12 listings
Michigan City
City / town · 8 listings
Kentland
City / town · 5 listings
Rensselaer
City / town · 3 listings
Portage
City / town · 2 listings
Chesterton
City / town · 1 listings
Porter
City / town · 1 listings
Hebron
City / town
Lake County
Region
Regions
Cities
- Chesterton
- Gary
- Hebron
- La Porte
- Kentland
- Michigan City
- Portage
- Porter
- Rensselaer
- Valparaiso
Other destinations
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Get in
By car
This area deals with plenty of traffic thanks to Chicago, so be prepared for occasional delays. I-65N heads in from Chicago, I-94S heads in from Michigan. I-90/80 is also part tollroad that heads east/west through the area. I-65S heads north through the area from central Indiana.
By bus
- Greyhound
- Gary - 100 W. 4th Ave. +1 219 886-3041
- Hammond - 3600 Calumet. +1 219 933-6700
- Michigan City - Always Business Services, 132 Dunes Plaza (Hwy 421 & 20). +1 219 879-5050
By plane
By train
- Amtrak +1-800-USA-RAIL
- Dyer - 913 Sheffield Ave.
- Hammond - 1135 Calumet Ave.
- Michigan City - 100 Washington St.
- Rensselaer - 619 N. Cullen St.
- South Shore Line +1-800-356-2079
- Hammond
- East Chicago
- Gary
- Miller
- Portage/Ogden Dunes
- Chesterton/Dune Park
- Beverly Shores
- Michigan City
Do
Do Pierogi Fest
The street is only open to foot traffic during the festival. There are food booths set up along the streets. The main attraction is walking up and down the street tasting food from the many different food vendors, listening to live bands playing, visiting the beer garden, or riding some carnival rides. - Late July.
Eat
Lake Perch is a local favorite that a traveler isn't going to find outside the Great Lakes regions. That being said, several locations in Northwest Indiana serve quality lake perch fresh from the Great Lakes.
Eat Teibel's Family Restaurant
Excellent lake perch and fried chicken. Loved by locals.
Eat Johnson's Fish & Shrimp
One of the best kept secrets in Northwest Indiana, this gem serves up excellent gulf shrimp and lake perch.
Eat The Beach Café
Ownership of this restaurant has changed a couple of times, but the new owners are still offering the variety of seafood including the well known boned and buttered lake perch.
Eat The New Country Lounge
They also offer excellent lake perch, but the real gem of this restaurant is their shrimp dejonghe, "Jumbo white gulf shrimp broiled in a special butter crumb and garlic sauce".
Nearby
Hobart
City / town · 18 mi away
Crown Point
City / town · 2 listings · 18 mi away
Merrillville
City / town · 2 listings · 19 mi away
Lake Station
City / town · 20 mi away
Gary
City / town · 17 listings · 24 mi away
Schererville
City / town · 1 listings · 24 mi away
Dyer
City / town · 3 listings · 28 mi away
Munster
City / town · 13 listings · 29 mi away
My experience
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