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Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly

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A living room with a flat-screen TV, a wooden console table, a green armchair, a leather sofa, and a ceiling fan.
A single-story house with a garage, a small shed, and a well-maintained lawn.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a window with a view, and a patterned rug.
A bedroom with a bed, bedside lamps, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a small table with a plant.
A small house with a wooden deck, a door, and two windows.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends

    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.

  • Beach equipment

    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.

  • Centrally-located

    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Porter, IN
  • Place, Chesterton Art Center
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Place, Lustron House
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Indiana Dunes State Park
    ‪6 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly

Welcome to "The Dunes Homestead". Where all pets are welcome! Right in-between The Dunes National Park and downtown Chesterton, you will be close to everything when you stay at this centrally located home. Artfully crafted, this charismatic, dog themed home greets you with all new furniture, a front porch, big yard, and focuses the design around your "man's best friend"! Less than 10 minutes to the Dunes and beaches or head 5 minutes to downtown for food, drinks and plenty of small-town fun. 😁

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9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (27 reviews)
A cozy home between the Indiana Dunes and town of Chesterton.

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 11:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 5 total

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Load and start the dishwasher

Strip any used beds and gather used towels

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Lock the doors

Please leave the outdoor porch lights on.

Please make sure to pick up after your pets in the yard.

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3750604vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Chesterton

Chesterton is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery, or check out an event or a game at Athletics-Recreation Center.
View more Holiday homes in ChestertonOpens in a new window
Map
Porter, IN

What's nearby

  • Chesterton Art Center - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Lustron House - 4 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Indiana Dunes Visitor Center - 5 min drive - 4.9 km
  • Indiana Dunes National Park - 5 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Indiana Dunes State Park - 6 min drive - 6.7 km

Getting around

  • Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 5 total).

How much is parking at Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Dunes Homestead - Near Dunes + Lake + Dog Friendly located?

This family-friendly Chesterton holiday home is within 2 mi (3 km) of Chesterton Art Center and Lustron House. Indiana Dunes National Park is 2.2 mi (3.5 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 33 out of 37 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 37 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 37 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was perfect. The dogs loved it. Great fenced in yard for them to sniff around and explore. Love the picture wall. Host was very responsive to any questions that we had and helpful with things to do. Enjoyed our entire time there. Definitely will be back. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was as described, and had everything we needed!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was a great location to see the Dunes and other pet-friendly activities, we had a great time. The yard is large and completely enclosed for dogs, we appreciated the neatness and safety of that. The kitchen is stocked with the basics (dishes, etc) and everything you could need is nearby. Overall, it was a nice stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great place to stay with dogs, the yard is even better than it looks in the pictures. Very centrally located and convenient for a trip to the dunes!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My husband and I really enjoyed our 2 night stay here with our puppy! The home is beautiful and cozy, and it’s located perfectly with close access to the beach and many wonderful restaurants.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great get away

Close to a lot of restaurants and attractions, love the pet friendly atmosphere
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Andrew is a wonderful host. He was attentive while we were planning and throughout our stay. The home is located is a great location for visiting Indiana Dunes and several other beach communities. We hikes the dunes, swam in Lake Michigan and also visited Chicago for the day. We also played mini-golf, went to the drive in theater and found some amazing localshops and ice cream. There was so much to do in this area.Our pups enjoyed their visit too. They loved being able to run free in the back yard with us and sit on the patio in the evening. Andrew provided anything and everything to make them feel at home too. From dog beds and blankets, to food stands and clean up equipment for the back yard.If you are interested in a visit to the area, this home and host is a great choice!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our dog had a great time! Close to dunes and nice yard for dogs.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had such a wonderful stay! This was truly one of the most dog-friendly places we’ve ever visited. The home had a fun dog theme, and it was clear so much thought went into making both people and pups feel welcome. They provided dog beds, bows, toys, and even had an adorable wall full of photos of previous four-legged guests. The small printer to add our own dog’s photo to the wall was such a special touch.The location near the Indiana Dunes was great, and the home made our trip feel extra memorable. We did notice some poison ivy in the yard and let the host know after checkout; they were very responsive and said they’d have their landscapers address it.Overall, we really appreciated all the thoughtful details and would absolutely recommend this place to anyone traveling with dogs.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place to Stay with our Pups!

So dog friendly and comfortable. Loved having a fenced yard! Will definitely book again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very dog friendy Fenced in yard was great
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The time I had here

Was amazing clean place great area very good if you are traveling with dogs wouldn’t mind booking there again in the future
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This super cute doggie themed home was the perfect getaway with our dogs. It was very clean & nice with a large, fenced back yard. The area is very closely located to the Indiana Dunes as well as fun shops & nice restaurants, wineries, etc. This is a great location, especially if you really like trains!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Location location location

Perfect location around 10 minutes or less to both Dunes parks, restaurants, and retail. Great little house for a couple or small family and their pet. Quiet, safe, well maintained neighborhood.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May 2025
Vicky, I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver a 5 star stay for you. What could I have done better to enhance your stay? Please feel free to message me as I would love to improve.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Cute and fun house.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay!

My husband and I and our two small dogs needed a place to stay for a couple of weeks while our home was being renovated… This cute home was well equipped with everything we needed, as well as a huge backyard that was fenced for our dogs… Easy access to get in , easy access to check out and the host Andrew was always available… I would highly recommend his properties anytime, especially if you need a dog friendly affordable place to stay as we did…
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place is beyond adorable and specifically designed for the comfort of your furry Friends. There were two dog beds, dog bowls, and dog themed decor, even dog treats. Also, the host was super responsive when we briefly lost power. We would highly recommend a stay here to anyone with pups, and even those without.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2 day mini trip for our fur baby

Very charming home
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Retreat

This was our first time taking a trip as a family with our dog. We enjoyed the quiet neighborhood and the well maintained property. We will definately book this property for our trip back to the area next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute home for dogs and people

Decorated for dogs it’s a small but cozy home for dog lovers. Really close to the dunes.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for Dog People

The house is designed with dogs in mind, the fenced-in yard was so handy for 6am bathroom trips. Attached garage and thoughtful patio layout were also nice touches. House was clean, well provisioned and amazingly quiet while being close to major roads, stores and restaurants.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home was perfect for dogs, like a 5 star pet resort! There was an on-going dog theme that was adorable, toys, treats, a crate but the back yard was the best. Fully fenced, an immaculately clean home, well-supplied and a delight. It is also close to the national and state parks. Loved every minute here and Andrew could not have been a better host. Many thanks. I hope to return again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This property caters to dog owners, which is a great find. The property is in a quiet neighborhood and has everything you need for a long stay. It is just a 10 minute drive from the Indiana Dunes National Park with great trails and beaches along Lake Michigan. The only reason I didn't give five stars is there was a bad smell in the garage and you have to go through the garage to get to the fenced in back yard, which we did frequently as we were traveling with our dog. Overall we were satisfied with our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 10 September 2025
Hey Matt, I'm sorry about that! Thank you for letting me know so I can address it. I wish I knew during your stay so I could have made it up to you. Feel free to reach out if you are in the area again, I'd love to help.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, great for dogs

This home is in a great location, close to shopping and restaurants, and the Indiana Dunes National Park. The house was clean and met our needs perfectly. We ate breakfast there and then packed a lunch to take with us to the Dunes. We had 2 dogs with us and the backyard was plenty big for them to explore. Everyone had a great time! We loved the doggie decor.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable

My fiance and I wanted to find a dog friendly place so that we could take our 3yo old son to the dunes, but also bring our dog with us! Not only was this place homey and cute, but the neighborhood was quiet and peaceful as well! The fenced in yard is perfect and spacious for any dog, as well!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

About the host

Hosted by Andrew Smith

Host profile image

I am a Chicago native and entrepreneur. I have 2 dogs and 2 children as part of my family and we love to travel and hike. I'm always looking for a good cup of coffee in the morning and a new beer to taste with dinner!

Why they chose this property

I chose Chesterton/Porter because it has a great small town feel. Between the local breweries/winery and all the small family owned businesses, I love making the connections with all the people that make this town so cozy. I also find it to be a hidden gem so close to such a great National and State park.

What makes this property unique

This home is dog themed from the wall paper to the unique photos on the wall. It will come setup with dog beds, dog bowls, a leash, poop bags, and some toys for your best friend! Since the dunes are such a good place to talk your pup for a walk and explore, I decided to offer a unique stay that treats both you and "mans best friend"!

Languages:

English

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