Burns Harbor, Indiana
Burns Harbor is a town of 2,155 people in Porter County, Indiana, founded in 1967.
Why visit Burns Harbor
Townapedia lists 31 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Enchanted Forest, Joseph Bailly Homestead, Chesterton Commercial Historic District and Cowles Bog National Natural Landmark.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 18°F, and about 40 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Burns Harbor
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Burns Harbor
Burns Harbor is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States on the shores of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, Burns Harbor had a population of 2,055. Burns Harbor is located adjacent to the Indiana Dunes, an area that conservationists have fought hard to preserve.
From the Wikipedia article Burns Harbor, Indiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Enchanted Forest
Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi
Water park in Porter, Indiana, United States
Museums and landmarks31
Joseph Bailly Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Homestead in Indiana, USA
Chesterton Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Chesterton, IN, listed on the NRHP in Indiana
Chesterton Residential Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic district in Indiana, United States
Dune Acres Clubhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Building in Indiana, United States of America
George Brown Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Building in Indiana, United States
Martin Young House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic house in Indiana, United States
New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Train station in Chesterton, Indiana
Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Lustron house in Chesterton, Indiana
Good Fellow Club Youth Camp
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Porter Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
19 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
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Indiana Dunes National Park
Park · 2.2 mi
United States National Park in Indiana
Restaurants and cafes6
Pizza Terra
Restaurant · Italian · 1.2 mi
302 Melton Road
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
History
Burns Harbor was founded in 1966. The town took its name from a local port which was named for the harbor's promoter Randall W. Burns.
From the History section of Burns Harbor, Indiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Comfort Inn & Suites Porter near Indiana Dunes
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
1800 West US Highway 20, Porter
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries22
Map of Burns Harbor
81 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.2 in | 16.0 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.0 in | 9.7 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 30°F | 2.3 in | 6.0 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 40°F | 3.5 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 50°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 60°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 64°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 63°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 45°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.8 in | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.3 in | 7.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Indiana Dunes Nl (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Porter County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2026-08-25: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2026-08-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-05-04: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 miles away.
- Portage 3 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Chesterton 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Ogden Dunes 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Lake Station 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Valparaiso 10 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Hobart 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Gary 12 mi west, about 19 min by car
- Aberdeen 12 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Merrillville 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Michigan City 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- US 12 west at IN 149 south - Burns Harbor, IN - September 2026, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 20120218 03 South Shore Line @ Burns Harbor, Indiana (7145229231), David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- 19660529 01 South Shore Line @ Burns Harbor, Indiana, David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- US 12 west becoming a divided highway - Burns Harbor, IN - September 2026, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Port of Indiana and Burns Harbor (7993012012), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Port of Indiana and Burns Harbor (7993012498), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- West face 2016-05-21 064, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chesterton, Indiana NYC Passenger Station, Chris Light ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- 144 Lincoln P7120019 Queen Anne, c. 1900) N, Chris Light, (Valparaiso, Ind), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brown Mansion 028, Chris Light ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chesterton Indiana IOOF Dntwn Hist District P5250016, Chris Light ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dune Acres Clubhouse, Nyttend, Public domain
- Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House, Jack Boucher, Public domain
- 324 Second P7120012 Martin Young Hse ( c. 1880) O, Chris Light ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Camp Good Fellow Entrance P6120029, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2010-11-26 3060x2040 portage indiana dunes, J. Crocker, Attribution
- INDU at Calumet & Ind 149 0371, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calumet & Ind 149 0366, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calumet & Ind 149 0365, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Steel Plant 0367, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Steel Plant 0369, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Steel Plant 0368, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Steel Plant 0370, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Panaeolus foenisecii 206121096, Sarah Annie Flowers, CC BY 4.0
- Brown Bag P6010026, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- I-94 EB at US 20 - exit 22A (June 2025), AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Mnoke Prairie P7150033, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mnoke Prairie P5190025, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leucocoprinus cepistipes 220862008, Sarah Annie Flowers, CC BY 4.0
- I-94 WB at US 20 west (exit 22A) - October 2021, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- I-94 EB at US 20 - exit 22B (June 2025), AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- US 12 west at Port of Indiana access road - Portage, IN - September 2026, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- US 12 west at IN 249 south - Portage, IN - September 2026, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Beautiful Porter County Indiana - panoramio, oboCrayon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Canarsia ulmiarrosorella - iNaturalist 419417086, Adrienne van den Beemt, CC BY 4.0
- I-94 WB at US 20 east (exit 22B) - October 2021, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- School - Chapel P5190054, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Skola P1010009, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Svenk Scola PA210018, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Hill Road P6120014, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.