PUT-IN-BAY NEWS

Located on Lake Erie’s South Bass Island, Put-in-Bay village is a short ferry ride from Port Clinton or Catawba Island, Ohio. From Cleveland, the 65-mile drive via the Ohio Turnpike or Route 2 takes about an hour.

Keep updated on the latest news about Put-in-Bay to pre-plan your trip.

Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (5/28-6/8)
putinbay.com is happy to welcome back Downtown Dave! A short column by Dave Schafer, owner of Ashley’s Island House and friend of the site, Downtown Dave will share this week’s live music schedule at the Bay, as well as his thoughts on what’s what at PIB! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to come to the Bay this weekend. Here’s where we think you should stay! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 Next Two Weekend’s Live Music...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (5/15-25)
putinbay.com is happy to welcome back Downtown Dave! A short column by Dave Schafer, owner of Ashley’s Island House and friend of the site, Downtown Dave will share this week’s live music schedule at the Bay, as well as his thoughts on what’s what at PIB! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to come to the Bay this weekend. Here’s where we think you should stay! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 Next Two Weekend’s Live Music...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (5/9-18)
putinbay.com is happy to welcome back Downtown Dave! A short column by Dave Schafer, owner of Ashley’s Island House and friend of the site, Downtown Dave will share this week’s live music schedule at the Bay, as well as his thoughts on what’s what at PIB! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to come to the Bay this weekend. Here’s where we think you should stay! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 Next Two Weekend’s Live Music...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (5/1-10)
putinbay.com is happy to welcome back Downtown Dave! A short column by Dave Schafer, owner of Ashley’s Island House and friend of the site, Downtown Dave will share this week’s live music schedule at the Bay, as well as his thoughts on what’s what at PIB! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to come to the Bay this weekend. Here’s where we think you should stay! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 Next Two Weekend’s Live Music...More Information
Downtown Dave’s 2025 Debut! (4/23-27)
putinbay.com is happy to welcome back Downtown Dave! A short column by Dave Schafer, owner of Ashley’s Island House and friend of the site, Downtown Dave will share this week’s live music schedule at the Bay, as well as his thoughts on what’s what at PIB! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to come to the Bay this weekend. Here’s where we think you should stay! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 This Weekend’s Live Music At...More Information
What’s Open At Put-in-Bay? [Updated May 14 ’25]
Getting The 2025 Season Underway at Put-in-Bay, Here’s What’s Open in April and May We’re full steam ahead for a great 2025 at Put-in-Bay! However, the entire island doesn’t open its doors all at once. Island businesses will be opening their doors bit by bit through April and May. So that you have as much info as possible for your springtime PIB visit, check our running info below, which is subject to change. We also always recommend calling ahead in April and May to be sure! Lodging Options For April...More Information
Early Season Specials At The Commodore!
Save Some Dough On A Springtime Stay At The Commodore Resort The Commodore Resort has reached out to us at putinbay.com to get these great springtime deals in front of our website visitors! We already love the Commodore at full price, so with these great offers, it makes choosing a downtown Put-in-Bay hotel a pretty simple decision! There’s four great offers here catering to different types of Put-in-Bay vacations. If you’ve already got dates and plans in mind, it should be easy to figure out which one will be the...More Information
First Annual Friends Of The Bay A Massive Success!
Put-in-Bay Took Over Fort Myers Beach For Friends Of The Bay! Fort Myers Beach was South Put-in-Bay for the weekend as we flocked to Florida for Friends Of The Bay! We are overwhelmed with the incredible turnout, and the amazing time that was had by all. We’re already counting down the days until Friends Of The Bay 2026! Read on to find out how it all went down, and why you should join for next year’s Friends Of The Bay celebration! If You Want To Be A Friend Of The...More Information
Coming to Put-in-Bay in 2025? Ditch Airbnb and Book Direct!
Why Booking Direct for Your Put-in-Bay Vacation in 2025 is the Smart Choice Are you planning a trip to Put-in-Bay in 2025? We sure hope so! When planning your 2025 getaway to Put-in-Bay, choosing how to book your accommodations can significantly impact your experience. While platforms like Airbnb and VRBO might seem convenient, booking directly with local lodging providers offers huge advantages, both for your wallet and your overall vacation satisfaction. Direct booking is the way to go when visiting Put-in-Bay this year, and here’s why! Platforms Like Airbnb and...More Information
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Ferries

From the dock, it’s a short trip across Lake Erie via two ferries: Jet Express (jet-express.com, 1-800-245-1538) costs $17.50 one way (or $19.75 from Sandusky) and $4.50 per bike. Parking is $12/day to park in the main lot or $10 (one time in/out) in a lot one block away. Miller Ferry from Catawba Island (millerferry.com) costs $7 one way, $2 per bike and $15 for cars. Limited free parking; if it’s full, an auxiliary lot costs $5/day. If you absolutely must bring your car (while permitted, it’s not encouraged because parking is so limited), you can use the Miller Ferry for an extra $15.

Golf Carts

Once on island, golf carts are the preferred method of transportation. Prices range from $11-$17/hour for a 2-, 4- or 6-passenger cart, or $70-$90 per day. An overnight, weekend or holiday rental adds $10 to the bill. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. You also can rent bikes ($5/hour or $15/day) and mopeds ($15/hour or $60/day). For those not in a hurry, buses run all over the island late into the evening ($2.50 per ride), and there are also taxis, which charge a flat rate of $3 per person.

There are a few golf cart rental agencies we recommend when visiting Put-in-Bay. Learn more about the Island Club Golf Carts, Put-in-Bay Condo Golf Carts, and the Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Depot.

Accommodations

Do you want to be right in the middle of the action or somewhere quiet? Relaxing in luxury or happy just with the basics? Put-in-Bay has everything from economy hotels and full-service resorts to charming B&Bs and rustic state campgrounds. During the season (April through late October), there also are more than 100 homes available to rent. Note: Hotel rooms and rental homes can be nearly impossible to find on weekends without a reservation, so plan accordingly.

History

Put-in-Bay Ohio offers a full listing of information for visitors to explore. Our Put-in-Bay News and Blog Posts are meant to explore the history, events, and passions of our Lake Erie island. We welcome guest posts and would be happy to discuss opportunities.

Historically, Put-in-Bay has been involved with the largest naval battles in the Lake Erie region between Britain, Canada, and the USA. While there are multiple Lake Erie Islands, Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island stands out as the most visited, most historic, and most noted.

Put-in-Bay is a popular vacation spot just a couple miles offshore of mainland Northwest Ohio in Lake Erie. While “Put-in-Bay” is technically the name of the village on South Bass Island, the name commonly is often used to refer to the entire island. A summer resort since the mid-1800’s, the village can be considered the hub of tourism among the Lake Erie Islands and busier than any surrounding island. With its numerous taverns, wineries, restaurants, waterfront condos, rental homes, and hotels it is a staycation mecca.