Visitor Information

Once you are on State Route 2 in Ohio, you are just a turn or two away from a ferry boat ride to Put-in-Bay.

If you’re coming in along the north coast from Indiana or Pennsylvania, we suggest you take the Ohio Turnpike. You want Exit 91 (Port Clinton/Fremont).

If you’re coming from the west, Exit 110 (Sandusky Route 4).

If you’re coming from the East. Exit 91 in Fremont is just 17 miles southwest of Port Clinton.

You’ll head north on Fremont Road and if you follow it into town it will take you within two blocks of the Jet Express.

Or you can jump on Ohio Route 2 East just before entering Port Clinton and get off at the Catawba Island Route 53 North Exit for the Miller Ferry.

To try to prepare you for something that may be confusing when you reach Port Clinton, we’ll let you know now that Route 53 North connects Fremont, OH to Port Clinton but the route actually joins Ohio Route 2 East just south of the city and then turns North at the Catawba Island exit and dead ends at the Miller Ferry Dock. So, yes, it’s possible you could be on Route 53 North heading to the Jet Express and/or the Miller Ferry. Both ferry lines have directional billboards in the Lake Erie Shores and Islands area which will help you locate each dock.

The Jet’s paid parking lot is adjacent to the terminal in Port Clinton. Miller Ferry has five free parking areas and paid lots within walking distance of the Miller Ferry Catawba Dock.

There are currently two ferry boat companies that service the island. The Jet Express passenger-only ferries run between downtown Port Clinton and downtown Put-in-Bay. The Jet also has mainland ports in Sandusky and Lorain, Ohio. Please check their website for directions to these mainland ports. The Jet Express is located on Perry Street at the foot of the Portage River Drawbridge. Perry Street is also State Route 163. We suggest you exit Ohio Route 2 at the Fremont Road exit. You’ll be turning left and heading north. Follow Fremont Road into Port Clinton and follow the Jet Express signs to their dock downtown.

The Miller Ferry carries passengers and vehicles and runs between Catawba Island Point (Port Clinton address) and the southern most point of the island. We suggest you take the Catawba Island Route 53 North exit if you plan to use Miller’s. When you exit Route 2, regardless of the direction you’re traveling, the exit ramp puts you directly on Route 53 North. From the exit it is about six miles to the ferry dock. Stay on Route 53 (also known as NE Catawba Road) until you come to the lake. The route actually dead ends at Miller’s Catawba Dock.

Keep in mind when reading road signs that Put-in-Bay is the name of the village on the island and the name of the island is South Bass Island so they are literally the same place. There is also Middle Bass Island. Miller Ferry operates between the mainland and both islands so make sure you purchase tickets for the right island when you get in line at the ferry dock.