Why visit Porter
Townapedia lists 35 museums and landmarks, 23 parks and trails, 29 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Enchanted Forest, 4th Street Theater, Joseph Bailly Homestead and Chesterton Commercial Historic District.
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 Porter
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Porter
Porter is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 5,210 as of the 2020 census. Porter is in the Indiana Dunes ecosystem, which played a role in the creation of The Nature Conservancy, and inspired conservation efforts. It is home to Porter Beach, also known as Johnson's Beach, on Lake Michigan.
From the Wikipedia article Porter, Indiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Enchanted Forest
Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi
Water park in Porter, Indiana, United States
Museums and landmarks35
Joseph Bailly Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Homestead in Indiana, USA
Chesterton Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Chesterton, IN, listed on the NRHP in Indiana
Chesterton Residential Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic district in Indiana, United States
Dune Acres Clubhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Building in Indiana, United States of America
George Brown Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Building in Indiana, United States
Martin Young House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Indiana, United States
New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Train station in Chesterton, Indiana
Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Lustron house in Chesterton, Indiana
Read Dunes House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic house in Indiana, United States
Good Fellow Club Youth Camp
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Porter Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
23 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds23
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Indiana Dunes National Park
Park · 1.9 mi
United States National Park in Indiana
11 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes29
Lucrezia Cafe & Catering
Restaurant · Italian · 2.1 mi
428 South Calumet Road
Mo-Th, Su 11:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-22:00
Namaste India
Restaurant · Indian · 2.1 mi
715 Plaza Drive, Chesterton
Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr-Su 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00
Val's Famous Pizza & Grinders
Restaurant · Italian · 1.4 mi
112 South 11th Street, Chesterton
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Village Tavern
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
128 Lincoln Street, Porter
Mo-Th 10:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 10:00-00:00; Su 11:00-23:00
El Jimador 5
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
124 North Lincoln Street, Porter
Mo, Tu, Th, Su 11:00-20:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-21:00
Happy Wok
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
552 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton
Octave Grill
Restaurant · 1.9 mi
Mo-Th 15:00-22:00; Fr 15:00-23:00; Sa 11:59-23:00; Su 11:59-21:00
17 more on the map.
History
Porter had its start in the 1850s when the railroad was extended to that point.
From the History section of Porter, Indiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Comfort Inn & Suites Porter near Indiana Dunes
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
1800 West US Highway 20, Porter
Churches and places of worship9
St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church
Church · Orthodox · 1.7 mi
545 West Indiana Avenue, Chesterton
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 2.3 mi
2050 West 1100 North, Chesterton
Saint Patrick Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.8 mi
638 North Calumet Road, Chesterton
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Healthcare1
Map of Porter
140 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 (0 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, 12 miles away.
- Chesterton 2 mi southeast, about 4 min by car
- Burns Harbor 2 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Portage 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Ogden Dunes 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Lake Station 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Valparaiso 10 mi south, about 17 min by car
- New Chicago 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Michigan City 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Hobart 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Gary 14 mi west, about 22 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
- Porter Indiana P3210013, Chris Light ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Beautiful Porter County Indiana - panoramio, oboCrayon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 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
- Read Dunes House from road, Nyttend, Public domain
- 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
- Scarecrow, Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lachnum virgineum 272923111, Robert M Hallock, CC BY 4.0
- Ebony Jewelwing, female, Calopteryx maculata (3715720868), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Brown Slug (3714909723), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Green Frog, Rana clamitans (3714908421), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Darkling Beetle, Meracantha contracta (3715719696), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Allegheny Mound Ants, Formica exsectoides (3715719374), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Moth (3714910631), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Blue-fronted Dancer, female, Argia apicalis (3714910003), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa samuelis (3714910235), Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bike Bridge 1898, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trail Bridge 0374, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mnoke Prarie PC170175, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mnoke Prarie PC170176, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bike Trail 1678, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bailly 2016-05-21 025, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gates 2016-05-21 006, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gates 2016-05-21 005, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gatepost on the Little Cal P4070014, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gatepost on the Little Cal P4070017, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Good Fellow Club Youth Camp buildings, Nyttend, Public domain
- Asphondylia rudbeckiaeconspicua - iNaturalist 196898415, Lexi Destria, CC BY 4.0
- Camp Good Fellow Entrance P6120028, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Canarsia ulmiarrosorella - iNaturalist 419417086, Adrienne van den Beemt, CC BY 4.0
- Foggy Coal Train (11222617863), Russell Sekeet, CC BY 2.0
- School - Chapel P5190054, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Skola P1010009, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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