Need low-cost lodgings in Door County

A friend and I are taking a two-day class at The Clearing in late July. Do you have suggestions for nearby low-cost B&Bs or tent camping? - Shelly, Minneapolis

Lucky you — the Clearing is a nifty place.

I've listed all of the good budget lodgings I've seen at Where to stay in Door County.

It's pretty hard to find a low-cost B&B in Door County in July. But there are quite a few mom-and-pop motels, including two in Ellison Bay.

The Hillside Inn is a 1969 motel on the south side of town and has an Italian restaurant. It's across from the town park, which has tennis courts, playground and a small beach.

The Parkside Inn is a two-story motel, also across from the town park, and has a shaded front yard.

It's just a little farther, in Gills Rock, but I like the Shoreline Resort. It's a  two-story motel that has rooms with private balconies right on the water, and there's a good restaurant next door.

If you can get in, try Smith's Europe Lake Cottages. The location of these four vintage cottages is very special — they're on Europe Lake, separated from Lake Michigan only by a sliver of Newport State Park.

Wagon Trail Campground is on the other side of the peninsula near Rowleys Bay. It has beautiful campsites ringed with tall cedars and 10 extra-wooded tent sites. It also has six yurts and four pretty camper cabins, though they're not cheap.

State-park campsites will be hard to get for a weekend. But Newport State Park has one of our 25 great campsites. Or two, really: Backpack Sites 14 and 16, on Lake Michigan and a stone's throw from Europe Lake.

As at all Wisconsin state-park sites, sites can be reserved up to 11 months in advance.

Reserve ASAP!

And for more about the Clearing folk school, see Classroom in the Clearing.