Free
South Bass Island State Park
Lakeside cliffs, a swimming area and campground.
Lake Erie Islands, Ohio
Put-in-Bay
A Lake Erie island village reached by ferry: a 352-foot memorial to the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, a winery with a giant geode cave, a lighthouse, a state park and a busy harbour.
Photo: Put-in-Bay harbour, Eoghanacht, CC0
Put-in-Bay is on South Bass Island, a short ferry ride from Catawba or Port Clinton. In 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet sailed from here to win the Battle of Lake Erie.
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial towers over the harbour and celebrates the long peace between the US, Canada and Britain. The island has caves, wineries and a lively harbourfront in summer. Hop on the ferry and explore.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Cheap
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
A 352-foot column with an observation deck over the islands.
Cheap
South Bass Island Lighthouse
An 1897 lighthouse run by Ohio State's Stone Lab, with tours in summer.
Cheap
Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum
Island history, ship models and the Battle of Lake Erie.
Paid
Heineman's Winery and Crystal Cave
A family winery with tours of a cave lined with huge celestine crystals.
Paid
Perry's Cave
A limestone cave with an underground lake, plus family attractions.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Paid
Golf cart and bike rentals
Rentals near the ferry docks for getting around the island.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Miller Ferry
Car and passenger ferries from Catawba to South Bass Island.
Jet Express
Passenger ferries to Put-in-Bay from Port Clinton and Sandusky.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Part of our Lake Erie, Ohio guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The last ferries leave early, so staying lets you see the island at night.
- The memorial, caves and lighthouse fill a day.
- Kelleys Island is a ferry hop away.
Nearby and worth the drive
Sanduskyabout 30 min · Guide ↗
Cedar Point and the islands.
Port Clintonabout 15 min
Ferry docks and the Lake Erie shore.
Ready-made trips with Put-in-Bay
Good to know
- Tourism: visitputinbay.com.
- Ferries: Car and passenger ferries run in season; check schedules before you go.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Put-in-Bay harbour, Eoghanacht, CC0
Photo: DeRivera Park in Put-in-Bay, Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, Christopher Graft, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Crystal Cave, Heineman's Winery, Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Perry's Cave in Put-in-Bay, Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
Photo: South Bass Island Lighthouse, Niagara, CC BY-SA 3.0