Ashtabula

Ashtabula is a commercial, historical, and recreational center located in Ashtabula County in Northeast Ohio, roughly equidistant from Cleveland and Erie, Pa. As of 2000 census, the population is 20,962.

Get in

By car

• U.S. Route Number 20 - Runs through town from southwest to northeast.
• Ohio State Route 11 - Runs north of town toward the south ending near Youngstown, OH.
• State Route 45 - Runs from the south, west outside of town, ending north at Lake Erie.
• State Route 84 - Runs from southwest through town ending north at Lake Erie.
• State Route 531 - Runs west to east, north of town along Lake Erie.
• Interstate 90 - Main Interstate running southwest to northeast 6 miles south of town. Best route to travel to Cleveland to the west and Erie, PA. and Buffalo, NY. to the east.

By bike

• 🌍 Western Reserve Greenway Trail, 2773 Ohio State Route 307 (Austinburg Trail Head), ☎ [phone]. West Ave in Ashtabula to SR 307 in Austinburg. Trailheads are at Old Austinburg Road, 2 miles east of SR 45 off Austinburg Road, Woodman Avenue in Ashtabula, and Lampson Road. The 43-mile mostly shaded and rural paved bike trail runs to Champion Avenue East in Warren. The trail is paved and good for hiking, biking, rollerblading in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter. There are 6 trailheads and parking lots along the trail. 

Get around

By car

Driving is the best way around town.

• City Taxicab & Transfer Co. 1753 W Prospect Rd, [phone].
• Premier Transportation 6710 N Ridge Rd W, [phone]

By bike

At only 7 square miles, it is possible to walk or bicycle to locations within Ashtabula.

See

Architecture

• 🌍 Ashtabula lift bridge (West Fifth Street bridge) (Located in Ashtabula Harbor.). This Bascule lift bridge was created in the early to mid 1900s to accommodate marina traffic and Conrails (now Norfolk Southern) iron ore freighters. It is still in use as the main gateway to Lake Erie from the Ashtabula River. At night it is beautifully illuminated with bright blue lights that reflect in the water making the harbor glow. (updated Mar 2019)
• 🌍 Ashtabula Harbor Lighthouse. End of Ashtabula Harbor breakwall. Established in 1836 but now not in operation. The best way to see the lighthouse is by boat since it is on a long breakwall that could be treacherous to walk. There are no tours of the lighthouse.  
• 🌍 Kent State University at Ashtabula, 3300 Lake Rd W, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A regional campus of Kent State University. Notably this branch allows students to major in viticulture and enology and produces a Kent State label wine in conjunction with local vineyards. (updated Mar 2019)

Museums

• Ashtabula Maritime Museum (Great Lakes Marine and Coast Guard Memorial Museum), 1071 Walnut Boulevard (at Point Park in Ashtabula Harbor), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Memorial Day-August: F-Su noon-5PM; September: Sa-Su noon-5PM. Displays tell about Lake Erie and Ashtabula Harbor history. Adults: $5, 6-16 years: $3, Children under 6: free. (updated Mar 2019)
• 🌍 Hubbard House UGGR Museum (Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard), 1603 Walnut Blvd (Walnut Blvd. and Lake Ave, Ashtabula Harbor), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mem.-Labor Day: F-Su 1PM-5PM; or by appointment. Closed Mon and holidays. Restored home of William and Catharine Hubbard, the only northern terminus of the Underground Railroad that can be toured. Adult $5, Child $3, Senior $4. 
• Olin Covered Bridge Museum, ☎ [phone]. Off SR 84, south on Dibble Road to Dewey Road, Ashtabula County's only museum of covered bridges. Memorabilia, artefacts, and educational displays. Hours - June 1 to October 31. W,Sa, & Su 1PM-5PM. 

Do

Nature

• 🌍 Walnut Beach, Walnut Blvd. & Lake Ave. Public beach (lifeguard until 6pm, kid and pet friendly) accessible by a boardwalk. sand dunes, walking trail, wetlands, sports facilities (tennis, basketball, and volleyball). 
• 🌍 Lake Shore Park, ☎ [phone]. Lake Road and Manola (east of SR 11). Public park with a public beach, pavilions and picnic areas, playground, a boat launch, and disc golf site. 
• Point Park, Walnut St. Public park with camping that overlooks Ashtabula harbor and river, as well as the coal conveyor, shipping docks, and lift bridge. In the park see the Hulett ore unloader and Merchant Marine Memorial. (updated Mar 2019)
• Saybrook Township Park (SR 531, 2 miles west of SR 45.). Public park with picnic pavilions, playground, baseball diamond, and trail to a small, unguarded beach. (updated Mar 2019)

Fishing

• Sturgeon General Charters, Morton Drive (Kister Marina & Campground), ☎ [phone]. Walleye, Bass, and Perch fishing. Lake Erie - June–October. 
• Taylor Made Charters, ☎ [phone]. River Marina, - Walleye and Perch fishing. Lake Erie May 1 thru December 1. 
• La Gre' Le Fishing Charters, toll-free: [phone]. Docked in Ashtabula Harbor, - Walleye and Perch fishing. Lake Erie May - October. 

Events

• The Harbor Buzz. This generally refers to all activities in Ashtabula Harbor during the summer, including Car Shows, Beauty Pageants, Eating Contests, Raffles, Street Performers, and Stage Performers. (updated Mar 2019)

Golfing

• Chapel Hills Golf Course, toll-free: [phone]. Austinburg Road east of SR 45, 18-hole course. Driving range also available. Open April - October, Dawn to Dusk. 

Buy

Ashtabula Harbor Commercial District

• Ashtabula Farmers Market, 1105 Bridge St (Ashtabula Harbor), ☎ [phone]. Street vendors and local merchants bring products and services on the sidewalk, several local farms and co-ops offer fresh organic produce. 
• Albinos Meats, 2316 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. Fresh meats, must pre-order. 
• 🌍 Ashtabula Towne Square (Ashtabula Mall), 3315 N. Ridge East, ☎ [phone].  
• Antique Boutique, 1003 Bridge Street, ☎ [phone]. 

Eat

• Alleman's Bakery & Restaurant, 1030 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. 
• Alessandro's, 6540 Lake Rd W, ☎ [phone]. Authentic Italian dining. 
• Broken Dreams Cafe (Hershey's Ice Cream Parlor), 4601 Main Ave, ☎ [phone]. 
• Capos Pizza III, 1205 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. Sells pizza, pasta, wings, and grinder sandwiches. Also sells wine and craft beer. 
• Covered Bridge Pizza, 4861 N Ridge Rd W, ☎ [phone]. 
• Crows Nest, 1257 Harmon Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Deb's Diner, 3214 State Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 2610 W Prospect Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Guyreino's Deli, 1033 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. An Italian deli that sells sandwiches and pizza. 
• Harbor Perk, 1003 Bridge St, ☎ [phone]. Coffee house that roasts its own coffee. 
• Hil-Mak Seafood Restaurant, 449 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. 
• JDs Pizza, 2238 E Prospect Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Kardohely's Family Restaurant, 1730 W Prospect Rd, ☎ [phone]. A family style American restaurant. 
• LA Cafe, 1017 Bridge St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Lake Erie Family Restaurant, 5050 Lake Rd W, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Lakeway Restaurant, 729 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. Seafood and Italian dining. 
• Luigi's Pizza & Wings, 5345 Main Ave, ☎ [phone]. Pizza and wings for Take out or delivery (updated Mar 2019)
• Lunch Box, 1837 E 51st St, ☎ [phone]. Take out, fast food (updated Mar 2019)
• Main Diner, 5760 Main Ave, ☎ [phone]. 
• Main Moon, 2117 Lake Ave, ☎ [phone]. Chinese take out and dining (updated Mar 2019)
• Mandarin House Restaurant, 2519 S Ridge Rd E, ☎ [phone]. Chinese dining (updated Mar 2019)
• Moys Special Occasion Restaurant, 2339 West Ave, ☎ [phone]. Chinese take out and dining, 
• Salvato's Pizza, Pizza, Salads, and Subs 1810 E Prospect Rd, [phone].
• R & R Alley Cafe, 234 Progress Pl, ☎ [phone]. 
• Tony's Deli, 3523 State Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Whippy Dip, 2448 W Center St, ☎ [phone]. Ice Cream. 

Drink

• Crow's Nest, 1257 Harmon Rd, Ashtabula, OH 44004 (Take Rt.11 until it ends), ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

Budget

• Cedar's Motel, 2105 West Prospect Road, toll-free: [phone]. 
• Downtown Motel, 424 Center Street, ☎ [phone]. 
• Edge-O-Town Motel, 2328 North Ridge East, ☎ [phone]. 
• Freeway Motel, 2329 North Ridge Road, ☎ [phone]. 
• Ho Hum Motel, 3801 N. Ridge West, ☎ [phone]. (updated Mar 2019)

Mid-range

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 1831 Austinburg Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Ramada Worldwide, 1860 Austinburg Rd, ☎ [phone]. 

Bed and Breakfasts

• Campbell Beachhouse, 7256 Lake Rd. West, ☎ [phone]. Lakefront ranch home (updated Mar 2019)
• Gilded Swan Bed & Breakfast, 5024 West Avenue, toll-free: +1-888-354-SWAN (7926). Victorian style bed & breakfast. 
• Michael Cahill Bed & Breakfast, 1106 Walnut Boulevard, ☎ [phone]. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
• Peggy's Bed and Breakfast, 8721 Munson Hill Road, ☎ [phone]. Adjacent to the Western Reserve Greenway Trail. 

Camping

• Ashtabula Recreational Unlimited (ARU) Marina & Campgrounds, 1420 Great Lakes Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Fishing and boatramp. Located on the Ashtabula River upstream of the lift bridge. Open May 1 - November 1. Kid and pet friendly. 
• Brockway Northcoast Marina & Campgrounds, 347 W. 24th St, ☎ [phone]. Pool, hot tub, fishing, boating. Located right on the Ashtabula River with access to Lake Erie. 
• Luoma's Surfers Point Camping, 5654 Lake Road West (0.7 mile west of SR 45 on SR 531), ☎ [phone]. Lake Erie front campground with private beach and walking trail. Open May 15-October 15. 

Connect

• 🌍 Ashtabula Library, 4335 Park Ave, ☎ [phone]. Offers public computers and WiFi. (updated Nov 2018)

Go next

Youngstown, Erie, and Cleveland are around an hour away from Ashtabula.

Routes through Ashtabula

Cleveland ← Mentor ←	W  E	→ Conneaut → Erie
Cleveland ← Mentor ←	W  E	→ Conneaut → Erie
END ←	N  S	→ Jct W E → Youngstown