Waterbird Lakeside Inn

2.0 star property
Hotel near Indiana Dunes National Park in Chesterton

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Waterbird Lakeside Inn

Room, Lake View
Exterior detail
Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Lobby
Lobby

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

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

2 Double Bed, Lake View

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

Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

  • Lake view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

About the area

Chesterton

On lake.Within 2 miles (3 km) of this Chesterton hotel, you'll find Lustron House and Wykes-Plampin Nature Preserve. Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Indiana Dunes National Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

What's nearby

  • Chesterton Art Center - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Lustron House - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Wykes-Plampin Nature Preserve - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Indiana Dunes National Park - 3 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Indiana Dunes State Park - 4 min drive - 5.6 km

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
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬3 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

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
  • Limited onsite self parking

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

Waterbird Lakeside Inn Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 418 out of 992 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 323 out of 992 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 142 out of 992 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 69 out of 992 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 40 out of 992 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Armandina

Travelled 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

Travelled 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

Travelled 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

Travelled 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

Business traveller, Travelled with group
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

Travelled 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

Travelled 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

Travelled 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

6/10 Okay

Greg

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Key card problems. No wi-fi on balcony. Otherwise ok.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Tracey

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Average place but the location on the lake and balcony put it above the hotels on the highway!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Caith

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Would not stay here again.

To begin with, right when you walk in the front door, the smell is stale and musty. The hotel is dated, dingy, and overall not very appealing. Water pressure is weak, and the hot water is just lukewarm. The carpets were pretty gross and not vacuumed. To top it all off -- they don't even provide coffee in the morning. No breakfast is fine, but no coffee. Deal breaker.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Lisa

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

10/10 Excellent

Becca

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We liked the hospitality. Very nice hostess at the front. Room was okay. Comfy bed. The area surrounding the outside walk up needs updates and fixes. The room inside needs updates for more modern tastes. The batbroom cabinet was broken and wouldn't close completely
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

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

8/10 Good

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved the view
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicole

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

Great stay!

We had a great stay! We two lakeview rooms and were impressed by the size of the rooms! There were clean and the beds were comfortable. We would definitely stay again:)
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joseph, PORTAGE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice little escape, just a short walk from all kinds of civilization.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kerry

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