Weekend getaway · Ohio

Lake Erie Islands weekend

Lake Erie Islands Weekend

A two-night summer weekend on Lake Erie's islands from Cleveland, based in Port Clinton with the car left on the mainland. Saturday takes the Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay for Perry's Victory memorial, lunch in the village, a crystal cave and the state park cliffs. Sunday crosses to quiet Kelleys Island for the Glacial Grooves and Inscription Rock, then climbs Marblehead Lighthouse before the drive home.

Time: 2-night weekend
Driving: About 3½ hours of driving in all: roughly 1½ hours each way from Cleveland, plus short hops to the ferry docks
Best time: Mid-June to Labor Day
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 6:17 PM Pacific

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The granite column of Perry's Victory memorial against a deep blue sky with wispy clouds, beside flagpoles flying the flags of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada — Christopher Graft · CC BY-SA 4.0. September 2019 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your weekend at a glance

Fri 3:00 pmLeave Cleveland
Fri 4:45 pmPort Clinton and Waterworks Park
Sat 8:30 amMiller Ferry from Catawba to Put-in-Bay
Sat 9:45 amPerry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Sat 11:15 amDowntown Put-in-Bay and the harbor
Sat 1:00 pmHeineman Winery and Crystal Cave
Sat 2:30 pmSouth Bass Island State Park
Sat 5:30 pmFerry back and dinner on Catawba
Sun 8:45 amKelleys Island Ferry from Marblehead
Sun 9:45 amGlacial Grooves
Sun 11:15 amInscription Rock and downtown Kelleys
Sun 2:00 pmMarblehead Lighthouse State Park
Sun 3:30 pmDrive back to Cleveland

Highlights

Worth the trip

Perry's Victory memorial and a geode you can stand inside on Put-in-Bay
The world's largest glacial grooves and ancient petroglyphs on Kelleys Island
A climb up Marblehead Lighthouse, one of the oldest working lights on the Great Lakes

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From mid-June to early September the islands usually see warm, humid days with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s °F, cooler breezes on the water and mild evenings. The lake is warmest in late July and August. Thunderstorms can build quickly in the afternoon, bringing lightning, gusty wind and sudden waves; strong winds cancel ferries and make swimming dangerous. Mayflies hatch in large numbers in June and early July; they're harmless but everywhere for a few days. September is pleasant but cooler and shorter, with the lighthouse climbs over after Labor Day. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel dates. Check the NWS Cleveland forecast, including marine wind and wave warnings, before you go and each morning.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.