# Getting to Door County: Do You Need a Car?

_Updated July 2026 · https://www.doorcountyguide.com/guides/getting-here/_

> Yes, plan on a car — Door County is a long, narrow peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin, and we're not aware of a public transit system that covers visitor travel between towns. There's no commercial airport in the county itself; the closest is Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB), roughly an hour from Sturgeon Bay, give or take. From there, two state highways (WI-42 and WI-57) split around the peninsula and get you everywhere else.

Door County is a peninsula, not a town, and that shapes almost everything about getting here and getting around once you've arrived. There's no quick shuttle or train option — most trips start with a drive, and most trips also end with more driving once you're on the peninsula, since the towns are spread out along two main roads.

Here's the practical rundown before you plan the rest of your trip:

1. **No commercial airport in Door County itself.** The nearest is Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB). From there it's roughly an hour by car to Sturgeon Bay, give or take, more if you're continuing further up the peninsula toward Sister Bay or Ephraim.
2. **Driving distance from major regional cities is real, and traffic-dependent.** As a rough guide: expect a few hours from Milwaukee or Madison, and more like half a day from Chicago. Treat all of these as loose approximations — weekend traffic, weather, and construction can add time, so it's worth checking current conditions before you head out.
3. **You need a car.** Door County is a long, narrow peninsula, and we're not aware of any public transit system built for getting visitors between towns. Some towns are walkable once you're parked, but getting from one to another is a car (or bike, for the ambitious) job.
4. **Sturgeon Bay is the gateway, and it has a working shipping canal.** The city sits where a canal splits the peninsula from the mainland, crossed by bridge, including at least one that can open for boat traffic. That can mean a brief wait, though we don't have verified typical wait times — worth keeping in mind if you're timing a dinner reservation.

## 1. Washington Island Ferry Line — A second crossing to plan for
*Gills Rock · $$*

If a Washington Island day trip is on your itinerary, know that it's a separate ferry crossing beyond your drive to the peninsula, not something bundled into getting to Door County itself. Budget extra time for it in your day's schedule.

For the actual planning details — crossing time, whether to bring your car, and checking the current timetable — see our [Washington Island day trip guide](/guides/washington-island/) rather than figuring it out on the fly.

[Full details](https://www.doorcountyguide.com/places/washington-island-ferry/)

## The honest version

Drive times in this guide are deliberately given as ranges, not exact minutes — actual time depends on where on the peninsula you're headed, time of day, season, and whether it's a holiday weekend. Summer weekend traffic on WI-42 and WI-57 can genuinely back up near the busiest towns (Sister Bay, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek), so budget extra time on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in July and August. We haven't tried to pin down exact bridge counts or drawbridge opening schedules in Sturgeon Bay — if that timing matters for your plans, it's worth checking current, local information before you go.

If a Washington Island day trip is part of your itinerary, see our [Washington Island guide](/guides/washington-island/) for the ferry crossing details, timetable, and whether to bring your car. And if you're building a driving route around fall foliage, our [fall colors guide](/guides/fall-colors/) covers how WI-42 and WI-57 work as scenic drives.

## Brad's tips

- **Rent or bring a car even if you're flying into Green Bay.** We're not aware of a good alternative for getting up the peninsula from the airport, and you'll want one once you're here regardless.
- **If your hotel or restaurant is on the other side of one of Sturgeon Bay's bridges, build in a little slack** for the possibility of a boat passing through, especially in summer.
- **Pick 42 or 57 based on what you want to see, not just speed** — 42 runs the bay side through Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, and Sister Bay, while 57 runs the lake side through Jacksonport and Baileys Harbor. They reconnect near the top of the peninsula, so neither one is a wrong choice, just a different view.