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Waterbird Lakeside Inn

2.0 star property
Hotel near Indiana Dunes National Park in Chesterton

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Photo gallery for Waterbird Lakeside Inn

Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Lobby
Lobby
Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior detail

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
556 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton, IN, 46304
  • Place, Chesterton Art Center
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Place, Lustron House
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Wykes-Plampin Nature Preserve
    ‪3 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(48 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Lake view

View all photos for 2 Double Bed, Lake View

2 Double Bed, Lake View | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

2 Double Bed, Lake View

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(47 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Lake view

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Lake view

About the neighborhood

Chesterton

On lake.Within 2 miles (3 km) of this Chesterton hotel, you'll find Chesterton Art Center and Lustron House. Wykes-Plampin Nature Preserve and Indiana Dunes Visitor Center are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Chesterton Art Center - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Lustron House - 2 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Wykes-Plampin Nature Preserve - 3 min drive - 1.8 miles
  • Indiana Dunes National Park - 3 min drive - 2.9 miles
  • Indiana Dunes State Park - 4 min drive - 3.5 miles

Getting around

  • Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 12 min drive
  • Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 68 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Sunrise Family Restaurant - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬7 min walk

About this property

Waterbird Lakeside Inn

Hotel near Indiana Dunes National Park in Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside Inn offers its guests laundry facilities, express check-in, and express check-out. Public spaces have free WiFi. Free self parking is available.

This Chesterton hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 30 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Self-service laundry
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • No smoking on site
Waterbird Lakeside Inn offers 30 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Rooms open to balconies. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves.

This Chesterton hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. 40-inch flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Similar properties

Exterior
Best Western Indian Oak
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
4.3 out of 5, Excellent, 1,001 reviews
$89 nightly
The price is $100
Jan 28 - Jan 29
Total with taxes and fees
Best Western Indian Oak

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 40-inch flat-screen TV with premium cable channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Mobile key entry
  • Phone
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

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
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and cash. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system in each accommodation. Guests can access their rooms with a mobile device.

Property is also known as

Waterbird Chesterton
Waterbird Inn
Waterbird Inn Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside Hotel Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside Inn Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside Inn
Waterbird Lakeside Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside
Waterbird Lakeside Inn Hotel
Waterbird Lakeside Inn Chesterton
Waterbird Lakeside Inn Hotel Chesterton

Frequently asked questions

How close is Waterbird Lakeside Inn to the airport?

Waterbird Lakeside Inn is 53.7 mi (68-min drive) away from the Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Waterbird Lakeside Inn?

As of Jan 22, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Waterbird Lakeside Inn on Jan 25, 2026 start from $76.49, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Waterbird Lakeside Inn have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Waterbird Lakeside Inn.

How close is Waterbird Lakeside Inn to the beach?

This hotel is 3.8 mi (7-min drive) from Waverly Beach and 5.4 mi (10-min drive) from Dune Acres Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Waterbird Lakeside Inn offer free breakfast?

Waterbird Lakeside Inn does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Waterbird Lakeside Inn?

No, there is no casino at this hotel, but Blue Chip Casino (18-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Waterbird Lakeside Inn?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Waterbird Lakeside Inn?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does Waterbird Lakeside Inn have a pool?

Waterbird Lakeside Inn does not have a pool.

Does Waterbird Lakeside Inn have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Waterbird Lakeside Inn to downtown Chesterton?

Waterbird Lakeside Inn is 1.1 mi away from Chesterton.

Waterbird Lakeside Inn Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 420 out of 995 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 324 out of 995 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 142 out of 995 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 69 out of 995 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 40 out of 995 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Tiwanna

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The balcony was amazing and the beds was very comfortable. The only thing that had me at ease was the door to the parking lot was unlock all night that's not safe and there no dresser drawers in the room.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Josie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is very close to the Dunes Parks. It was recently renovated. The room was big and comfortable and beds were very comfortable. It is very close by car to Chesterton, cute town where we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Lucrezia Italian restaurant. There were plenty of fast food places very close to the property.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Mackenzie

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Depends how picky you are. I’m not usually overly picky, but I booked my boyfriend and I a room for one night on our way home from a week of hiking in Tennessee. I got a room with a hot tub. Well we walked into the room and the smell was horrible and strong. We had to open the door over looking the lake to air it out. We looked at the hot tub and determined we didn’t want to use it because it smelt like mold and looked dirty in the jets. We also had a heck of a time getting the TV to work. Getting the shower head to turn on was confusing too. The parking is odd. One row are straight the next is slanted, it’s pretty tight backing out. But other than this, it was quiet and peaceful, well besides the train that’s near by that goes through about every 15 minutes. Lake view was nice.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steve

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was spacious and clean. The balcony should have been cleaned before we arrived though, there were cigarettes and garbage all over it. Otherwise I was pleased with the cleanliness. The area seemed safe and very quiet. Within walking distance to a few things and convenient to areas we were going.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryleasha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Got there late but the hot tub was well worth it
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean room, great view. Property is a bit dated but nice! Always stay here when in Porter area.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kendra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I actually had a bit of trouble finding the correct check-in area, as there are 2 adjacent motels/inns. But I really liked this place, especially with the deck overlooking the small lake. The room was clean and I felt safe. The staff was very friendly.
View from the deck at sunrise time. There were several species of water birds present, but not in this photo.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Liz

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Ryan

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Parking seemed safe enough. The building is older and in need of attention. Broken window pane on one of the upstairs window. One light in my room didnt function and the bathroom door was splintering at the bottom. Room was clean! Though the building was in need of update and repair it was clean! Super cool to step out on balcony to be over the water, incredible view of the lake right put the sliding door of my room.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Margarita

Very cozxy and clean we love the views
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Armandina

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I am writing to formally report a deeply unacceptable experience at the Waterbird Hotel during my recent stay, and I am demanding a full refund for the appalling conditions and the utterly disgraceful customer service I encountered. On my first night, I stayed alone in the room (room 252, second floor), and everything seemed acceptable. However, when I returned the second night with a companion, we discovered something absolutely vile. A strong odor of feces became noticeable. When we checked under the covers of the second bed, we found dried, crusted poop stains on the comforter. This was not fresh; it was clearly an old and unhygienic mess that had been left there from a previous guest. I have photographic evidence of this and am prepared to share it with the Better Business Bureau and Hotels.com. What made this situation even more intolerable was the behavior of your front desk staff. When I tried to explain this to him, he was immediately sarcastic, dismissive, and smirking at me. He questioned why we hadn’t noticed it the first night, which is irrelevant and insulting given the circumstances. I have stayed at this hotel many times, and I have never been treated so disrespectfully. His attitude was completely unprofessional and his refusal to offer a full refund is absolutely unacceptable. Sleeping in a bed with someone else’s dried feces is not just disgusting, it’s a serious health risk. I demand a full refund for this stay, and I will be forwarding this complaint.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice, big rooms with a beautiful view of the lake. The room was clean and comfortable. Would recommend for the price.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deandre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Kimberly

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The lake view is beautiful!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Evelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Mary K

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Room was basically clean could’ve used a little bit more work. Cabinet doors would not close in the bathroom. Could use grab bars in the bathroom. Parking was great. The staff was friendly in the beginning, but abrasive when asked questions on the second day. Would not stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Traveled with group, Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very tranquil.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kayla

Liked: Cleanliness
Great lake view
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Gail

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Carpet with mold, bugs, staff rude. Left and went to Best Western.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room with a patio overlooking the lake was beautiful! The patio could have used a little bit of cleaning, there were a lot of spider webs that I wiped off.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very nice stay

The hotel is tucked behind a strip mall right on a small pond. The room was large and comfortable. The bed and pillows were fine. The rooms have balconies or patios so you can sit and have coffee in the morning
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Jill

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Even though the Inn is at the back of a fairly busy shopping area, once you are at the Inn, it is very quiet and clean, with spacious rooms. It was also very nice to wake up in the morning and be able to enjoy coffee by the small lake while sitting on the room's private balcony.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Brenda

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Tonya, Glen Allen

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
wish there was a better late check out option, most hotels don’t charge you for late check outs
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025