Porter is unusually well connected for a small town. The South Shore Line — a commuter rail service that has run since 1908 — links Porter to downtown Chicago in about 90 minutes, making the dunes a practical day trip from the city. Trains depart from Millennium Station in the Loop. Check the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District website for current timetables; service is less frequent on weekends.
By car, Porter sits just off Interstate 94 (exit 26B) in northwest Indiana, about 50 miles southeast of Chicago's downtown. The Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center, near the Porter exit, is the best first stop — it has maps, ranger advice, and a bookshop with good books on the dunes' natural and human history. Parking at most trailheads and beaches is free; only the Indiana Dunes State Park charges for car entry.