10 Best Beaches in Door County

Nicolet Beach is located in the heart of Peninsula State Park and offers a lot of family-friendly and outdoor adventure activities that are sure to please kids and adults alike. Here you'll find everything from a playground for the kids to paddleboard rentals and even volleyball courts so you can have a pickup beach game. You can also grab a bite to eat at the local concession stand. It's considered a destination in Door County and one of the more well-known family-friendly beach destinations in the region.

Waterfront Park is a family- and kid-friendly destination that offers a pebble-strewn beachfront along Sister Bay Beach with a pier as well as a playground for the kids. You'll also find picnic tables where you can sit down in the shade and enjoy a quiet lunch with your nearest and dearest. Much of the park area is covered with green grass, and the whole area, even when heavily populated, just offers an air of peace and serenity. It can be a good choice for those who want to spend a relaxing day under the sun.

Whitefish Dunes State Park covers 867 acres along the eastern shore of the peninsula and is renowned for having some of the most substantial dunes on the Lake Michigan shore. These dunes give way to long stretches of white- and gold-sand beaches right along the shores of the deep blue waters, with lush green fields and verdant forests just a few steps away. This beach is a good choice for sunbathing, swimming, or going hiking in the forest. It's an all-encompassing outdoor adventure location.

The Sturgeon Bay Canal was built in the late 19th century to help ships cut through the peninsula instead of going through the dangerous passage around the tip. Even today, the historic lighthouse at the eastern end still operates. The beach is part of a nature preserve that features 2.5 miles of hiking trails along the sandy beaches that lead to a scenic overlook area. Here you can explore sand dunes leading to ancient shorelines with centuries of stories to tell. It's an ecologically diverse area and a treasure of the region.

Egg Harbor Beach is a waterfront gem that boasts spectacular views and has been carefully cultivated to create a 500-foot-long beachfront integrated with an existing parkland. Naturally engineered bio-filters have been put in place to protect the water and prevent erosion. The beach offers a wide range of amenities that include a playground, changing rooms, hiking paths, parking areas, and even a ramp to launch kayaks, canoes, and small boats. Whether you're looking to build a sandcastle with the kids, go swimming, or just relax in the sun, Egg Harbor Beach has you covered.

Frank Murphy Park occupies about 14 acres along Horseshoe Bay and features a sandy beach, crystal-clear waters, a boat launch, and a dock. The park also includes a volleyball court, a playground for the kids, a picnic area and pavilion, and restrooms. Parking is available. The beach has served as the host site for the annual Door County Triathlon. Dogs are welcome, but be sure they're on a leash. Also, keep in mind that there is no lifeguard at this beach.

Fish Creek Beach is a designated beach for public swimming and is a popular destination for visitors in the summer. It offers a jungle gym that kids love to climb on and a stretch of sand that runs right up to a lush green lawn. You can enjoy a picnic lunch on the grass or build a sandcastle on the sand. Just a few steps away from the beach you can visit the quaint town of Fish Creek, famed for the many lighthouses that dot the shore.

Ridges Beach is known for its historical shoreline that features a series of ridgelines created as the water has continually receded since the prehistoric era. These ridges have stories to tell about the history of the area. Ridges Beach is famed as a stop for bird-watchers, while others come here in hopes of catching a view of rare animals and plants that also live in this animal sanctuary. The beaches are open for swimming and sunbathing. The beach park features shallow waters, and on windy days kiteboarders hit the waves just offshore.

Sand Bay is a family-run resort beach in Sturgeon Bay that offers a wide range of amenities. Some of the features include a Jacuzzi suite and amenities that are welcoming to fishermen looking to score a smallmouth bass, walleye, or muskie. You'll find boat launches just 10 minutes away. The beach itself features a narrow stretch of golden sand and dark-blue cool waters. You can walk hiking trails in the summer or go cross-country skiing in the winter just a few miles away. You'll find shopping, fine dining, and more as well as opportunities to swim and sunbathe.

Lakeside Park is a good choice if you're looking for a quaint, out-of-the-way beach park that counts as a hidden gem of the region. It offers opportunities for boating on Lake Michigan with boat launches as well as 2 covered shelters with charcoal grills and a children's play area. It's also known for its summertime festivals. You can go paddleboating, windsurfing, kayaking, parasailing, and more. It's a destination for those who enjoy watersports as well as those who just want to relax under the sun.