The exact origin of the Put-in-Bay name remains somewhat of a mystery, however there are a couple of prevailing theories. The first is that the harbor was shaped like a pudding bag. The second, and more convincing in my opinion, is that the sailors of the time would "put into the bay" to ride out aggressive storms. Whichever is the case, over the years the name evolved into the Put-in-Bay moniker we now have today.

The ferries that take you to Put-in-Bay depart from Port Clinton, OH. Listed below are general directions to Port Clinton from surrounding metropolitan areas.

From Cleveland: Take I-90 West to OH-2 West, then take OH-2 West to OH-53 North to Port Clinton.

From Detroit: Take I-75 South to OH-579 East, then take OH-579 East to OH-2 East, then take OH-2 East to OH-53 North to Port Clinton.

From Pittsburgh: Take I-76 West to I-80 West, then take I-80 West to OH-2 West, then take OH-2 West to OH-53 North to Port Clinton.

From Chicago: Take I-90 East to OH-53 North, stay on OH-53 North for Port Clinton

From Cincinnati: Take I-75 North to US-6 East, then take US-6 East to OH-53 North to Port Clinton.

While most people refer to the island itself as Put-in-Bay, in reality Put-in-Bay is the name of the village on the island. No one will ever give you a hard time for calling the island Put-in-Bay, but the actual name of the island is South Bass Island. It is one of the three Bass Islands, along with North Bass and Middle Bass. North Bass Island is private property, but there are a couple establishments open to the public on Middle Bass. A ferry called the Sonny S runs from Put-in-Bay to Middle Bass Island and back.

Put-in-Bay does not have a state liquor store. Island establishments are able to sell up to 42 proof liquor, but anything stronger than that is only available at the island’s bars. You are, however, of course welcome to bring liquor from the mainland. The nearest state liquor agency to the Miller Ferry Dock is Bassett’s Market in Port Clinton.

Of course! We would estimate about half of our visitors every summer do not stay on the island overnight. Many ferry over in the morning and head back on the last boat. That being said, there is way too much to explore at the Bay for one afternoon to be enough! We definitely recommend spending a couple of nights at Put-in-Bay!

Put-in-Bay has a fascinating history, which you can read about in more depth here, but here are some bullet points. The waters surrounding Put-in-Bay, Ohio were home to the Battle of Lake Erie, the most famous battle of the War of 1812. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (whose name you will find on many Put-in-Bay establishments) earned an American naval victory which turned the tide of the war and eventually led to America’s victory. Put-in-Bay was also home to Hotel Victory, which was at one time the largest hotel in the world, before it burned down in 1919.

3 weeks behind! That may sound weird, but allow me to explain. Put-in-Bay is, of course, surrounded by water, Lake Erie to be specific. The lake freezes in the winter, and this is where the unique weather at Put-in-Bay comes from. The temperature of the lake remains cold as the ice melts, so while the mainland begins to experience warmer weather in April, the island remains cold for a couple of extra weeks. The same effect is experienced at the end of summer, when the water temperature gives the island an extra couple weeks of summer weather!

Put-in-Bay is full of activities for all ages. From breathtaking caves to beautiful green spaces, water activities and historical sites, day trippers and families visiting the island will find it hard to get to everything. And that’s just the beginning. Put-in-Bay is famous in the Midwest for its nightlife. The downtown Put-in-Bay area is awash with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, live music and more. It is the perfect place for a bachelor or bachelorette party, a family reunion, a work retreat, or just a regular old getaway with friends!

The short answer is yes, you can bring your vehicle over to the island via the Miller Ferry. However, we do not recommend it. First off there is the expense, it is $17 to transport a vehicle to the island, and $17 more to bring it back. Another major issue during the busy season is parking. Finding a spot downtown on a summer weekend is near impossible. That’s why golf carts are so popular on the island, they simply take up less space! Between taxis and golf cart rentals, as well as simply walking (Put-in-Bay is not very large!), most people’s transportation needs can easily be met without bringing their vehicle to the island.

During the winter months, nearly all of Put-in-Bay’s businesses are closed for the season. Only one or two restaurants remain open, and none of the hotels or vacation rentals accommodate guests. While technically you can come to island for the day as long as the ferries are running, there is not much point to visiting between November and February. Most lodging on the island take reservations for fishermen beginning in April, but if you intend to visit Put-in-Bay and experience what the island has to offer in terms of shopping, dining and nightlife, our season runs from May to October.