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 (8-1-8-11)
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
50 $ense: Crashing the Coffee Club
50 $ense by Sara Booker, Highlighting Some Put-in-Bay Family Friendly Activities! The putinbay.com team is happy to introduce a new feature to our website! Sara Booker, of the Boardwalk Family of Restaurants, along with other Put-in-Bay establishments, is going to take her camera to some great family friendly Put-in-Bay spots off the beaten path, to show you another side of the Bay! This Week: Crashing the Coffee Club Does it get any better than the ROMEOS (retired old men eating on Saturdays)? This priceless group of handsome gentlemen meet every...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (7/25-8/4)
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
The Ford Tri-Motor Comes To Put-in-Bay August 1-3!
Ford Tri-Motor Tour Visits The BayIt’s a special occasion next weekend August 1-3, as Put-in-Bay welcomes back a yearly-ish visitor, and one of the coolest visitors it gets all year. The Tin Goose, aka the Ford Tri-Motor will be at the Bay next weekend!This amazing piece of aviation history will be operating out of the Put-in-Bay Airport this Friday through Sunday. The Ford Tri-Motor was the world’s first mass-produced airliner, and this particular plane has been in service since 1928!It’s known as the “City of Wichita” and its owned and...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (7/17-7/27)
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 Next Two Weekend’s Live Music...More Information
50 $ense: The “Triple Stop”
50 $ense by Sara Booker, Highlighting Some Put-in-Bay Family Friendly Activities! The putinbay.com team is happy to introduce a new feature to our website! Sara Booker, of the Boardwalk Family of Restaurants, along with other Put-in-Bay establishments, is going to take her camera to some great family friendly Put-in-Bay spots off the beaten path, to show you another side of the Bay! This Week: The "Triple Stop"! FAQSWhere do you buy groceries? Is there anywhere to buy paint?Can you mail a package from the island? Does mail get delivered to...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (7/10-7/20)
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
50 $ense Beach Glass Hunting!
50 $ense by Sara Booker, Highlighting Some Put-in-Bay Family Friendly Activities! The putinbay.com team is happy to introduce a new feature to our website! Sara Booker, of the Boardwalk Family of Restaurants, along with other Put-in-Bay establishments, is going to take her camera to some great family friendly Put-in-Bay spots off the beaten path, to show you another side of the Bay! This Week: Hunting For Beach Glass! So what happens when you grow up on an island and about 80% of your childhood was spent playing outside… ? You...More Information
Downtown Dave’s Live Music Preview (7/3-7/13)
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
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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.