Aug 9, 2026

Taking a Dog on the Washington Island Ferry: 8 Things to Know

Leashed pets ride the Washington Island and Rock Island ferries free of charge, which opens up the two best parts of Door County for a dog. Here is what to know before you drive to the pier.

Luis ZamoraCo-founder of PetCompass; Dog Dad to Banzo and Tuck

Door County, Wisconsin10 min readThings to DoGetting There

The best answer first: leashed pets ride the Washington Island Ferry and the Rock Island Ferry free of charge. No pet fare, no carrier requirement, no muzzle.

That is unusually generous, and it opens up the two best parts of Door County for a dog. Washington Island holds three beaches that take leashed dogs, which is more than the entire mainland manages. Rock Island beyond it is a state park with no cars on it at all.

Eight things to know before you drive to the pier.

1. Leashed pets travel free on both ferries

The Washington Island Ferry Line states plainly that leashed pets are allowed on both the Washington Island Ferry and the Rock Island Ferry at no charge.

Leashed is the operative word. Door County parks and Wisconsin state parks both require a leash, so you will be on one for the whole trip anyway. Bring a fixed lead rather than a retractable one: ferry decks are crowded, wet, and full of tripping hazards.

2. It is a 30-minute crossing of open water called Death's Door

The ferry covers roughly five miles of open water in about 30 minutes, crossing the strait between the tip of the Door Peninsula and Washington Island.

The strait is Porte des Morts, Death's Door, and the name is not decorative. It is the passage that wrecked hundreds of ships in the nineteenth century and gave Door County its name.

What that means for a dog. This is genuine open water, not a sheltered harbour hop. It can be rough, it is frequently windy, and the motion is real. For a dog that gets carsick, thirty minutes of swell is worth thinking about in advance.

Practical steps: do not feed a large meal immediately before boarding, get your dog out on the pier and moving before you get on, and if your dog struggles with motion, talk to your veterinarian before the trip.

3. The pier is at the very top of the peninsula

Departures are from Northport Pier, 215 WI-42, Ellison Bay, at the northern tip of Door County.

That is a long drive from Sturgeon Bay, and the last stretch of Highway 42 is slow. Build in more time than the map suggests, particularly in summer, and give your dog a proper walk before you get in the queue rather than after.

4. Fares are per person and per vehicle

Published 2026 fares are $15 per adult and $8 per child aged 6 to 11, with children 5 and under free. A round-trip automobile fare is around $30, and vehicle fares vary by vehicle length.

Your dog adds nothing to that.

Fares change, so confirm current rates with the ferry line before you travel.

5. Decide whether to take the car, and with a dog the answer is usually yes

Washington Island is substantial. It is not a place you walk around from the ferry dock.

Take the car if: you want to reach Schoolhouse Beach, Sand Dunes Beach, and Percy Johnson Memorial Park in one day, which is the point of going with a dog. Those are spread across the island.

Leave the car if: you are going straight to Rock Island, since no vehicles are permitted on Rock Island and you would be paying to park a car on Washington Island all day anyway. Bicycles and mopeds are widely rented on the island, though neither works with most dogs.

With a dog, the car also gives you somewhere to put a wet, sandy animal for the drive between beaches, and shade if the weather turns.

6. Where your dog rides, and what to bring

Ferries have open deck space and enclosed cabin space. The open deck is generally the better place for a dog: more air, fewer people at close quarters, and easier if anything goes wrong.

Bring: a fixed lead, a towel, fresh water and a bowl, and something warm if your dog is thin-coated. Open water on Lake Michigan is cold and windy even in July, and thirty minutes standing on a deck in that wind is longer than it sounds.

Do not leave a dog alone in a vehicle on the car deck for the crossing in warm weather.

7. Rock Island needs a second ferry, and it has its own rules

Rock Island State Park sits beyond Washington Island and needs a second boat.

The Karfi is a 45-passenger ferry running from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island, with a crossing of about 10 minutes. It operates daily from late May to early October only, carrying campers, hikers, and day visitors with their gear.

Leashed pets ride free on this one too.

Two constraints on Rock Island itself. No vehicles are permitted, so everything comes with you on foot. And only certain campsites accept pets, reportedly sites A to E and 1 to 19, so confirm before booking.

The full state park picture is in 5 state parks, 300 miles of shore.

8. The main ferry runs all year, and two boats break ice

The Washington Island Ferry is not a summer attraction. It is the island's road, and it operates year round, with two of the fleet's five vessels built to break ice, using reinforced hulls and pointed bows to work through winter conditions.

What this means for a dog owner. A winter or shoulder-season visit to Washington Island is genuinely possible, and the island in February is as empty as anywhere in the Midwest.

What it does not mean. Winter sailings are far less frequent than summer ones, and conditions can disrupt them. Do not plan a day trip in January without checking the schedule and a weather forecast, and do not plan one at all with a dog that cannot handle cold and wind on an open deck.

Note that the Karfi to Rock Island does not run year round: late May to early October only.

The eight, condensed

#	The thing	What to do about it
1	Leashed pets ride free on both ferries	Bring a fixed lead, not retractable
2	30 minutes across Death's Door, open water	No big meal before boarding
3	Departs Northport Pier, Ellison Bay	Allow extra time, walk the dog before queueing
4	$15 adult, ~$30 round-trip car, dog free	Confirm current fares
5	Washington Island is big	Take the car unless you are going straight to Rock Island
6	Open deck beats the cabin	Towel, water, warm layer, cold wind
7	Rock Island needs the Karfi, late May to early Oct	No vehicles, pets at certain campsites only
8	Year-round service, two icebreakers	Winter is possible, sailings are sparse

What is waiting on the other side

The reason to do any of this: Washington Island is where Door County's dog access gets good.

Percy Johnson Memorial Park has a genuine sand beach with picnic facilities, parking, and restrooms, and leashed dogs are welcome.

Sand Dunes Beach is quieter, with sand and fewer facilities.

Schoolhouse Beach is one of a handful of beaches in the world made of smooth white limestone stones. Leashed dogs are welcome. Removing the stones is prohibited, with fines attached, and rounded stone is awkward underfoot for a dog, so treat it as a place to look at rather than run on.

A Washington Island Parks Pass is required for the island's parks and beaches.

All three are ranked against the mainland options in 9 Door County dog beaches, ranked.

A realistic day plan with a dog

Morning. Drive to Northport, walk the dog on the pier, board the 30-minute crossing.

On arrival. Drive straight to Percy Johnson Memorial Park. Sand, swimming, facilities, and space.

Midday. Schoolhouse Beach for the look, then somewhere out of the sun. Ferry days are long and a dog that has swum needs a rest.

Afternoon. Sand Dunes Beach, or drive the island's quiet roads and stop where you like.

Late afternoon. Back to Detroit Harbor with time in hand. Do not cut the return sailing fine. Missing the last boat with a wet dog and no accommodation booked is a genuinely bad end to a good day.

If Rock Island is the plan instead, treat it as the whole day: two ferries out, two back, no vehicles, and everything carried.

Practical cautions

Check the schedule the morning you go, not the week before. Weather affects sailings on open water.

Book nothing on the island that you cannot cancel until you have confirmed the ferry is running.

Ticks. Wisconsin has a substantial tick population and the islands are no exception. Check your dog after every walk.

Blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria blooms occur in Wisconsin waters and can be lethal to dogs. Avoid water with visible scum, foam, or a paint-like surface, and check current Wisconsin advisories.

Veterinary access on the islands is minimal. Whatever you would want in an emergency, you want it before you board. See emergency and after-hours vets in Door County and emergency vet, what to know.

If you have not booked a base, search verified pet-friendly hotels, and if your dog is large, check Door County with a big dog.

Conclusion

Leashed pets ride both Door County ferries free of charge, which is the single most useful fact in this article and the reason Washington Island belongs on any dog-focused Door County itinerary.

Thirty minutes of open water across Death's Door from Northport Pier, around $30 round trip for the car and $15 per adult, nothing for the dog. On the far side, three beaches that take leashed dogs, which is more than the whole mainland manages between them.

Rock Island beyond it needs a second ferry that runs only from late May to early October, permits no vehicles, and restricts pets to certain campsites.

Take the car, take a towel, take a warm layer, and give yourself room on the return sailing.

Ferry schedules, fares, seasonal operation, and pet policies change, and weather affects sailings. Confirm current details with the Washington Island Ferry Line before you travel. Then find the shore your pet will wag "yes" to.

Frequently asked questions

Are dogs allowed on the Washington Island Ferry? Yes. Leashed pets are allowed on both the Washington Island Ferry and the Rock Island Ferry free of charge. There is no pet fare, carrier requirement, or muzzle requirement, but a leash is required.

How long is the Washington Island ferry crossing? About 30 minutes across roughly five miles of open water, through the strait known as Death's Door. It is genuine open water rather than a sheltered crossing, so it can be rough and windy.

How much does the Washington Island Ferry cost? Published 2026 fares are $15 per adult and $8 per child aged 6 to 11, with children 5 and under free. A round-trip automobile fare is around $30, varying by vehicle length. Dogs add nothing. Confirm current rates before travelling.

Should I take my car to Washington Island with a dog? Usually yes. The island is large and the three dog-friendly beaches are spread across it, so a car is the practical way to reach them in a day. The exception is a trip straight to Rock Island, where no vehicles are permitted.

Does the Washington Island Ferry run in winter? Yes. It operates year round as the island's transport link, with two of the fleet's five vessels built to break ice using reinforced hulls and pointed bows. Winter sailings are much less frequent and weather can disrupt them.

How do I get to Rock Island with a dog? Two ferries. The Washington Island Ferry from Northport Pier, then the Karfi, a 45-passenger boat from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island, taking about 10 minutes. The Karfi runs daily from late May to early October only. Leashed pets ride free on both.

Sources

Ferry schedules, fares, seasonal operation, and pet policies change, and weather affects sailings on open water. Check with the Washington Island Ferry Line before you travel.