Door County Travel Guide

Door County is the peninsula north of Green Bay, with 300 miles of Lake Michigan and Green Bay shoreline, five state parks, and a chain of small villages. It's a summer destination with a short season: July and August are peak, fall color in early October is the second peak, and much of the peninsula slows dramatically in winter. Beaches, most shoreline access, and the villages themselves are free; a Wisconsin state park pass covers Peninsula, Whitefish Dunes, and Newport for the week. The classic fish boil dinner is the one splurge worth budgeting. This guide covers timing, the park pass, and where the value lodging is.

Quick tips

• One Wisconsin state park pass covers all five Door County parks for your stay.
• September has warm water and materially lower rates than August.
• Sturgeon Bay lodging prices below the northern villages like Fish Creek and Ephraim.
• Most shoreline and village walking is free.
• Washington Island is a ferry ride and a good, cheap day trip.

Frequently asked

When is Door County cheapest?

Late spring and the weeks after Labor Day. July, August, and the early-October color weekends are the peak.

Do you need a park pass in Door County?

Yes for the state parks — a single Wisconsin vehicle pass covers all of them for the duration of your stay.

How far is Door County from Chicago?

Roughly four to five hours by car, which makes it a long-weekend rather than a day-trip destination.