The Door County Peninsula is one of Wisconsin’s most popular tourist destinations but travelers to the county face a choice. What highway to take? Highways 42 and 57 split just north of Sturgeon Bay, and both roads offer a spectacular journey north up "the thumb." But some of the county’s most charming towns in Wisconsin are on the west side of the county and Highway 42 will take you through all of them.

Here’s what’s waiting for you on the trip, which will cover about 26 miles and take 46 minutes. But that's if there’s no traffic and you don’t stop, which is not very likely on this trip! Plan for a day or more to explore these places. If you're considering making the drive more of a trip itself, be sure to use our ultimate road trip packing list to make trip preparation a breeze!

The Route

You can use this ​​interactive Google map to follow along on the itineary and to modify however needed to best meet your needs.

1. Egg Harbor

This village is filled with charming shops and restaurants and it’s a good place to get out and stroll – on busy weekends, cars don’t move very fast anyway! Take time to admire the waterfront before heading north. Check out this article to read more about ​​Egg Harbor.

2. Fish Creek

This village is tucked into the south side of Peninsula State Park and some of the county’s cutest inns are strung along the waterfront. You’ll also find some longtime dining spots that are as popular with the locals as they are the tourists. You'll be charmed by the walkable town of ​​Fish Creek.

3. Ephraim

This Scandinavian hamlet is the stuff of postcards. Admire the white churches and the expansive waterfront and enjoy a favorite Door County moment - an ice cream cone at ​​the historic Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor.

4. Sister Bay

Descend the "Sister Bay Hill" into this waterfront town that has it all – a huge marina, tranquil beach, and goats. Yep, you’ll find a small herd grazing on the roof of ​​Al Johnson's Restaurant.

5. Ellison Bay

One of Door County’s smaller towns is the next stop on the road trip. Ellison Bay is a pleasant town and home to the gorgeous ​​Newport State Park.

6. Gills Rock

The last stop on this road trip is the little fishing village of Gills Rock. It’s a town with a big maritime tradition that is continued by the Voight family, which operates a ferry service and sells some of the best smoked fish you’ve ever tasted at ​​Charlie's Smokehouse, a family tradition since 1932.

Have you visited these towns in Wisconsin? What did you think when you were there? Leave a note in the comment section. We would love to hear about your experience.

Get more ideas of things to do in Door County, as well as places to stay, when you check out the Door County website. If you decide to venture beyond Gills Rock, you can take a trip down the windiest road in Wisconsin you'll ever travel!