Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources doesn’t hand out the title “most complete park” lightly, but Peninsula State Park earns it: nearly eight miles of Green Bay shoreline, an 18-hole championship golf course, a working lighthouse, a summer theater, 468 campsites, and Eagle Tower, a rebuilt observation deck reaching 253 feet above the water via either 100 steps or an 850-foot accessible ramp. Established in 1909 on Door County’s peninsula, this park has spent over a century accumulating attractions most parks would consider a lifetime’s worth of infrastructure. A couple of 2026-specific construction projects are worth knowing about before you plan your route through it, though.
Here’s what to know about Eagle Tower, camping options, and current road closures for a 2026 visit.
Peninsula State Park Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Door County, WI, between Fish Creek and Ephraim |
| Park size | 3,776 acres |
| Established | 1909 |
| Shoreline | Nearly 8 miles along Green Bay |
| Day-use fee | $10 (WI plates); $13 (out-of-state plates) |
| Annual pass | $28 (WI plates); $38 (out-of-state plates) |
| Eagle Tower season | Approximately May 1–October 31, weather dependent |
| Eagle Tower height | 60 feet tall; observation deck 253 feet above Green Bay |
| Campsites | 468 total across three campgrounds, plus 3 group camps |
| Camping reservation window | Up to 11 months in advance via wisconsin.goingtocamp.com |
| 2026 construction | Road repaving April 21–May 8 (south/Fish Creek entrance area); Tennison Bay shower building renovations throughout 2026 |
Two Entrances: Which One to Use
Peninsula State Park offers two distinct entrances, and picking the right one matters depending on where you’re headed and what’s under construction. The south entrance sits near Fish Creek, close to Julie’s Cafe and Motel, while the north entrance enters near Ephraim, close to the golf course. For 2026 specifically, road repaving work runs from April 21 through May 8, causing intermittent closures on the main road and parking lots between the south (Fish Creek) entrance and the Nelson Point Day Use Area.
During this window, the north (Ephraim) entrance and golf course remain fully open, making it the more reliable access point if your visit overlaps with these repaving dates. Check the electronic sign board at the intersection of Highway 42 for current instructions if you’re entering from the south side during this period, since closures are intermittent rather than a single continuous shutdown.
Eagle Tower: Rebuilt and Genuinely Accessible
This is the park’s signature attraction, and it’s worth understanding both its seasonal schedule and its notable accessibility features. Eagle Tower stands 60 feet tall atop Eagle Bluff, with its observation deck reaching 253 feet above Green Bay’s waters, delivering sweeping views across the park, surrounding islands, the Upper Michigan shoreline, and the village of Ephraim. Following its rebuild, the tower now offers two ways up: a traditional 100-step climb, or an 850-foot scenic canopy walk and ramp that makes the summit accessible to wheelchair users and families with strollers alike, a genuinely rare feature for a tower of this height.
The tower operates seasonally, roughly May 1 through October 31, though the exact window can extend into late fall or start earlier depending on weather conditions each year. Expect it to be closed during the depths of winter regardless of how mild a particular season runs, so don’t plan a winter trip specifically around reaching the summit.
Camping: Choosing Among Three Distinct Campgrounds
With 468 total campsites split across three campgrounds, each offering a genuinely different experience, picking the right one shapes your stay considerably. Tennison Bay sits closest to the beach and tends to be the most popular choice with families given its proximity to swimming and sand. Weborg Point offers more seclusion for campers wanting a quieter setting away from the busiest areas. Nicolet Bay delivers beautiful bay views, striking a middle ground between the other two options.
One detail worth knowing for 2026 specifically: Tennison Bay’s shower buildings are undergoing renovation throughout the year to upgrade utilities, with phased closures expected during the work. If shower access matters to your camping plans and you’re specifically drawn to Tennison Bay for its beach proximity, check current facility status before booking, since you may need to use a different campground’s shower building during construction phases.
All campsites can be reserved up to 11 months in advance through wisconsin.goingtocamp.com, and given the park’s reputation as Wisconsin’s most popular camping destination, booking well within that window is genuinely necessary for summer weekends rather than a mere suggestion.
Golf: A Championship Course at State Park Prices
Peninsula’s 18-hole golf course consistently ranks among Wisconsin’s finest public courses, winding through mature forest with views of Eagle Harbor and the village of Ephraim, all at a price point considerably below what comparable private courses would charge. Beyond the main course, a 6-hole par-3 short course offers a quicker, more beginner-friendly round, alongside a full driving range, pro shop, and professional lesson availability. If you’re visiting Peninsula primarily for golf rather than camping or hiking, the north (Ephraim) entrance puts you closest to the course.
The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and Other Historic Sites
Beyond Eagle Tower, the historic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse sits within the park and offers paid guided tours starting mid-May, giving visitors a look inside a working piece of Door County’s maritime history. The park’s broader historical layers run deep, from a 1927 memorial pole dedicated to the Potawatomi nation to Civilian Conservation Corps projects from the 1930s that rebuilt Eagle Tower’s earlier iteration and constructed many of the park’s stone fences and trails still in use today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Will the April/May road construction affect my visit if I’m entering from Ephraim?
No. The 2026 road repaving project specifically affects the main road and parking areas between the south (Fish Creek) entrance and Nelson Point Day Use Area, from April 21 through May 8. The north (Ephraim) entrance and golf course remain fully open throughout this period.
Q2. Is Eagle Tower open year-round, or only during specific months?
Eagle Tower operates seasonally, roughly May 1 through October 31, with the exact window shifting slightly based on weather each year. It’s closed during winter months regardless, so don’t plan a winter visit specifically around reaching the summit.
Q3. Can a wheelchair user actually reach the top of Eagle Tower?
Yes. Beyond the traditional 100-step climb, an 850-foot scenic canopy walk and ramp provides accessible access to the observation deck, a genuinely rare feature that makes this 253-foot vantage point reachable for wheelchair users, strollers, and anyone unable to manage stairs.
Q4. Which campground should I book if shower facilities are important to my stay?
Check current facility status before booking Tennison Bay specifically, since its shower buildings are undergoing phased renovation throughout 2026. If uninterrupted shower access matters most, Weborg Point or Nicolet Bay may be more reliable choices during the construction period.
