Door County is the thumb of land that juts into Lake Michigan from northeastern Wisconsin, with the waters of Green Bay on one side and the open lake on the other.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
Late May through October; July for cherries and summer fun, late September and October for fall color.
How long
Three to five days to see both shores and spend a day on Washington Island.
Getting there
Fly into Green Bay and drive north to Sturgeon Bay; a car is essential on the peninsula.
Why visit Door County
Door County packs a lot of variety into a narrow peninsula. The Green Bay side is lined with bluffs, sunset views and lively villages full of shops, galleries and ice cream stands.
The county is also an agricultural landscape, famous for tart cherries and apples, wineries and roadside farm markets. Add summer theater, a long tradition of Scandinavian settlement, and the dramatic strait known as Death's Door at the tip of the peninsula, and you have a destination that suits families, couples, cyclists, paddlers and anyone who likes small towns by the water.
Sturgeon Bay and the Green Bay shore
Sturgeon Bay and the Door County Maritime Museum
Sturgeon Bay is the county seat and the gateway to the peninsula, a working shipbuilding town split by a ship canal that links Green Bay with Lake Michigan. The Door County Maritime Museum on the waterfront covers shipbuilding, commercial fishing and lighthouses, and its tall lighthouse-inspired tower has an observation deck with views over the bay and shipyards.
Peninsula State Park
Between Fish Creek and Ephraim, Peninsula State Park is the most visited park in Door County, with miles of shoreline, high limestone bluffs, a golf course, beaches and wooded trails. The rebuilt Eagle Tower rises above the bluff, and its long, gently sloping ramp means you can reach the canopy-level viewpoint without climbing stairs.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Inside Peninsula State Park, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is a cream-colored brick light station built in the 1860s on a bluff over the water. It is run as a museum with guided tours in season that show how keepers and their families lived. Allow about an hour.
Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay
These three villages are the heart of the Green Bay shore. Fish Creek has a busy main street of shops and restaurants and is home to the long-running Peninsula Players, an outdoor summer theater in the woods.
The Lake Michigan side
Cave Point County Park and Whitefish Dunes
On the Lake Michigan shore near Jacksonport, Cave Point County Park is a small park where waves have carved caves, arches and ledges into the limestone cliffs.
Cana Island Lighthouse
North of Baileys Harbor, Cana Island Lighthouse stands on a small island connected to the mainland by a rocky causeway. Depending on lake levels, you may walk across on dry stones, wade through shallow water, or ride a tractor-pulled wagon provided in season.
The Ridges Sanctuary
In Baileys Harbor, The Ridges Sanctuary protects a series of sandy ridges and wet swales formed by the retreating lake, home to an exceptional variety of native wild orchids and other rare plants. Boardwalks and trails lead through the forest to a pair of historic range lights that once guided ships into the harbor.
Newport State Park
Near the northern tip of the peninsula, Newport State Park is a wilderness park with miles of undeveloped shoreline, hiking trails and backpacking campsites. It is designated an International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places in the Midwest for stargazing.
Washington Island and Rock Island
Washington Island
From Northport Pier at the tip of the peninsula, a car ferry crosses Porte des Morts, the strait better known as Death's Door, to Washington Island. The island has a strong Icelandic and Scandinavian heritage, quiet farm roads ideal for cycling, lavender fields and a small Norwegian-style stave church.
Rock Island State Park
From Jackson Harbor on Washington Island, a passenger ferry runs in season to Rock Island State Park, which has no cars or bikes allowed. Trails circle the island past sandy beaches, the stone Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Wisconsin's first lighthouse, and the grand stone boathouse built by inventor Chester Thordarson.
Food and local flavors
The fish boil is Door County's signature meal and a piece of theater. Chunks of Lake Michigan whitefish, red potatoes and sometimes onions are cooked in a huge kettle over an open wood fire.
Cherries are the other essential flavor. Door County is one of the leading tart cherry regions in the country, and the harvest usually runs from mid-July into early August, when pick-your-own orchards open.
Swedish pancakes with lingonberries are a breakfast tradition reflecting the peninsula's Scandinavian roots.
Popular dishes to try in Door County
Where to stay
Fish Creek is the most central and convenient base for first-time visitors, close to Peninsula State Park, theaters and restaurants.
Ephraim and Sister Bay suit travelers who want walkable villages with sunset views and easy access to the northern part of the peninsula and the Washington Island ferry.
Baileys Harbor and Jacksonport on the Lake Michigan side are quieter, ideal for couples, birdwatchers and anyone who prefers beaches and nature to shopping.
Washington Island offers a few inns, cottages and campgrounds for those who want to slow down completely for a night or two.
Where to stay in Door County
Best time to visit
Summer, from late June through August, is high season, with warm days, open beaches, outdoor theater and every shop and restaurant running. July brings the cherry harvest.
Many visitors prefer September and October.
Spring is quieter, with cherry and apple blossoms typically appearing in late May and wildflowers in The Ridges.
Getting there and getting around
The closest commercial airport is Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, about an hour's drive from Sturgeon Bay.
A car is essential, as public transportation on the peninsula is very limited.
Wisconsin state parks require a vehicle admission sticker, available as a daily or annual pass. The Washington Island Ferry Line carries cars and passengers from Northport Pier year round, with the most frequent service in summer.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Arrive in Sturgeon Bay and visit the Door County Maritime Museum.
Second day
Spend the morning in Peninsula State Park, cycling the Sunset Bike Route, climbing Eagle Tower and touring Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.
Third day
Drive north to Northport Pier and take the ferry to Washington Island.
Fourth day
Visit Cana Island Lighthouse in the morning, stop at farm markets and orchards for cherries or apples, and spend a relaxed afternoon on a beach.
Practical tips
- Book lodging and popular fish boils early for summer weekends and October.
- Buy a Wisconsin state park vehicle pass if you plan to visit several parks.
- Check ferry schedules for Washington Island and Rock Island before you set out, especially outside summer.
- Pack water shoes for Cana Island's causeway and rocky beaches.
- Lake Michigan is cold and can have dangerous currents; swim at calm, guarded areas where possible.
- Do not take stones from Schoolhouse Beach or disturb plants in The Ridges.
Find local businesses in Sturgeon Bay on WiserMap
Sturgeon Bay is the gateway to the peninsula and a handy place to find bike shops, groceries, outfitters and services before you head north.
