Door County

Door County is a scenic peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan in northeastern Wisconsin, often called "the Cape Cod of the Midwest." The peninsula is the easternmost part of Wisconsin, stretching about 75 miles from Sturgeon Bay at its base to the tip at Northport, where a ferry departs for Washington Island. The area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes, drawing visitors with its unique mix of leisure, recreation, natural beauty, and maritime history.

The peninsula is dotted with small, charming villages — Sturgeon Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, Egg Harbor, and Ellison Bay — each with its own character but sharing a common thread of Scandinavian heritage, lighthouses, and lakeside beauty. The culture is rich in the arts, with more than 80 cultural establishments including galleries, museums, and theaters. For nature lovers, Door County offers five state parks, over 300 miles of shoreline, and more than a dozen conservation areas. The ten lighthouses on the peninsula are popular attractions for history and nautical buffs. Climate is continental: warm summers with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s °F (25–28 °C) and cold winters with January highs near 25 °F (−4 °C). Peak season is late June through October, with fall color season drawing particularly large crowds.

By Plane

Green Bay-Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) has direct flights from across the country on American Eagle, Delta, Frontier, Sun Country, and United Express. The airport is a 45-minute drive from Sturgeon Bay. Three general aviation airports are in the county: Door County Cherryland Airport (SUE) in Sturgeon Bay, Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (3D2) in Ephraim, and Washington Island Airport (2P2) on Washington Island.

By Car / Road

The two main highways into Door County are WIS 42 and WIS 57. WIS 57 is an expressway running from Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay, connecting to freeways toward the Fox Cities, Milwaukee, and Wausau. WIS 42 runs along the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay. From Green Bay, take WI-57 north — about 45 miles, 50 minutes. From Milwaukee, take I-43 north to WI-42 through Manitowoc — about 130 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes. From Madison, take US-51 north to Green Bay, then WI-57 — about 175 miles, 2 hours 45 minutes.

Bus services: While there is no direct bus service to Door County, Indian Trails stops in Green Bay (from Milwaukee to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan); Megabus stops in Green Bay (from Milwaukee to Minneapolis); Coach USA terminates in Green Bay (from Madison); and Amtrak Thruway terminates in Green Bay (from Milwaukee).

A car is the most practical way to get around Door County, though biking is excellent in the state parks and on Washington Island. WIS 42 connects Sturgeon Bay with the bayside villages; WIS 57 runs along Lake Michigan to Sister Bay; north of Sister Bay, WIS 42 ends at the car ferry docks in Northport. County highways (designated by letters) provide additional connections between villages. The peninsula's roads are scenic but can be congested in summer, especially on weekends.

• Cana Island Lighthouse (8800 E Cana Island Rd, Baileys Harbor, +1 920-743-5958) — May-Oct: 10AM-5PM. Lighthouse with scenic views of Lake Michigan. 97-step climb to the top. $12 adults, $10 youth.
• Edgewood Orchard Galleries (4140 Peninsula Players Rd, Fish Creek, +1 920-868-3579) — May-Oct: 10AM-5PM. Art from over 150 artists in a barn and outdoor sculpture garden. Free.
• Peninsula Players Theatre (4351 Peninsula Players Rd, Fish Creek, +1 920-868-3287) — Nightly outdoor theater shows. Oldest resident summer theater in the US.

Biking — Cave Point Paddle and Pedal offers surrey bike rentals. Kayaking — Kayak the Mink River Estuary in Rowley's Bay (Nature Conservancy). Gravity Trails (+1 920-854-9292) and Cave Point Paddle and Pedal offer guided eco-tours using zodiacs, kayaks, and paddle boards.

State Parks (admission $8 WI plates, $11 out-of-state for most; Peninsula State Park $10/$13):

• Peninsula State Park — State's third largest park. Campgrounds, observation tower with knockout views, beaches, bluffs, amphitheater, golf course.
• Potawatomi State Park (4205 Bay Shore Dr, Sturgeon Bay, +1 920 743-4551) — Scenic Sturgeon Bay shoreline.
• Newport State Park (475 County Rd NP, Ellison Bay) — The only wilderness-designated park in Wisconsin, with Europe Bay shoreline.
• Rock Island State Park (1924 Indian Point Rd, Washington) — Historical Icelandic Boathouse and Pottawatomie Light, Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse. Accessible only by passenger ferry from Washington Island.
• Whitefish Dunes State Park (3275 Clark Lake Rd, Sturgeon Bay) — Sand dunes and remnants of eight Native American villages.
• Cave Point County Park (5360 Schauer Rd, Sturgeon Bay) — Cave coves on rocky shores of Lake Michigan near Jacksonport.

Ice Age Trail — The Door County section runs from Algoma to Potawatomi State Park, using the Ahnapee State Trail and city streets in Sturgeon Bay.

Sailing — Stiletto Sailing (9993 Hwy 42, Ephraim, +1 920-854-7245).

• Al Johnson's Restaurant (Sister Bay) — Swedish restaurant with a Scandinavian-style sod roof. Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, meatballs, fruit soup, and waffles. Goats on the roof daily mid-morning to late afternoon. Wait times can be long.
• Door County Confectionery (original in Ephraim) — Fudge and a variety of candies.
• Shipwrecked Brewpub (7791 Egg Harbor Rd, Egg Harbor) — Door County's only microbrewery, with a restaurant.
• Wilson's Diner — A local favorite for casual fare.

Door County has a number of wineries, breweries, and cideries scattered along the peninsula. Shipwrecked Brewpub in Egg Harbor is the county's only microbrewery. Several wineries along WIS 42 offer tastings. Tap water is safe throughout the peninsula.

• Budget: Camping at the peninsula's five state parks (reservations recommended in summer). Many resorts offer cabin and cottage rentals.
• Mid-range: Inns, motels, and B&Bs in each of the peninsula's villages. Sturgeon Bay has the largest concentration of hotels.
• Upscale: Resort properties in Sister Bay, Fish Creek, and along the bayside villages offer upscale waterfront accommodations.

Many villages have shops along their main street (often the state highway). Sturgeon Bay has shops along 3rd Avenue on the east side and Madison Avenue on the west (Sawyer side).

• Sturgeon Bay (base of peninsula, gateway) — The county seat with the Door County Maritime Museum, Canal Lighthouses, and shipyards.
• Washington Island (ferry from Northport, 30 min) — Largest island in Door County with beaches, the Stavkirke, and Rock Island State Park.
• Algoma (south of Door County, 25 mi) — A small city on Lake Michigan with the Ahnapee State Trail.
• Manitowoc (south via WIS 42, 45 min) — A lakeside city with the SS Badger car ferry to Ludington, Michigan, and the Manitowoc Submarine Museum.
• Green Bay (south via WI-57, 50 min) — Home of the Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field.
• Ephraim (on peninsula, 17 mi north of Sturgeon Bay) — A quiet village known for Moravian architecture and Wilson's Ice Cream.