You're standing on the edge of Lake Erie, smelling that specific mix of freshwater and diesel fumes, wondering why on earth there are two different ferry lines going to the same island. It’s confusing. Honestly, getting to Put-in-Bay Ohio is one of those things that seems simple on a map but gets weirdly complicated once you’re actually staring at the water.
Put-in-Bay sits on South Bass Island. You can't drive there. There isn't a bridge. If you try to swim it, the Coast Guard is going to have a very long, very expensive conversation with you about lake currents and freighter shipping lanes. So, you’re left with three real choices: the big ferries, a tiny plane, or your own boat if you’re fancy like that.
The Miller Ferry vs. The Jet Express: The Great Great Lakes Debate
Most people end up at the Miller Ferry. It’s the workhorse. Located at the tip of Catawba Island (which, despite the name, is a peninsula you can drive to), the Miller is where you go if you want to bring your car.
But here’s the thing: Don’t bring your car. Seriously. Unless you are moving furniture or you’re a contractor fixing a roof on Delaware Avenue, bringing a car to Put-in-Bay is a logistical nightmare. The streets are narrow. Parking is basically non-existent. You’ll spend forty dollars to move your Honda Civic across the lake just to have it sit in a gravel lot while you pay twenty dollars an hour for a golf cart. It makes no sense.
The Miller Ferry is budget-friendly. It drops you off at the Lime Kiln Dock on the south end of the island. This is about two miles from the actual downtown "party" area. You’ll need to grab a bus, a taxi, or rent a cart right there at E's Golf Carts. The ride over is slow, steady, and gives you a great view of the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. It’s open-air. You feel the spray. It’s classic.
Then there’s the Jet Express.
The Jet is the "fancy" option. It’s a high-speed catamaran. If you’re coming from Port Clinton or Sandusky, this is your ride. It’s faster. It’s more expensive. But—and this is a big but—it drops you off right in the heart of downtown. You walk off the boat and you are immediately staring at the Round House Bar. No bus needed. No long trek. If you value your time more than a few extra bucks, the Jet is the way to go.
Why the Port Clinton dock matters
If you are staying at a hotel in Port Clinton, don't drive to Catawba. Just take the Jet. They have a massive parking lot. The late-night service is a godsend too. While the Miller Ferry usually tucked in for the night by 8:00 or 9:00 PM in the shoulder season, the Jet Express often runs much later on weekends.
Nobody wants to be the person who missed the last boat and has to sleep on a park bench under the monument. It happens. Don't let it be you.
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Flying to the Island: The Secret 10-Minute Shortcut
If you’ve got a bit of a "treat yourself" attitude or you just hate boats, you can fly. Griffing Flying Service operates out of the Erie-Ottawa International Airport.
It’s a trip.
You’re in a small plane, usually a Cessna or a Piper. The flight takes maybe seven to ten minutes. You’re high enough to see the entire archipelago—Kellys Island, Rattlesnake, Middle Bass—laid out like green jewels on a navy blue tablecloth. It’s arguably the most beautiful way to see the Lake Erie Islands.
The airport on the island is on the southern end. It’s a landing strip, a small terminal, and not much else. It’s quiet. It’s professional. If the lake is kicking up six-foot swells and the ferries are running "heavy" (meaning they’re tossing around like bathtub toys), the plane is often the only way on or off.
Private Pilots and the Crosswinds
If you're a private pilot, Put-in-Bay (3W2) is a bucket-list landing. The runway is roughly 2,870 feet long. That’s plenty for a small prop plane, but the crosswinds coming off the lake are notorious. You’re landing between trees and water. It’s tight. Make sure your short-field technique is polished before you try to "grease it" in front of the tourists watching from the fence.
Getting to Put-in-Bay Ohio from Major Cities
Let's talk logistics. You’re probably coming from Cleveland, Columbus, or Detroit.
From Cleveland: It’s an easy hour and fifteen minutes. Take Route 2 West. It’s a straight shot. You’ll pass the Cedar Point skyline in the distance—don't get distracted by the coasters. Exit at Route 53 North for the Miller Ferry or stay on Route 2 for Port Clinton and the Jet Express.
From Columbus: You’re looking at about two and a half hours. It’s a lot of cornfields. Take US-23 North to Route 4, then hit Route 53. It feels like it takes forever until you suddenly smell the fish and see the water.
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From Detroit: About an hour and a half. I-75 South to Route 2 East. You’ll come through Toledo. It’s an easy drive, honestly.
The Logistics of the "Middle Bass" Connection
Sometimes people get confused and end up on Middle Bass Island. It’s a different island. It’s quieter. It’s lovely. But it is NOT Put-in-Bay.
There is a small ferry called the Sonny S that runs between Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass. If you’re staying on Middle Bass to save money (which is a smart move, by the way), the Sonny S is your lifeline. It’s a small, charming boat that feels like something out of a 1950s postcard. Just keep an eye on the clock. It doesn't run as late as the big boats.
What to do the second you hit the dock
You’ve made it. You’re off the boat. Now what?
If you took the Miller, your first mission is transport. The hill leading up from the Miller dock is steeper than it looks in photos. If you have a cooler and three bags, you aren't walking to town. Rent a cart.
E-E-A-T Insight: I’ve talked to locals who have lived on the island for forty years. They all say the same thing: The biggest mistake tourists make is trying to walk everywhere. South Bass Island is bigger than you think. It’s over three miles long. In 90-degree humidity with Lake Erie's infamous "black flies" buzzing around, that three-mile walk feels like a marathon.
If you took the Jet Express, you’re already in the thick of it. Walk half a block and grab a Perch Taco at the Goat or a brandy alexander at the Round House.
A Note on Weather and the "Lake Erie Chop"
Lake Erie is shallow. Because it’s shallow, it gets angry fast.
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A bit of wind from the Northeast can turn a smooth ferry ride into a nauseating experience. If you’re prone to seasickness, check the "Windy" app or the local NOAA forecast before you head out. If the waves are over three feet, grab some Dramamine at the gas station on Route 53 before you hit the dock.
Parking Secrets the Signs Won't Tell You
Parking at the Miller Ferry is generally free in their main lots, but those fill up by 10:00 AM on a Saturday in July. There are private lots nearby where people will charge you twenty or thirty bucks to park in their grass. It’s worth it. Don't park on the side of the road; the local cops are very efficient with their ticket books.
At the Jet Express in Port Clinton, there is a massive secure lot. It’s paid parking, but it’s worth the peace of mind. Your car isn't going to get clipped by a trailer or towed because you misunderstood a "No Parking" sign hidden behind a bush.
Bringing Your Own Boat
If you're sailing in, Godspeed. The public docks at DeRivera Park are first-come, first-served. On a holiday weekend, it’s absolute chaos. You’ll be "rafting" (tying up to other boats) three or four deep. If you don't like strangers walking across your deck with muddy flip-flops, book a slip at a private marina like Miller’s or The Crew’s Nest well in advance.
The harbor is a "no wake" zone. Follow it. The water police are everywhere, and they have zero patience for people trying to show off their engine's horsepower near the docks.
The Reality of Winter Travel
Put-in-Bay doesn't close, but it definitely goes into hibernation. Once the lake freezes, the ferries stop. Usually, this happens in late December or early January.
From then until the thaw in March, the only way over is by air.
Life on the island in winter is different. It’s quiet. It’s eerie. It’s beautiful. If you’re planning a winter trip, you better have your flights booked with Griffing or a local "ice taxi" if the ice is thick enough (though ice taxis are becoming rarer with the warmer winters we've had lately).
Actionable Steps for a Flawless Arrival
- Check the ferry schedule the night before. They change based on the season. A boat that runs until midnight in July might stop at 7:00 PM in September.
- Download the Miller Ferry or Jet Express app. You can buy tickets on your phone. It saves you from standing in a massive line at the ticket window while the boat is literally pulling away from the dock.
- Pack light. If you’re staying overnight, use a backpack. Dragging a rolling suitcase over the gravel and cracked sidewalks of a 19th-century island town is a special kind of hell.
- Bring ID. Even if you look sixty, the bars on the island are strict. They have to be.
- Carry some cash. Most places take cards now, but the smaller taxis and some of the dock hands still prefer "dead presidents."
Getting to Put-in-Bay Ohio is part of the adventure. It’s the "crossing the moat" moment that makes the island feel like a different world. Whether you’re on the breezy deck of the Miller, the high-speed Jet, or a cramped Cessna, just lean into it. You’ll be having a lobster bisque at the Boardwalk before you know it.
Don't overthink the car situation—leave it on the mainland. Trust the golf carts. Watch the sunset from the West Shore. And for the love of everything, don't miss the last boat home.