7 Amazing Door County Hotels on the Water

Door County is famous for its 298 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan and Green Bay. These Door County hotels on the water will help you soak up the shore. This article features hotels and resorts along the Door County shoreline are sure to provide an amazing experience for guests.

sunset over the Bay of Green Bay in Door County, Wisconsin with the text Hotels on the Water HelloDoorCounty.com
Adapted from “Sunset from Ellison Bay” by Richie Diesterheft via Flickr.com. Used by permission (CC BY-SA 2.0).

This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps us provide content to help you plan life-changing travel experiences. Thanks!

What To Consider When Choosing a Door County Hotel on the Water

Give some careful thought when choosing a Door County hotel on the water. Questions you should consider include:

  • Which body of water is this on?
  • Is this hotel kid-friendly?
  • Is this hotel pet-friendly?
  • Do I want a private beach area?

Which Body of Water?

The most important matter to decide when picking a Door County hotel on the water is: “Which body of water do you want to stay on?”.

Hotels on Lake Michigan will offer cool breezes, gorgeous sunrises, and freedom from crowds. Locals call this the “quiet side” of Door County. If you are a morning coffee kind of person, you might like a hotel on Lake Michigan. On the other hand, most will not want to swim in these waters until later in the season when air and water temperatures rise.

Hotels on Green Bay offer beautiful sunsets and closer access to restaurants and other amenities. In addition, the water warms up quicker here, so you might be more likely to swim in Green Bay. If you are an evening cocktail sort of person rather than a morning coffee sort of person, you might like a hotel on the water of Green bay. On the other hand, this is the busy side of Door County. You might encounter crowds here – great for those who like to see and be seen, but less than ideal for those who want more solitude.

Sturgeon Bay is a smaller bay off of Green Bay. Hotels on Sturgeon Bay will offer access to the amenities of the City of Sturgeon bay, Door County’s only city.

Is this hotel kid and pet friendly?

Some travel to bond with the family, including kids, grandkids, and even fido. Others are looking to get away from the kids and want a break from the noise and business that kids and pets bring along. Not all Door County hotels are kid and pet friendly, so make sure to research the property carefully.

Do I Want a Private Beach Area?

You might assume that a Door County hotel on the water has a beach area for swimming, but this is not necessarily the case. Some hotels do not offer a private beach area, even if they have private shoreline. However, even if the hotel you choose does not have a private beach, Door County has many public beaches

Door County Hotels on the Water of Lake Michigan

Picture depicting Lake Michigan sunrise.
Via Piqsels. Used by permission (public domain).

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

Glidden Lodge offers condo rentals on a Lake Michigan beachfront setting. All condos face the water and offer full kitchens. If Lake Michigan is too cold for swimming, Glidden Lodge has a heated indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna. A fitness room, tennis court, and business center round out Glidden Lodge’s amenities.

Glidden Lodge is one of the more luxury hotels in Door County.

Donny’s Glidden Lodge, an excellent Door County Supper Club, is next door and serves dinner.

Gordon Lodge

hotel bed
Via Unsplash. Public domain.

Gordon Lodge is a 130-acre retreat on North Bay, a small body of water off of Lake Michigan. The large estate has hiking trails and a half mile of shoreline. Guests especially like the private sandy beach, heated outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, and complimentary equipment rentals including kayaks, paddleboards, fishing equipment, and bicycles.

Gordon Lodge is near the scenic and popular Cana Island Lighthouse.

Learn More

Gordon Lodge is the best Door County hotel on Lake Michigan. However, perhaps you need to learn more about Gordon Lodge before booking.

Check Availability

But, if you are interested in checking availability for Gordon Lodge, do not hesitate. Lodging in Door County books up well in advance. Now is the time to act, before this property no longer has availability.

Jackson Harbor Inn

If you are looking to stay off the beaten path, Jackson Harbor Inn is a good Door County hotel on the water to do so. Jackson Harbor Inn sits on Washington Island, offering good access to Washington Island’s Ridges Natural Area. Keep in mind that getting to Jackson Harbor Inn will require transportation on the Washington Island Ferry.

Door County Hotels on the Water of Green Bay

Picture depicting a cairn near Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin
Beach Trailmarker by Richie Diesterheft via Flickr. Used by permission (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Bay Breeze Resort

sign for Bay Breeze Resort

Located on the Eagle Harbor of Green Bay, Bay Breeze Resort provides suites and single units to serve as a home base for your Door County vacation. Bay Breeze Resort is in the Village of Ephraim and in close proximity to Peninsula State Park, the most popular state park in Wisconsin.

A private sand beach, heated swimming pool, and hot tub number among the amenities.

Learn More

Do you need to learn more about Bay Breeze Resort? Check out our detailed review about this great Door County hotel.

Check Availability

Bay Breeze Resort books up months ahead of time. If you think you’re interested in staying at this property, don’t hesitate to check availability.

The Shallows Resort

The Shallows Resort gives travelers a rare opportunity: a quiet location on the Green Bay side of Door County. South of Egg Harbor, The Shallows’ location is far from the bustle usually associated with the area. Amenities include a private shoreline, a dock, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and complimentary use of recreation equipment such as kayaks and bicycles.

Door County Hotels on the Water of Sturgeon Bay

Storm over Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wiscnson. Via Piqsels. Used by permission (public domain).

Bayshore Inn

You’ll have a blast at Bayshore Inn. This property is chock full of amenities including a dock, tennis, pickle-ball, basketball course, complimentary bikes, kayaks, and paddleboards, campire pit, playground, both indoor and outdoor heated pools and hot tub, and more. All of Bayshore Inn’s accommodations are suites with full kitchens.

Bayshore Inn is a short distance from Sturgeon Bay, Door County’s only city.

Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort

HelloDoorCounty.com rating: 4.1

Superimposed text says: Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort. Background image grid contains images of the business sign, a bed, and a sunset over waves.

Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort has been designed so that every suite has a view of the water. Guests can choose between one- and two-bedroom suites, all of which have private bedrooms and kitchens with full-sized appliances. Amenities include heated outdoor and indoor pools, sauna, hot tub, and complimentary use of paddleboats and rowboats.

Learn More

We rated Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort 4.1 stars on our comprehensive review about this property. Check out that review to learn more about this great property.

Check Availability

If you’re interested in checking availability for Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort, don’t hesitate. Lodging in Door County books up months in advance, so don’t miss out on your chance to book this property.

About the author
Mark Stoneman
Hi! My name is Mark! I have been a resident of Door County for almost ten years now, and I'm glad to help you say "Hello" to Door County. I believe that travel helps to change lives, and because of that, I want to help you improve your life through travel.