Square Rigger Lodge
6332 State Highway 57
Jacksonport, WI
The quiet side of the peninsula, 286 feet of Lake Michigan beach, and the only beachfront coffee shop in Door County.
About Square Rigger Lodge
Door County is the peninsula that juts north from Green Bay into Lake Michigan, a 75-mile stretch of carved shoreline, cherry orchards, state parks, and small harbors. Jacksonport is on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula, the quieter and less developed shore, with sandy beaches rather than rocky bluffs. Square Rigger Lodge sits on State Highway 57 with 286 feet of private sandy Lake Michigan beachfront. The property has operated as a motel and waterfront destination here for decades, independently owned throughout, and has built a strong regional following for exactly what it is: a beach-facing motor lodge with a beachfront coffee shop serving Door County Coffee and a large shaded yard between the building and the water. USA Today has recognized it among the top roadside motels in America two consecutive years, in 2025 and 2026.
What Square Rigger Lodge Is Known For
Square Rigger Lodge has won USA Today's Best Roadside Motel award two consecutive years. The property is independently owned, seasonally operated, and has maintained its character as a straightforward Lake Michigan beachfront motor lodge without converting to something more elaborate. The beachfront coffee shop, the private beach, and the mix of motel rooms and cottages create a layered property where the core offering is simple: 286 feet of Lake Michigan sand and a place to sleep directly beside it.
Amenities
- 286 feet of private Lake Michigan sandy beachfront
- Beachfront coffee shop serving Door County Coffee
- Large shaded yard with fire pit
- Suite with full kitchen and living area
- Five beachfront cottages with equipped kitchens
- Free WiFi throughout
- Free on-site parking
What Guests Love
- 286 feet of private sandy Lake Michigan beachfront: a genuine private beach at a motor lodge price, not a resort rate
- On-site beachfront Door County Coffee shop: the regional roaster that anchors Door County's coffee culture, available from the shoreline
- Independently owned and operated, seasonal by design: the property closes in winter and runs fully as a summer lake destination
- Mix of room types from motel rooms to beachfront cottages: the right option depending on group size and how close to the water you want to be
Worth Knowing
- The property is seasonal, open mid-May through October only: plan accordingly and confirm availability for your dates
- Pets are not allowed
- The Lake Breeze Rental House is a full 4-bedroom vacation rental, not a motel room: a different product for larger groups
- Door County is a popular summer destination: book well in advance for July and August weekends, which fill months ahead
- The beachfront cottages and the rental house may have different minimum-stay requirements than the motel rooms: check the website when booking
The Room
Standard motel rooms on the first and second floors of the main lodge building, with room configurations including king, queen, and double beds. A suite with a full kitchen, stove, refrigerator, and living area is attached to the main motel building. Five separate beachfront cottages offer more privacy and fully equipped kitchens, with direct access to the shore. The Lake Breeze Rental House provides four bedrooms, three bathrooms, full kitchen with new furnishings, washer and dryer, and a gas fireplace for larger groups. Free WiFi throughout the property.
The Grounds
The 286-foot private sandy beach on Lake Michigan is the defining feature of the property. A large shaded yard separates the main building from the water and functions as the communal outdoor space during the day and into the evening. A fire pit on the grounds serves as a gathering point. The on-site beachfront coffee shop serves Door County Coffee, which is roasted in Sturgeon Bay and is the signature regional coffee of the peninsula. Free WiFi extends across the property. The lodge is seasonal: open mid-May through October.
The Experience
Door County runs on water and seasons. The Lake Michigan shore at Jacksonport is the calmer, sandier side of the peninsula compared to the Green Bay shore's rocky bluffs. Cave Point County Park, five miles north, has the wave-carved limestone formations that photograph across Door County's identity: water forcing through rock chambers and shooting vertical. Jacksonport State Park is half a mile away, with a swimming beach and a fishing pier. The peninsula's state parks, particularly Newport and Peninsula State Park, are within 15 to 20 miles and offer hundreds of miles of trails, kayaking, and camping. The cherry orchards that cover the interior of the peninsula bloom in May and produce from August through September.
Details
Jacksonport, WI 54235
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Square Rigger Lodge have EV charging?
No, Square Rigger Lodge does not have on-site EV charging. The Road Trip Planner map shows public chargers near the property.
What is there to do near Square Rigger Lodge?
Cave Point County Park: 5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there. Jacksonport State Park: 0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Newport State Park: 16 miles, about a 30 minute drive.
How far is Square Rigger Lodge from Cave Point County Park?
Cave Point County Park is about 5 miles from Square Rigger Lodge, roughly a 10 minute drive or a short bike ride.
How far is Square Rigger Lodge from Jacksonport State Park?
Jacksonport State Park is about 0.5 miles from Square Rigger Lodge, close enough to walk (roughly a 5 minute drive).
How far is Square Rigger Lodge from Newport State Park?
Newport State Park is about 16 miles from Square Rigger Lodge, roughly a 30 minute drive.
When is Square Rigger Lodge open?
The property is seasonal, open from mid-May through October. It is closed in the winter months.
Is there a private beach at Square Rigger Lodge?
Yes. The property has 286 feet of private sandy Lake Michigan beachfront, with a large shaded yard between the motel building and the water.
Are pets allowed at Square Rigger Lodge?
No. The property does not allow pets.
What types of accommodations does Square Rigger Lodge offer?
The property offers 12 standard motel rooms on the first and second floors of the main motel building, a suite with a full kitchen and living area attached to the motel, five beachfront cottages with equipped kitchens, and the Lake Breeze Rental House, a 4-bedroom house with full amenities available for larger groups.
What is the beachfront coffee shop at Square Rigger Lodge?
The property has an on-site coffee shop serving Door County Coffee, a well-known regional roaster based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The coffee shop is positioned on the beachfront and is open to guests.
What is Door County, Wisconsin like as a destination?
Door County is a peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay in northeastern Wisconsin, with 300 miles of shoreline, five state parks, and 11 lighthouses. The peninsula draws visitors year-round for sailing, hiking, kayaking, and fall foliage, with summer peak season bringing fish boils, farm stands, and full beach access.
Does Square Rigger Lodge have a pool?
Square Rigger Lodge does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at Square Rigger Lodge?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Square Rigger Lodge.
Does Square Rigger Lodge include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Square Rigger Lodge.
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Things to Do Near Door County
Lakeside Park
0.8 miles away
Lakeside Park is a free sand beach and shaded picnic green on Lake Michigan in the little Door County village of Jacksonport, on the peninsula's quieter eastern shore.
Cave Point County Park
3.6 miles away
This free county park delivers scenery that rivals any paid attraction on the peninsula.
Whitefish Dunes State Park
4.4 miles away
Big sand, big fun. Whitefish Dunes State Park south of Jacksonport has the tallest dunes in Wisconsin and a long, shallow-edged beach perfect for younger swimmers on a warm day.
The Ridges Sanctuary
6.9 miles away
The Ridges Sanctuary preserves one of the rarest landscapes in the Midwest, a washboard of forested sand ridges and boggy swales laid down as Lake Michigan slowly pulled back from the shore over thousands of years.
Cana Island Lighthouse
9.8 miles away
Getting there is half the charm. Cana Island Lighthouse sits on its own little island near Baileys Harbor, and you reach it by crossing a rock causeway that is often ankle-deep in Lake Michigan, either wading across bare...
Fish Creek Beach
11 miles away
A sheltered village swimming beach in the heart of Fish Creek, facing the calm, warm waters of Green Bay rather than open Lake Michigan.
Peninsula State Park
12 miles away
Door County's crown jewel, over 3,700 acres wrapping the village of Fish Creek along eight miles of bluff-lined Green Bay shoreline.
Nicolet Bay Beach
13 miles away
The only sand swimming beach in Peninsula State Park, on a shallow, sheltered bay with some of the warmest water in Door County.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Overlook
13 miles away
Driving the loop through Peninsula State Park, pull off at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse for a fast, scenic break.
Newport State Park
20 miles away
Newport is Wisconsin's only wilderness state park, way out on the dark tip of the Door Peninsula near Ellison Bay, with a wide-open view east over Lake Michigan.