Newport State Park Campground offers year-round tent camping in Ellison Bay, providing a wilderness experience just 15 minutes north of Ephraim. As Wisconsin's only wilderness-designated state park, it protects 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and earned Dark-sky preserve status in 2017. Winter temperatures typically range from 10-25°F, while summer averages 65-80°F with higher humidity.
What to do
Hike the wilderness trails: Newport State Park Campground features 30 miles of ungroomed, heavily wooded trails with varying difficulty levels. "Beautiful lake michigan or newport bay is close to every site. The beaches offer iconic great lake swimming: clear, cold water and a long blue horizon. Gorgeous wildflowers in the spring, including the rare dwarf lake iris and lots of trillium," explains one regular visitor.
Explore Door County by bike: The extensive trail system at Tennison Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park connects to multiple attractions. "Located in the middle of Door County and just minutes from anything that you would be interested in doing, including catching amazing sunrises from downtown Bailey's Harbor (Just a short 1.2 mile walk away)!" notes a camper who frequently visits the area.
Stargaze under dark skies: The International Dark-Sky Association designated Newport State Park as a Dark-sky preserve, making it ideal for night sky viewing. "We had clear night skies which was truly breathtaking. Great location!" reports one camper who stayed at campsite 13.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Baileys Woods Campground receives praise for its secluded setting. "For a private campground, the sites were large and wooded, overall the campground was clean and quiet. Not a far drive from the state parks and other door county attractions," notes a visitor who typically prefers state parks.
Clean facilities: Wagon Trail Campground maintains exceptionally clean facilities. "The bathrooms are always amazingly clean. Small camp store has all the basics. Playground for kids. Campsite was very clean," notes one reviewer who appreciated the cleanliness during their family camping trip.
Waterfront access: Many sites offer direct water access. "Sites offer fire rings, tables, restrooms, shaded sites. Stunning views, great trails (some moderate to difficult), fishing and paddling at water access," remarks a camper about North Nicolet Bay Campground.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Secure sites early, especially for summer months. "This state park is a very busy camping destination in the summer, so reserve your spot early! It's a beautiful park with lots of campsite options," advises a regular visitor to North Nicolet Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park.
Weather preparedness: Door County experiences significant seasonal variations. "It rained the whole time, but we loved it and want to return," shares a camper who visited site 7 at Newport State Park despite challenging conditions.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. "Site 85 had absolutely zero T-Mobile and Verizon signal. Our phones were in SOS Mode," reports a camper who stayed at Welcker's Point Campground in September 2025.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Welcker's Point Campground — Peninsula State Park offers multiple recreational options. "A very nice beach, plenty of campgrounds, relatively clean bathrooms considering you're camping. Very pretty, lots of hiking and biking trails," notes a family who enjoyed the varied activities.
Playground access: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Ephraim include play areas. "It is located within a 2 to 5 minute drive from Baileys Harbor on Lake Michigan. Plenty to do in the area including swimming in Lake Michigan, kangaroo lake along with beautiful hiking, shopping, kayaking, the list goes on!" shares a parent who appreciated the kid-friendly facilities.
Beach considerations: Beaches vary in accessibility and composition. "Beach was covered in crushed shells so shoes a must. Water shoes even better if you want to wade in," advises a family who stayed at Newport State Park for four nights with a younger child.
Tips from RVers
Site selection advice: J.W. Wells State Park Campground offers waterfront options but requires planning. "Some sites are low, so water flows to the site on rainy days. There are some trails you can walk, there is a ball diamond for kids and a small court for basketball," notes an experienced RVer.
Utility access: Understand the hookups available at each campground. "There are tent only sites, pull through sites, and sites that will accommodate popup campers up to large pull behind campers. All seasonal campers that we have met are very friendly," explains a camper who frequently stays at Baileys Woods with their pop-up camper.
Campsite surface type: Many campgrounds have gravel rather than grass sites. "The campground was impeccably clean. The sites are decent sized, with wooded area in between the sites. There is no grass on your site though, the ground is all gravel," notes a visitor to Wagon Trail Campground who traveled with their dog.
