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.
![What’s Open At Put-in-Bay? [Updated May 14 ’25]](https://putinbay.com/wp-content/uploads/bfi_thumb/Whats-Open-r44cyqfbz1dplp5ugjcjbu0p7caksrvnpsa6xtpvpa.png "What’s Open At Put-in-Bay? [Updated May 14 ’25]")
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.