Portage, Indiana is an affordable, low-key home base on the southern shore of Lake Michigan with immediate access to Indiana Dunes National Park — beaches, dunes, hiking and lakeside trails make downtime feel like a mini-vacation between shifts. The town has practical amenities, casual dining and a relaxed, friendly vibe that suits multi-week travel assignments.
Within about an hour you can reach downtown Chicago for big-city arts, dining and nightlife, while nearby Valparaiso offers a charming college-town food and festival scene.