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GENERAL DIRECTIONS: 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 and 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 boat lines have lots of signs and billboards and you should have no
problems finding either dock. Both ferry lines also have free parking and
paid parking. The Jet's paid parking lot is adjacent to the terminal in Port
Clinton while free parking is adjacent to the Miller dock.
There are currently two ferry boat companies that service the island. The
Jet Express only carries passengers and runs between downtown Port Clinton
and downtown Put-in-Bay. 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.
Put-in-Bay is part of Ottawa County which is mainly rural. Port Clinton is
home to about 11,000 residents so you're not going to get lost in the city.
Local residents are friendly and if you think you're lost, stop at a local
service station or business and ask for quick directions. The two ferry
services are only about 10 minutes apart.
Please keep in mind that Ohio Route 2 is extremely busy during the summer
months and between Toledo and Port Clinton (Camp Perry) it is mainly a
one-lane highway and has a lot of truck traffic. There have been many fatal
accidents along this highway over the past 20 years. Please use extreme
caution in this area.
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From CHICAGO, IL
Approximate Miles: 277
Approximate Time: 4.5 hours
Indiana Turnpike (I-90) East to I-80/I-90 to Ohio Turnpike East. Exit
91 Fremont to Fremont Road North to Port Clinton.
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From CINCINNATI, OH
Approximate Miles: 210
Approximate Time: 4.25 hours
Take I-75 North to Ohio Route 6 East. In Fremont you'll take 6 to Route 53
North (Fremont Road). When you get to Route 2 stay on Fremont Road for the
Jet or take Route 2 East to Catawba Island Exit 53 North for Miller's.
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From CLEVELAND, OH
Approximate Miles: 72
Approximate Time: 1.5 hours
Take either I-90 to Ohio Route 2 West or the Ohio Turnpike West. Take
Exit 110 Sandusky Ohio Route 4. Turn left (north) on Route 4 to Ohio Route 2
West (Toledo). Take the Catawba Island Route 53 North Exit for the Miller
Ferry or continue west and take either of the next two exits -- Port Clinton
Ohio Route 163 (Perry Street) and exit to the left or Port Clinton Fremont
Road Exit and turn right for the Jet Express.
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From COLUMBUS, OH
Approximate Miles: 123
Approximate Time: 2.25 hours
There are several ways to get to the area from Columbus, but we suggest you
take Ohio Route 23 (High Street) North to Route 98 (Waldo) North to Route 4
North. Route 4 will take you to Ohio Route 2 and you will turn left
(Toledo). See above for directions to boat lines.
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From DETROIT, MI
Approximate Miles: 93.5
Approximate Time: 1.75 hrs
Take I-75 South to Toledo. Take I-280 East to Ohio Route 2 East (Oregon).
Follow above directions for ferry boat docks.
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From INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Approximate Miles: 276
Approximate Time: 4.5 hours
There are several ways to get to the islands area from Indianapolis.
Although I-70 to I-75 North may look faster, you'll shave nearly 30 minutes
off your drive by making fewer turns when you head north on Indiana State
Route 37 to I-69 (still on SR 37) North. Take Exit 148 Angola/Lagrange and
turn right on the ramp for US 20. Turn east onto US 20 and follow it for
about 15 miles to Ohio State Route 49. Turn right (south) onto Route 49 to
the Ohio Turnpike I-80/I-90 ramp. Follow the turnpike East to Fremont Exit
91. Follow above directions to boat docks.
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From PITTSBURGH, PA
Approximate Miles: 196
Approximate Time: 3.25 hours
Take I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) west to Ohio. I-76 becomes Ohio I-80 (Ohio
Turnpike). Take Ohio Turnpike to Sandusky Exit 110 Route 4 and follow
directions above to boat docks.
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From TOLEDO, OH
Approximate Miles: 50
Approximate Time: 1 hour
Take either Ohio Route
2 or the Ohio Turnpike East. Follow Directions given for Chicago to boat
docks.
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