Festival Locations

Festival Locations & Check-In

A quick guide to where to go, where to check in, and helpful travel information for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.

Please check in first: All festival participants must check in at the Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center before attending festival events.

Travel & Access Alerts

A few construction projects are underway in the Indiana Dunes area during the festival. Most locations remain accessible, but some routes may experience delays or temporary trail modifications.

State Road 49 Construction

Northbound State Road 49 near the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Indiana Dunes State Park entrance is reduced to one lane in sections due to ongoing road work.

Delays are most likely during morning hours and weekends. Please allow extra travel time for trips heading toward the State Park, West Beach, and other north dune locations.  Left turns may be limited while leaving the Visitor Center.

View road construction update

Marquette Greenway Trail Construction

Construction related to the Marquette Greenway Trail project is affecting portions of the trail system near Beverly Shores, Kemil Road, and Glenwood Dunes. 

Some trail connections, parking areas, and walking routes may be temporarily modified during the festival.

View National Park trail updates
Helpful tip: Please check your email before field trips for any location-specific updates or route adjustments from trip leaders.

Other Festival Locations

Helpful map: You can use this interactive Google Map to view all field trip locations, workshops, and major event sites across the festival.
Open Festival Location Map

Fairhaven Lot

Main field trip departure location

Most field trips depart from this location.

Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center

Used for select presentations and Youth Day programs.

Expect possible delays on SR 49 near the State Park entrance.

Sand Creek Country Club

Host site for Birds & Brew and festival keynote events.

Humane Indiana Wildlife

Location for workshops and educational programs.

One Last Helpful Thing

Most field trips leave from the Fairhaven Lot, so check your itinerary each morning and allow extra travel time throughout the Indiana Dunes area due to ongoing construction projects.

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