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 Previews The Week (9/28-10/4)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/28-10/4) 28 Sep, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 6 days ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/21-9/27)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/21-9/27) 21 Sep, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 2 weeks ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/14-9/20)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/14-9/20) 14 Sep, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 3 weeks ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/7-9/13)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (9/7-9/13) 07 Sep, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 4 weeks ago
more information
2024 Bash On The Bay 7 Running Blog – All The Information As We Get It! – (Upd. 9/6/23)

2024 Bash On The Bay 7 Running Blog – All The Information As We Get It! – (Upd. 9/6/23) 06 Sep, 23

You’re Going To Need A Place To Stay For Bash On The Bay! Here Are Our Top Picks! -Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 -Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 -Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 putinbay.com’s Running Blog For Bash On The Bay 7 News We are always keeping our ear to the ground for the freshest information we can find about big PIB events, and there’s none bigger than Bash On The Bay. You can keep an eye on... more information
Posted 4 weeks ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/31-9/6)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/31-9/6) 31 Aug, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 1 month ago
more information
The Ohio State Marching Band Visits September 3rd!!! *Update-Aug.29*

The Ohio State Marching Band Visits September 3rd!!! *Update-Aug.29* 24 Aug, 23

Read on to learn more about the Ohio State Marching Band’s appearance, then scroll back up here for our top picks for places to stay Labor Day weekend! Call 216-898-9951 for single day group specials! Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951 Put-in-Bay Condos (putinbaycondos.com) – 216-898-1105 Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101 Victory Station Hotel (putinbayvictorystation.com) – 419-285-0120 Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119 THE BEST DAMN BAND IN THE LAND COMES TO THE BAY FOR PIB’S BicenTEN! Save this date:... more information
Posted 1 month ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/24-8/30)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/24-8/30) 22 Aug, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 1 month ago
more information
Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/17-8/23)

Downtown Dave Previews The Week (8/17-8/23) 17 Aug, 23

putinbay.com is happy to introduce a new weekly feature, Downtown Dave! A short column by friend of the site Dave Schafer, Downtown Dave will provide some insight into what’s happening at the Bay any given week, as well as information on that weekend’s live music. Dave Schafer is the owner of Ashley’s Island house, a 13-room bed and breakfast on the island. Learn more about it at www.ashleysislandhouse.com or call 419-285-2844! Downtown Dave is going to make you want to... more information
Posted 2 months ago
more information

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.