Beaches in Door County

Kick Up Some Sand, Soak Up Some Fun

With nearly 300 miles of shoreline, Door County is renowned for some of the most beautiful beaches in Wisconsin and the Midwest at large. From wide-open sand dunes and rare limestone shores to action-packed water sports and serene rolling waves, there’s a beach in Door County for you.

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A person in a hammock and a person paddle boarding in the background

Family Fun Beaches

If you’re taking the whole family out for a day in the sun, some beaches might suit your needs better than others. Many of these sand beaches offer paddle board and kayak rentals, nearby playgrounds, and bathrooms.

Nicolet Beach: Nestled in Peninsula State Park, this beach has a playground, paddle sport rentals, sand volleyball courts, and concessions.
Otumba Park Beach: This waterfront park in Sturgeon Bay offers a Mobi-mat that reaches from the pavement to the water, so people with walkers and wheelchairs can easily access the sandy beach and waterline.
Waterfront Park, Sister Bay: Situated right in downtown Sister Bay, the nearby pavilion frequently offers live music and is just steps from local dining and shopping options.
Egg Harbor Beach: The newly-renovated and expanded beach is just a short walk from downtown Egg Harbor.
Whitefish Dunes State Park: Find plenty of room for the whole family on this mile-long sand beach that is often called one of the best beaches in Wisconsin. The beach area offers a
Fish Creek Beach: In 2017, the town purchased a property that will add another 75 feet to this popular beach destination in the heart of Fish Creek.

Lesser-Known Beaches

Some beaches in the county have their own special draw, bringing locals and tourists to their shores for solitude and scenic views.

Sand Bay Town Park in Liberty Grove is far enough from any towns to ensure a mostly empty sand beach.
Rock Island State Park is described by many as the most beautiful in the county, but the two ferry rides it takes to get there will definitely keep the masses away.
Ridges Beach in Baileys Harbor is a small sand beach just far enough from the town to keep things quiet while offering the Ridges Sanctuary just across the road.
Frank Murphy Park, Egg Harbor: A wide sand beach, boat launch, fishing pier, playground, and volleyball court make give this park extra appeal.
Lakeside Park in Jacksonport could perhaps be called “Door County’s year-round beach" because it hosts the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day every year.
Sturgeon Bay Canal: Dip your toes in the waters of Sturgeon Bay’s historic shipping canal.

Leave No Trace: Beach Basics

Stick to the Trails
Stick to designated trails and walkways to access beach areas. Though sand itself is a durable surface, walking on sand dunes damages the plants that hold them together and causes erosion.

Trash Your Trash
When visiting Door County’s beaches always remember to pack out what you pack in. Trash, even food scraps, can take a long time to decompose and is detrimental to wildlife health.

Leave It as You Find It
There is a lot to discover in and around the waters of our beaches. Always leave natural objects including rocks, driftwood, or vegetation for other visitors to enjoy. Be considerate of other visitors and refrain from creating rock stacks.

Keep Wildlife Wild
There are lots of different wildlife species including waterfowl, spring peepers, painted turtles and more, that call Door County’s beaches their home. Always give wildlife plenty of space and never follow, approach, or feed them.

Washington Island's Schoolhouse Beach

Schoolhouse Beach on the northern reaches of Washington Island is one of just a few smooth limestone beaches in the world. Historic glaciers battered the stones on the beach into the smooth, flat surfaces they are today. Although the stones are mesmerizing, be sure to leave them at the beach. After years of visitors taking the stones as souvenirs, the town imposed a law against taking them—with a hefty fine attached.

Video: Schoolhouse Beach

Beaches of Door County

Still not sure which beach is right for you? Check out our Beaches of Door County video series to learn more and help you choose where to spend a summer day soaking in the sun and playing in the water.

Video: Beaches of Door County