Overview
Ozaukee and Washington are counties in Southeast Wisconsin. The most populous city is Port Washington.
1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ozaukee and Washington Counties
Harrington Beach State Park
Biking, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, and other outdoor activities.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 17°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Apr. (climate data from nearby Milwaukee)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MKE General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee — 18 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MSN Dane County Regional Truax Field, Madison — 56 mi away. Directions
The main freeways are I-43 through Ozaukee County and US-45 through Washington County. I-41 passes through portions of western Washington County.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Cedarburg — Washington Avenue Historic District, The Woolen Mill, Covered Bridge Park.
- Day 2: West Bend — Museum of Wisconsin Art, The Tower Heritage Center, Courthouse Museum.
- Day 3: Port Washington — Pebble House, Judge Eghart House.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Ozaukee and Washington Counties
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Washington County is the hinterland of Ozaukee County, which was a commercial port on Lake Michigan from the 1870s to 2004. The cities in Ozaukee were connected to Milwaukee and Sheboygon by interurban rail until the late 1940s. Today the port continues as a marina and the trail built on the rail right-of-way is popular both with locals and people bicycling from Milwaukee.
Visitor information
Regions
Ozaukee County
Washington County
Cities
- Cedarburg
- Grafton
- Newburg
- Port Washington
- Richfield
- West Bend
Get in
By car
The main freeways are I-43 through Ozaukee County and US-45 through Washington County. I-41 passes through portions of western Washington County.
By bicycle
By bus
Neither Ozaukee nor Washington have intercity bus service, but their shared-ride taxis services will make trips to and from Milwaukee County for connections with the Milwaukee County Transit System.
- Transfer to Ozaukee County
Go MCTS Route 12 (Pick 'n Save)
Go MCTS Route 67 (Alexian Village)
Go MCTS Route 68 (CVS)
- Transfer to Washington County
Go MCTS Blue Line and Route 88
Get around
By shared-ride taxi
Both counties offer shared-ride taxi service, which is scheduled by calling at least a day in advance. Cost is dependent on distance, with surcharges for crossing into another county's service area.
The cities of West Bend and Hartford have separate services for trips within their respective boundaries.
Do
Stay safe
While swimming in Lake Michigan can be fun for the entire family, the tides can be dangerous for even experienced open-water swimmers. The National Weather Service provides detailed “know before you go” information. Be aware of the swim-risk forecast and whether there are any advisories for the beach you want to visit. None of the Lake Michigan beaches in Ozaukee County have lifeguards.
Nearby
Waukesha
City / town · 17 listings · 0 mi away
Pewaukee
City / town · 11 listings · 3 mi away
New Berlin
City / town · 4 listings · 7 mi away
Brookfield
City / town · 13 listings · 7 mi away
Delafield
City / town · 20 listings · 9 mi away
West Allis
City / town · 14 listings · 11 mi away
Wauwatosa
City / town · 11 listings · 11 mi away
Eagle
City / town · 2 listings · 15 mi away
My experience
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