Wagon Trail Campground's wooded campsites welcome pets with private, spacious sites and clean facilities. Dogs can accompany their owners at all of the pet-friendly campgrounds in Ellison Bay, including Newport State Park Campground and Hy-Land Court RV Park. All dog owners should adhere to basic leash policies at campsites, though each location has specific rules regarding waste disposal and pet behavior. Wagon Trail offers exceptional privacy between sites, making it ideal for pets who may be reactive to other campers. Accommodations range from tent sites and RV spots with full hookups to camping cabins and yurts that accept pets. The bathrooms remain exceptionally clean despite the presence of pets, with regular sanitation protocols in place. Many sites feature gravel pads surrounded by trees, providing shade for pets during warmer months.
A network of hiking trails connects Wagon Trail Campground to a Lake Michigan beach where leashed dogs can explore the shoreline. Newport State Park provides backwoods camping with hiking trails suitable for dogs, though owners should be prepared to pack out waste. J.W. Wells State Park Campground across the Michigan border also accommodates pets at its cabin and tent sites. The Door County peninsula offers numerous pet-friendly activities beyond the campgrounds, including outdoor dining options in nearby Ellison Bay and Sister Bay. Seasonal considerations include higher mosquito activity in wooded sites during summer months, which can affect pets susceptible to bites. Peninsula State Park's several campgrounds (South Nicolet Bay, North Nicolet Bay, Tennison Bay, and Welcker's Point) all permit pets, creating a wide range of options for camping with dogs throughout the region. The morning walk to Grandma's Swedish Bakery from Wagon Trail provides exercise for both pets and owners.
$40 - $150 / night
"It is pet friendly. It is located near the water and has many trails to hike! Love this place, especially in October with the leaves changing and the festivals around town!!!!!"
"The staff is friendly and welcoming, they are pet friendly, and their sites are spacious and private - unlike so many other campgrounds we visit."
$20 / night
"Camp right next to the water even. We hiked just after a 3” rainfall, so unfortunately the trails were washed out. But we made do.
It’s a beautiful park, and looks to be well kept."
"This is the best place to camp in Wisconsin if you’re looking for a mix of outdoor adventure and touristy activities like drive in theaters and wine tastings."
$20 / night
"Great walks with the dog"
"Campsites are not too big, and maybe bit too close to each other, but I didn't get a feeling of being cramped. Watch out for poison ivy, it's everywhere. Same with mosquitoes."
"It felt like spring break out at the beach and boat ramp (no pets allowed on beach). North Nicolet has no power sites, all are no hookups."
"Beautiful wooded area with ready access to the water. Fantastic shower facilities. You do feel a bit packed in with your fellow campers at the adjacent sites. Not a heck of a lot of privacy."
"Surrounded by small quaint towns, Peninsula State Park is nothing less than a Mecca for all sorts of camping enthusiasts. "
"If you're looking for bells and whistles, lots of amenities and lots of friendly neighbors in close proximity, this is the place to go!"
"Beautiful park with lots of options to camp lakeside. Many sites are very close together, so if privacy is important… choose wisely."
"Great playground for the kids the only problem is it is far away from really anything and the gas station near by charges and arm and a leg for food."
$20 - $22 / night
"Close to amenities like shopping & restaurants. Beautiful views. Campsites close to the boat launch are more secluded."
"It has easy access to the bike trails in Peninsula State Park. Most of the fellow campers were in tents, although there were a few pop-ups and RVs."
"Not so far from Washington Island ferry . 3 min driving distance to the lake where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets ."
"We visit this location yearly. It is our most anticipated trip each year. This campground has many wooded sites and a number of newer sites located in the open."
$30 - $50 / night
"Kid and pet friendly including a very fun playground. It is located within a 2 to 5 minute drive from Baileys Harbor on Lake Michigan."
"loved the small towns charm. great sunrise view at Lake Michigan. clean cummnity, friendly people. dog friend on lesch."
"Hands down our favorite Wisconsin State Park! Great day or weekend trip! You have to take a Ferry from Washington Island and carry/backpack on your gear (no cars or bikes allowed)."
"Rock island SP is a dark sky spot and combine that with lesser people around, it was a perfect location for stargazing!"
GuideHikers rejoice. You’ll find the 16-17 rustic sites quite awesome at Newport State Park. Camp right next to the water even.
We hiked just after a 3” rainfall, so unfortunately the trails were washed out. But we made do.
It’s a beautiful park, and looks to be well kept. Close to Uncle Tom’s Candy Store and a short drive to Ellison Bay for supplies or a fish boil.
GuideSeriously, I've died and went to heaven…at least a heaven filled with Vikings, beer, grassy rooftops, a beautiful, freeways lined with flowers, and campsites with shower stalls that are better than yours.
I feel that the description above, although precise, still does not describe the beauty of this place. Surrounded by small quaint towns, Peninsula State Park is nothing less than a Mecca for all sorts of camping enthusiasts.
The grounds are manicured to a T with plenty of bathrooms AND shower stalls, 100s of camping sites, some of the best fire rings I've ever used, near a beach in Lake Michigan, and with plenty of activities. This location will certainly please even the most,"roughing it is not having room service" people.
The outskirts of the park is lined with incredible vistas, beaches, and a golf course. Kayaking, horseback riding, and amazing hikes are some of the immediate activities. If that's not really your pace, you can head out to one of the many towns that surround the area and that will open up infinite possibilities, including:
1. Scuba diving
2. Cliff jumping
3. More hiking
4. Kayaking tours
5. Sailing and/or Parasailing
Of course, after doing all of the above, you'll need to eat. Don't fret as this piece of heaven on earth has some of the best food on the planet, seriously!
My number one recommendation is the Wickman House in Ellison Bay. Prices may vary BUT, my buddy and I had:
1. 1 Old Fashioned(each)
2. 1 bottle of wine
3. Oysters
4. Corn salad
5. Brisket
6. Dessert(the best I've ever had in a restaurant, Golden Beets Pannacotta, with cubed red beats, caramelized orange rinds and mint of the side)
All of that costed us around$120, TOTAL. The place is open from 1700-2100, Friday through Monday. Please DO NOT wait and try to walk in. Get there between 1500-1600 and make a reservation for the night, trust me.
Another fun spot is Fred and Fuzzy's. A bar on the edge of Lake Michigan serving great local foods and drinks. Oh, you want to make this fun? Okay…Go to the beach in Sister Bay, rent a kayak, and paddle there. It’s a quick trip, just make sure to go left when you get going.
And this is all I can mustard. There are so many things to do here. One trip will not be enough to truly experience this amazing place.
Pro tip: At a time of COVID, you can reserve a spot for around$700 and stay for a month…it's all about that telecommuting perk!
TravelerThis is the best place to camp in Wisconsin if you’re looking for a mix of outdoor adventure and touristy activities like drive in theaters and wine tastings. The site we stayed at was a 1.5 mile hike in. You could definitely bring a mountain bike to make the trip to and from your campsite faster but we enjoyed the hike. I’ve been for 2 separate 3-day trips and never once saw another camper. The sites are far enough apart to feel like no one else is around. Enjoy the best that Wisconsin has to offer!
GuideTranquil Timbers advertises pet friendly but they ARE NOT pet friendly. If your dog makes any kind of noise whatsoever, they are NOT welcome. Motorcycles and noisy kids however, park approved!
TravelerYou could drive by and miss this little gem. Beautifully kept up county park with clean shower house. Pet friendly, they even have a hitching post for your pet while visiting the bathrooms. On site hosts.
All sites are within a short walking distance of the beach and some are right on the beach. Site L1 had a good mix of beach and woods. Near the beach is a small playground for the kids.
Guidehttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157257997807305&id=687117304
Well compared to the human petting zoo and three ring circus at Peninsula State Park, and by not settling and pressing on, I found what I consider to be the perfect park. Newport State Park in Elison Bay, WI is secluded, pristine and quiet with just a handful of primitive campsites all on the lakeshore with 30 miles of ungroomed, heavily wooded trails which abound with wildlife (kinda, not really).
There is a stretch of open beach with lots of shoreline and a ranger station unmanned with self-registration. There were only two campsites available for one night only so I went with lucky 13 because it was remote, not near any other campsites and on the rocky cedar grove crowded with rocky shoreline.
It was a four mile loop to backpack to the campsite on Rowley's Bay Trail. I had been walking everyday for weeks leading up to this trip to strengthen my legs and toughen up my feet. The preparation worked as I performed very well even for a fat old guy. My feet are meat.
When you backpack in and out you are thinking about what you need and what will fit in the pack. Efficiency is key unless in this instance you forget to pack a few sheets of toliet paper (luckily I didn't need it). I was able to fit a sleeping bag, Luke's green Northface Nebula Strata tent, Mary's green "tights", Joey's Hulk pillow and blanket, a Pink Floyd shirt from Walmart for the irony, waterproof matches, a hatchet for protection, two cuties, four bottles of water and a bag of trail mix.
More to come.....
Ok, I'm back. I had to find Wifi and a place to charge my phone because my charger in the car is really slow for some reason. I thought going back to Al Johson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik was as good as any other place and I learned a few things from the staff and more experienced patrons while I was there charging my phone. I also ate a proper breakfast for the first time in a long time - it was damned good.
Al Johnson opened his restaurant 70 years ago and ran it up until his passing a few years ago. He rode his bike to work and waited tables, cooked, wiped down tables, hosted and even fed the goats.
There are a total of five goats and they get on the roof using a ramp in the back of the restaurant; there are also two webcams on the roof in caae you want to watch goats graze on a Swedish grass roof top 24/7 or check the weather.
http://www.aljohnsons.com/goat-cam/
The restaurant is packed everyday from open to close, year round. Butik is a Swedish word for the French word "boutique" or small shop. Some of the staff are actually fron Sweden. Swedish meatballs sound relatively easy to make given the simplicity of the ingredients (100% beef, onions, milk, salt and pepper) and they are even more delicious if you haven't eaten anything but fruit and trail mix for days.
Next up, the Washington Island Ferry and staying the night on the island before catching the Rock Island Ferry (the Karfi) tomorrow morning.
Newport State Park is a 2,373-acre Wisconsin state park at the tip of Door Peninsula near Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Protecting 11 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan, Newport is Wisconsin's only wilderness-designated state park. In 2017, the International Dark-Sky Association named Newport a Dark-sky preserve.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157258660192305&id=687117304
Newport State Park, WI continued... I packed my hatchet for protection and from my tent I shouted into the darkness, "I got a gun you son of a bitch!"
With my backpack packed and feeling a little anxious, as if I was up for the two hour hike to campsite 13, it was at the Rowley's Bay Trailhead that I noticed that my phone battery was dead which meant no pictures and no measure of time. Oh well. I didn't see any wildlife along the hike but I did notice a sign for that invasive flowered plant, Garlic Mustard, that I saw at Big Knob Campground in MI (UP).
I reached the shoreline and the cedar groves crowding the rocky shore rivaled those of the ones I've seen at Rock Island. It was only a few more paces until I got to campsite 13. It was tucked away in the woods with a fire pit, two wood benches, two flat areas for tents and a metal animal box to protect food. It was perfect, or so I thought - the plot thickens.
I set up the tent and went to the shoreline to relax in the sun. The view looked east over Rowley's Bay and there were no waves; just ripples lapping up on the rocks. With no concept of time, I sat there until the sun passed over me to the right (west) and I figured it was getting close to dusk and enjoyed the golden hour.
I thought about all sorts of stuff and recognized how noisy my mind was even in such a quiet and tranquil setting. On these solo trips you can cover a lot of ground seeing stuff and you can talk to yourself out loud and disagree most of the time with what you are saying. But I never really win that many arguments with myself, so I did what I always do - walk around, eat and sleep.
I ate half the bag of trail mix and drank two bottles of water saving the rest and the two cuties for tomorrow. I turned in early without using those cool waterproof matches and opted not to make a fire.
I fell a sleep quickly to the sounds of the ripples and in the middle of the night I was startled and woke in a panic. I heard something or someone stalking around the tent. Was it an animal, a ranger, a serial killer, my ex-wife, or worse both my ex-wives or the creepy guy that I met in the parking lot at the trailhead? My mind was racing and I grabbed the hatchet that I always keep in the tent under my pillow for moments exactly like this one.
I must have stayed motionless for 30 minutes running through all the horific scenarios in my head and debated with myself what would be my first move. I definitely did not imagine the foot steps and I was now prepared to seriously fight.
I chose to stay in the tent and maintain a defensive position but I thought I should send a warning. I gripped the hatchet and from my tent I shouted into the darkness "I got a gun you son of a bitch!". There was nothing but silence, however, I could still hear the footsteps pacing further from the tent now but definitely still on the campsite.
I continued to think of my options but leaving the tent to confront the threat was an unnecessary risk. I laid motionless in complete silence with the hatchet in my hand until I fell a sleep.
When I woke up to the sound of the now familiar ripples it was early morning, the hatchet was still in my hand and I was alive. The hatchet is a gun? It's the same thing to me if it scares off a threatening son of a bitch or a imposing walking tree.
I really was scared...
LegendConvenient to Sister Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. Off of WI Hwy 57. Large open field. 27 pull-through RV sites are equipped to handle the biggest RV’s by providing 34′ x 75′ sites. 33 back-in RV sites. 10 walk in tent sites. Pets welcome - $5/day pet fee. New restrooms & showers. No cell service, but very good free WiFi service. Clean campsites, well maintained. No privacy between sites. Gravel driveways. Picnic table. Fire ring. Convenience store & gas station on site - Dovetail Trading Company & Citgo gas station. Registration in store. Accepts reservations. Campground was still open on Oct 23, 2021, even though it's season ended on Oct 18. This is a good campground for RVs. I camped here when I couldn't find another campground that had available sites. I thought it was overpriced for camping in my camper van with no hookups needed, but it was okay in a pinch.
TravelerCompletly wooded camping through out the campground. Kid and pet friendly including a very fun playground. 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!
ScoutMy family and I have been coming here for years!!!!! The campground is big and beautiful! Every campsite has a picnic table and fire pit; the Yurts and cabins have chairs. The Yurts, cabins, and bathrooms are clean! The staff is friendly! It is pet friendly. It is located near the water and has many trails to hike! Love this place, especially in October with the leaves changing and the festivals around town!!!!!
Pet friendly camping near Ellison Bay, Wisconsin offers campers access to the Lake Michigan shoreline and Green Bay waters with over 30 miles of hiking trails at Newport State Park. The area sits on the Door County peninsula with limestone bluffs rising up to 150 feet above the water. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-80°F during camping season, while fall brings temperatures between 45-65°F with lower humidity.
Lighthouse exploration: 5 minutes from campgrounds. The Eagle Bluff lighthouse near Welcker's Point Campground offers historical tours and panoramic views. "The lighthouse is beautiful and has a wonderful view. You can go on tours of it but we were too late to go on one," notes Sarah C.
Water activities: Sandy beaches for swimming. J.W. Wells State Park Campground provides beach access with shallow waters. "The park is right on the lake and has a beautiful beach. There are events for kids to keep them entertained, especially on holiday weekends," writes Lora Y. The swimming areas are typically clear with moderate water temperatures in summer.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk optimal. Watch for deer, foxes, and over 100 bird species. "We hiked the Rowley's Bay Loop. Camp 13 is one of the most isolated sites which was perfect. Our campsite faced the lake and we had clear night skies which was truly breathtaking," shares Den R. from Newport State Park.
Privacy between sites: Tree coverage varies by campground. Baileys Woods Campground receives high marks for its secluded sites. "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 Kassondra T.
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained. Many campgrounds prioritize bathroom cleanliness. "The bathrooms are always amazingly clean. Small camp store has all the basics. Playground for kids. Campsite was very clean," shares Jillian S. The shower facilities often include private stalls with hot water.
Night sky views: Minimal light pollution. Rock Island State Park Campground offers exceptional stargazing. "Rock Island is an absolute must see! There is very little light pollution and star gazing is a must," explains Jen C. The island location minimizes artificial light, creating optimal viewing conditions for constellations and occasional northern lights.
Advance booking: 2-4 months recommended. Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Peninsula 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 Sara S.
Seasonal factors: Weather patterns affect camping experience. Fall brings cooler temperatures but fewer insects. "The island gets very windy and cold at night. Be prepared and bring extra layers! On the plus side, bugs were very very minimal," notes Calli N. about Rock Island.
Natural concerns: Plants and wildlife awareness needed. Watch for poison ivy along trails and campsites. "Sites offer fire rings, tables, restrooms, shaded sites. Stunning views, great trails (some moderate to difficult), fishing and paddling at water access," explains James M. about North Nicolet Bay Campground.
Playground access: Available at select campgrounds. Hy-Land Court RV Park offers family amenities. "Not so big, there is no playground for kids, bathrooms and showers are really clean thats a plus, there is also a laundry machine," notes Justyna B.
Beach proximity: Walking distance at several sites. Some campgrounds have direct beach access. "This campground is HUGE! Located in Door County, the peninsula also offers lots to do from Mini Golf to Shipwreck kayak tours. I could have spent a month here and still have more things to try out," shares Amanda L.
Evening activities: Campfires and night walks. Family-friendly programming available at larger campgrounds. "The park offers a look out tower, lighthouse, golf course," notes James M. about Peninsula State Park, where evening ranger programs often occur during summer.
Site specifications: Size and hookup limitations vary. Check specific campground requirements before booking. "We had full hookups and a large wooded site. Staff delivered firewood directly to you as well. Everyone was very helpful and extremely friendly," shares Rob E. about Hy-Land Court.
Driving considerations: Some roads have size restrictions. RV access varies between campgrounds. "This site is clean, spacious, and level. The camp atmosphere is respectful of the natural sounds and beauty around us," notes Carl S. about J.W. Wells State Park.
Water access: Not available at all sites. Some campgrounds offer full hookups while others have limited services. "Great spot to explore Door County! Just north of sister bay and right next door to a cherry orchard this campground was great! We camped in the older section of the park and had huge sites with plenty of shade," explains Scott B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ellison Bay, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ellison Bay, WI is Wagon Trail Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ellison Bay, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Ellison Bay, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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