Peninsula State Park

Nature at her Finest

Peninsula State Park in Door County Wisconsin is a favorite of both experienced campers and the novice camper. It is a favorite among midwest campers that return every year.

Where is Door County Wisconsin? Look at a map of Wisconsin and find the thumb-like piece of land on the right hand-side of that state that juts out into Lake Michigan, you are looking at Door County. The Door Peninsula a 75 mile long peninsula. Peninsula State Park is located in Fish Creek, Wisconsin about 55 miles into the peninsula. The entire Door County area is beautiful and picturesque. But for our vote the best place in Door County is Peninsula State Park.

Peninsula State Park is a state park. So it's owned and operated by the State of Wisconsin. This incredible park is 3,776 acres and features nearly 7 miles of pristine and undeveloped shoreline. The scenery within the park is breathtaking and varied. Visitors will find beautiful shoreline, forested areas, meadows, a swimming beach, wetlands, and rocky bluffs. For golfers Peninsula State Park even has a popular 18 hole golf course that needs to be booked several months in advance if you want a tee time during the busy summer months.

There are several miles of hiking and biking trails in the park. Don't miss the 75 foot observation tower that can be climbed for breathtaking views of the area. Visit the nature center and historic lighthouse that is open during the warmer months for guided tours. For recreation there are sand volleyball courts on the beach; a tennis court; several camping areas; picnicking areas; sightseeing areas; a pier for fishing; boat launch areas. For a little culture in the forest take in a performance at the outdoor theatre; that you can see performances at from about the middle of June to the middle of August; and numerous signs explaining the history of the area. There is even a cemetery inside the park.

A little gem is Horseshoe Island, one of several islands adjacent to the park. People can boat, canoe or kayak out to the island and hike it if they wish, but people have to bring their own boats to do so. Overnight camping is not allowed on the island, but it’s a beautiful daytime destination.

Wildlife abounds in the park. It's not uncommon to see deer, eagles, all kinds of birds, and small mamals.

There is so much to do and see at Peninsula State park that we recommend a minium of a three day camping trip within the park. Die hard campers spend several days, or even weeks, inside the park without doing the same thing twice. Many campers don't even venture out of the park, finding everything they need right there. However we do recommend that at a minimum you do a little exploring in Fish Creek, just outsidet the enterance of the park. For scenery it's hard to beat the park. Many campsites have nice water views that showcase spectacular sunsets. This is one great vacation destination for nature lovers. Recreation, scenery, and plenty of activities all combine to make for a memorable stay.

The camping sites are a great value. Even with electricity and a water view (there’s an extra fee for water view and electric sites) a campsite at Peninsula State park is less than $20 a night. If you want to camp in the summer, plan ahead. Even though the campground has over 450 camp sites, it fills up quickly and is often booked solid.