Highway 42 hugs the Lake Michigan shoreline all the way up through Door County, and it happens to pass by some of the best custard stands and cheese shops in the state. You can start in a quiet harbor town and end in a walkable vacation village, grabbing gooey grilled cheese, goat milk gelato, and creamy frozen custard along the way.
Each stop here has its own personality, so you never feel like you are ordering the same thing twice. Pack a cooler, plan your snack breaks, and let this list turn a simple drive into a full-on food trail worth remembering.
1. Wakker Cheese LLC, Kewaunee, WI
Dutch-style Gouda is the star at this compact shop on Milwaukee Street, where the cheese is made in the artisan tradition and lined up cafeteria-style for easy browsing.
Alongside the flavored Goudas, you will find classic cheese curds and cheddar, plus cake loaves for anyone who wants a little something sweet with their savory haul. The variety is wide enough that repeat trips still turn up new flavors to try.
Located at 409 Milwaukee Street, the shop sits right where Highway 42 carries you through Kewaunee, a small lakeside harbor town with a quiet, historic main-street feel. Parking is simple, with a free lot and free street spots nearby.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is an in-store shopping experience only, so plan to browse and take your finds with you.
This makes a smart first stop before heading north with a cooler in the trunk.
2. Kewaunee Custard & Grill, Kewaunee, WI
Just a short hop from the cheese counter, this drive-up custard stand keeps things classic with a rotating flavor of the day and rich, creamy custard scooped into fresh waffle cones.
The menu is refreshingly simple. You get frozen custard in a wide range of flavors, including sugar-free options, served in generous portions, plus burgers and fried favorites if you want a full meal instead of just dessert.
The Turtle Sundae is a standout for anyone with a chocolate-and-caramel weakness.
Sitting at 707 Main Street directly along Highway 42, it works as either a lunch stop or an evening treat, with counter service, a drive-through, outdoor seating, and takeout all on the table. There is a kids’ menu, high chairs, and plenty of free parking.
Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., it does not take reservations, so you just roll up. I like this one because it is the kind of easygoing roadside stand that feels built for a Highway 42 detour.
3. Beerntsen’s Confectionary Inc, Manitowoc, WI
Step into downtown Manitowoc and you will find a candy shop that has been making chocolates and confections on-site for over 50 years, with the vintage look to match.
The homemade frozen custard here comes in a small but solid rotation of flavors, so it pairs nicely with the classic ice cream bar. The real signatures, though, are the chocolate treats: double-dipped chocolate peanuts, malt balls, and chocolate-covered biscuits are all worth grabbing on your way through.
Located at 108 N 8th Street, it sits along the Highway 42 corridor near the Lake Michigan shoreline. The beautiful classic aesthetic of the chocolate shop and cafe gives the whole place a timeless charm that adds a lot to the town.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., it is often described as the spot still lit up when the rest of downtown has closed for the night. Street parking is free and easy.
Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so mornings tend to be calmer if you prefer some elbow room.
4. Wisconsin Cheese Masters, Egg Harbor, WI
Cheese lovers get a real education at this Egg Harbor shop, which proudly stocks its shelves with cheeses sourced entirely from Wisconsin.
The selection is big and the staff know their stuff, walking you through the varieties and handing out samples so you can taste before you buy. That sampling approach makes it easy to leave with cheeses you actually love instead of guessing off a label.
You can find it at 4692 Rainbow Ridge Court, right off Highway 42 along the designated Door County Coastal Byway, just outside the compact village center of Egg Harbor on the Door Peninsula.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is an in-store and pickup shopping stop with no delivery, so this is one to browse in person.
The friendly, knowledgeable crew makes it a fun break when you want to fill that cooler before the drive continues north.
5. 888 Cheese & Co. Door County, Fish Creek, WI
Grilled cheese gets the gourmet treatment here, and the creativity on the menu is half the fun.
Beyond the classic version, you can order things like a goat cheese and mac grilled cheese, a pesto grilled cheese, or the Grilled Cheese with Jalapeno Bacon, plus rotating weekly specials that have included a Philly cheesesteak style sandwich. Tomato bisque makes a natural sidekick for dipping.
The shop sits at 9197 WI-42 on the grounds of Lautenbach’s Orchard Country in the rural enclave of Fish Creek, which gives the stop a laid-back, countryside feel. It is family-friendly, welcomes dogs, and has a kids’ menu, with plenty of free parking.
Hours take a little planning: it is open Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday, open Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in or grab it to go.
For anyone who thinks grilled cheese is just kid food, this place makes a strong case otherwise.
6. Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard, Fish Creek, WI
A creek, a small waterfall, and a few resident ducks turn this Fish Creek custard stop into more of an outdoor hangout than a quick grab-and-go.
The frozen custard sticks to vanilla, chocolate, and a flavor of the day, but you can dress things up with special sundae combinations if you want more than a plain scoop. Pies, sundaes, and burgers round out the menu for anyone who arrives hungry.
Find it at 4054 Main Street, which is State Highway 42, right in walkable downtown Fish Creek. The outdoor seating along the water is the real draw, giving you a shady spot to sit, watch the ducks, and enjoy your treat.
Hours are Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday, then Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Service is quick, with custard often out within minutes.
Parking includes free lots, free street spots, and a paid lot option. I would save this one for a warm afternoon when you actually want to linger by the creek.
7. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, Ephraim, WI
Serving ice cream, house-brewed root beer, and burgers since 1906, this Ephraim soda fountain is a genuine landmark on the Highway 42 route.
The custard comes in many flavors with large helpings and tasty waffle cones, and the menu goes far beyond dessert. You can order a Chicago Dog, a Door County Whitefish Sandwich Basket, Nachos Supreme, or Cheese Curds on a Bed of Fries, then finish with extra-thick malts and shakes or the Children’s Clown Sundae.
There is even a vegan Mint Chip option.
Located at 9990 Water Street S, the parlor sits directly across from the harbor in the picturesque village of Ephraim, with the road running parallel to the shoreline.
Hours run Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Table service and takeout are both available.
The vintage setting and that harbor-front location make it the kind of stop where the meal and the view work together.
8. Door County Creamery, Sister Bay, WI
Goat cheese is the specialty at this Sister Bay cafe, which even offers lunchtime goat farm tours with tastings for anyone curious about how it all comes together.
The lineup is built for grazing. Think cheese and charcuterie boards, sandwiches like the Turkey Brie and the BLT, a Shaved Gyro, and creamy goat milk gelato you can order by the scoop or take home by the pint.
Fresh goat cheese travels well in a cooler, so it is a fitting final haul.
You will find it at 10653 N Bay Shore Drive, which is Highway 42, along the northern stretch of the Door County Coastal Byway and right on the village main street.
Open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday until 10 p.m., it offers counter service, outdoor seating, and takeout, with free wi-fi and a kids’ menu. It is family-friendly and welcoming to everyone.
As the northernmost stop on this drive, it is a satisfying place to cap off a day of cheese and custard.
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