Where to Stay Near Bayfield, Wisconsin

Bayfield is small — walkable, in fact, from one end to the other — which makes where you stay less about distance and more about what kind of trip you want. A few blocks in downtown Bayfield puts you in walking distance of the Apostle Islands Cruises dock and the shops and restaurants along the waterfront. A few miles out, in Washburn or Ashland, trades that walkability for lower rates and more space.

Wandering Michigan Wisconsin contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of the links below, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we use and trust.
Read our disclaimer for more information.

Downtown Bayfield: Walk to the Dock

Staying in downtown Bayfield means walking to the Apostle Islands Cruises dock and the shops and restaurants nearby, without needing a car once you’re parked for the day.

Pinehurst Inn Bed & Breakfast is the actual top-rated stay in the Bayfield area — an 8-room B&B three miles south of downtown, holding TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice “Best of the Best” award (top 1% of hotels worldwide) for 2025, 2021, and 2022, and ranked #1 of 15 B&Bs in Bayfield year after year. It’s also been named one of the top 25 B&Bs in the US by TripAdvisor. Price tier: mid to high. Note: it’s 3 miles from downtown, not walkable like the properties above.

Artesian House Bed & Breakfast holds the highest individual star rating of any property in this guide — a full 5/5 on TripAdvisor, ranked #2 of 15 B&Bs in Bayfield. Price tier: mid to high.

Old Rittenhouse Inn is the area’s best-known historic stay — a Victorian mansion at 301 Rittenhouse Ave overlooking Lake Superior, with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs in the rooms and an on-site restaurant for dinner without leaving the property. It holds a 4.5-star TripAdvisor rating, ranked #3 of 17 B&Bs in Bayfield — a strong option, though Pinehurst Inn and Artesian House both rank higher. Price tier: high — reviewers describe it as pricier than nearby options, with lower off-season rates.

The Bayfield Inn sits waterfront with a rooftop bar looking out over the lake, a modern option if the Victorian style of the Rittenhouse isn’t what you’re after. It’s rated 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, ranked #1 of 4 hotels in Bayfield. Price tier: mid to high — reviewers note it’s pricey during peak summer weekends, with rates dropping by more than half in the off-season.

St. James Social is a downtown option aimed at couples, with a rooftop lounge and sauna access, close enough to walk to the dock and restaurants. Price tier: mid to high.

Harbor’s Edge Motel is the budget-friendly choice in the same walkable downtown area, with easy access to kayaking and sailing outfitters nearby. TripAdvisor ranks it 4 of 5 stars but #4 of 4 hotels in town — the lowest local ranking of Bayfield’s proper hotels, though still a solid absolute score. A separate booking platform shows a 9.2 “Wonderful” rating from a much smaller review sample. Reviews are mixed: several call out a great location right across from the Madeline Island ferry dock, while others mention dated decor and inconsistent maintenance. Price tier: low — rates start around $111/night per one aggregator listing.

Just Outside Downtown

Seagull Bay Motel sits just outside downtown, right off the Brownstone Trail, so the walk into town doubles as a scenic lakeside stroll rather than a plain sidewalk commute. It’s rated 4/5 on TripAdvisor, ranked #1 of 4 hotels in Bayfield, with reviewers consistently calling out the lake views and value for the price. Price tier: low to mid.

Queen’s View Bed and Breakfast offers a pool with a lake view and a short walk to downtown, a quieter option than Bayfield’s main strip. Price tier: mid.

Unique and Remote Stays

North Channel Cabin sits above Lake Superior with views of the Apostle Islands, about a mile from Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island — a strong choice if sunrise beach walks and island exploration matter more to your trip than walkability to Bayfield’s downtown. Price tier: mid to high.

Wild Rice Retreat is an adults-only, Scandinavian-inspired wilderness retreat with tiny cabins, a sauna, and yoga classes – a different kind of trip, worth mentioning for travelers who want quiet over convenience. Price tier: high.

Budget Options in Washburn and Ashland

Staying a short drive from Bayfield trades some walkability for lower rates and more room availability, especially during peak summer weekends when Bayfield itself books up fast.

The Washburn Inn, right on the harbor in Washburn, works well as a budget-friendly basecamp for outdoor activities beyond just Bayfield itself. Price tier: low.

AmericInn by Wyndham Ashland sits about 14 miles from Bayfield with direct beach access, a heated indoor pool, and complimentary breakfast — a practical choice for families watching the budget. Price tier: low.

Vacation Rentals (VRBO)

Bayfield has a large VRBO market — over 280 properties listed, from downtown condos to lakefront cabins and cottages. A few things worth knowing before you book:

• Several downtown condos advertise themselves as “Gateway to Apostles” or “Jumping Off Point to Apostles,” walking distance to the marina and ferry
• At least one listing advertises an elevator and pet-friendly policy, worth searching for if either matters to your group
• Sailor Springs Glamping (mentioned earlier as a unique stay) is also bookable through VRBO
• Weekly stays in Bayfield County run anywhere from roughly $400 to $1,600+ depending on size and location, per current VRBO listings — exact nightly rates vary too widely by property and season to generalize here

Price tier: varies, low to high depending on property size and location — VRBO is worth checking for larger groups or longer stays, where a whole-home rental can beat multiple hotel rooms on cost.

Camping Near Bayfield

Camping is a real option here, and it’s not limited to the Apostle Islands’ boat-only island sites – several mainland and near-island campgrounds are drive-up accessible.

Dalrymple Campground, one mile north of Bayfield on Highway 13, offers 28 rustic tent and RV sites on the waterfront with Apostle Islands views. It doesn’t take advance reservations, so arrival timing matters in peak season. Price tier: low.

Buffalo Bay Campground, operated by the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe Indians, provides lakefront sites with marina access a short drive from Bayfield. Price tier: low to mid.

Big Bay State Park and Big Bay Town Park, both on Madeline Island, require the ferry from Bayfield to reach. Between them they offer over 120 campsites with electric hookups, flush toilets, and showers — a genuine drive-and-ferry camping option rather than backcountry-only. Price tier: low.

Accessibility

This is the section where honesty matters most, and it’s also the one this article can’t answer in full without direct confirmation from each property.

None of the accessibility details below are firsthand-confirmed. Before booking, call each property and ask about: roll-in showers vs. tub/shower combos, grab bars, accessible parking proximity to the room or entrance, and elevator access if the property has multiple floors (several of Bayfield’s historic inns, including the Old Rittenhouse Inn, are older Victorian buildings that may not have elevators — confirm this if stairs are a concern).

Mobility: Motels with exterior ground-floor rooms (like Harbor’s Edge or Seagull Bay) tend to be easier to confirm as step-free than multi-story historic inns, but call ahead rather than assume based on age or style of the building.

Vision: None of these properties are confirmed to have specific low-vision accommodations (braille signage, high-contrast room numbers); ask if this matters for your stay.

Hearing: Ask about visual smoke alarms or door-knock alert systems if you are Deaf or hard of hearing — standard practice at larger chains, less common at small independent inns.

Sensory: Smaller B&Bs and inns (Old Rittenhouse, Queen’s View) tend to have fewer guests and quieter common spaces than larger motels, which may suit travelers sensitive to noise and crowds, though this varies by season and occupancy.

Pets and Service Animals

Pet policies vary by property in this list and are not confirmed here — call ahead to your property before booking if traveling with a family pet. Trained ADA service animals must be accommodated regardless of a property’s general pet policy; emotional support and therapy animals are not covered under the same ADA protection and follow each property’s standard pet policy instead.

Nearby: Apostle Islands Sea Caves and the Michigan Comparison

If lodging is the last piece of your trip planning, our complete guide to the Apostle Islands sea caves covers boat tours and kayaking, plus the Meyers Beach trail, in full detail, including which options work for mixed-ability groups traveling together. If you’re still deciding between a Wisconsin or Michigan trip, our Apostle Islands vs Pictured Rocks comparison breaks down the difference in full.

Frequently Asked Questions