The Portage center point is around 4 miles northeast of Hobart Historical Society and 8 miles northeast of Sawyer College.
While you'll be hard-pressed to find a bad time to visit Portage, the most popular time to plan a trip is during the summer. From June through August, the area experiences highs in the low 80s and plenty of sunny skies. Spring and fall bring cooler days, with highs in the mid-60s, and spring is the wettest season of the year. Portage winters tend to get cold, with average lows in the teens and an average of 3 feet of snow throughout the season.
If you want to experience Portage at its most vibrant, be sure to check the city's event calendar before you plan your trip. Throughout the summer, the Portage Founders Square Park Series welcomes locals and visitors alike to join in family-friendly evenings of music, movies, and food. Bacon Fest, which takes place every September, draws food lovers who want to celebrate their love of bacon.
Since summer is high season in Portage, you'll want to plan ahead to make sure you can book your preferred place to stay. While you'll usually find the highest hotel prices in summer and the lowest rates in winter, you can typically get deals if you book your accommodations in advance.
No matter when you visit Portage, you can find great deals on accommodations. Browse the area's best group discounts and hotel deals.
Government employees can save at the Econo Lodge in Merrillville, Indiana. This budget-friendly hotel is just a short drive away from Portage and offers extras like an indoor pool, a fitness center, and free breakfast.
AAA members can get low rates at the Best Western Indian Oak in nearby Chesterton. This highly rated hotel has just what you need for a great stay in the Portage area, including an indoor pool, free breakfast, and complimentary W-Fi for all guests.
Seniors and AARP members can get discounts at the Comfort in in Portage. This midrange hotel offers comfortable double and king rooms, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast each morning, and a convenient location near Interstates 80 and 94.
Looking for lodging that balances great amenities with affordable rates? Book one of the best midrange options in Portage.
Whether you choose a standard room or a suite, you'll love the budget-friendly rates and ample amenities at the Baymont Inn & Suites. Go for a swim in the indoor pool, stay in shape in the fitness center, and fuel up with the hotel's free breakfast, which includes pancakes and waffles. This midrange hotel has two available conference rooms and offers average group discounts of 19.7 percent, so the Baymont Inn & Suites is a great choice for groups traveling to the Portage area.
With its spacious rooms and extensive amenities, the Best Western Plus Portage Hotel & Suites is an excellent midrange choice in Portage. You'll appreciate the business center, laundry facilities, swimming pool and splash zone, and well-equipped gym. Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant and lounge or at the 24-hour convenience center, and fill up with the hotel's complimentary hot breakfast. Ready to explore the Portage area? Downtown is mere minutes away, and it couldn't be easier to escape to the lakeshore.
Book a standard guest room or a suite at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portage, and make yourself right at home in this conveniently located hotel. From the comfortable rooms and the business center to the on-site gym and the indoor pool, this midrange hotel has just what you need for a great stay in the Portage area. You'll also appreciate freebies such as complimentary parking, free Express Start breakfast, complimentary coffee in the lobby, and free high-speed internet access.
The ideal destination for an outdoor getaway, Portage offers nature lovers plenty to explore. Start at Countryside Park, a small green space on the southwest side of town. In addition to a playground and fishing pond, this park is home to the Alton Goin Historical Museum and offers access to the Prairie Duneland Trail.
You'll also want to check out Woodland Park, a 64-acre green space in the heart of Portage. This centrally located park is home to a gazebo, a playground, and a skate park. It also offers hikers and cyclists access to the Iron Horse Trail, which connects to Imagination Glen Park. As the largest park in town, Imagination Glen Park spans nearly 300 acres and boasts a nature preserve, a play space, and the Outback Mountain Bike Trail.
No visit to the Portage area is complete without a trip to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Located just north of town, this beautiful area features 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and spans 15,000 acres. Whether you're in the mood to soak up the sunshine, take a dip in the lake, explore over 50 miles of trails, or go horseback riding, you can do it all here. In the winter, you can even go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the trails. Discover everything from dunes to wetlands to prairies, all in one scenic spot.
Even if you're short on time, you can still visit Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is part of the lakeshore park and offers everything from a fishing pier and beach access to a public pavilion with a snack bar.
Ready to hit the beach and explore the gorgeous Indiana dunes? Start planning your trip to Portage today.
Below are reviews of the city of Portage, IN from an actual visitor's perspective.
I was late for breakfast and the lady was kind enough to let me take some food to eat.
Stopping off point on my trip to Mayo Clinic. Did not stop for the city but the lodging.
Blueberry Hill Pancake restaurant, great food, excellent lemon rice soup. Large portions. Nativity of Our Catholic Church, excellent music, great pastor, excellent liturgy
Blueberry Hill Pancake Restaurant had great food (excellent lemon rice soup) and large portions.
Front desk manager was extremely nice!
The beach was perfect!
Love the beach!
Close to Dunes. Beautiful all year round