Port Clinton (Ohio)

Port Clinton, "The Walleye Capital of the World", is a fishing village and vacation spot on the north shore of Ohio. Most visitors to Port Clinton are parking and boarding boats and ferries to enjoy Lake Erie and Lake Erie Islands. It is a very clean and friendly place with plenty of places to sleep, eat and drink. The waterfront is downtown and the activity surrounds the marinas. Ferries leave to the islands frequently. It is the only City in Ottawa County. Locals refer to Port Clinton as one of Ohio's quaint drinking villages, with an occasional fishing problem.

Port Clinton

Get in

By boat

Ferry

• 🌍 The Jet Express (located downtown), toll-free: [phone]. High speed ferry that offers trips to Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay. (updated Mar 2019)

Boat launch

• Little Portage Access, Darr Hopfinger Rd. (updated Mar 2019)
• Portage River Fishing Access (SR 163). (updated Mar 2019)

Marinas

• 🌍 Brands Marina, 451 W. Lakeshore Dr, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Coastal Marine II, 537 W. Lakeshore Dr, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Lakefront Marina, 1805 W Lakeshore Dr, ☎ [phone]. 

By car

From Columbus, head north on US 23 to Ohio State Route 4. At Ohio 2 head West. Exit OH 2 at the first OH 163 exit.

From Cleveland, head west on OH 2, exiting at OH 163.

From Toledo, head East on OH 2. For a scenic route, follow Lakeshore Drive (just past the Red Horse National Guard base), or else exit at the OH 163 exit.

By plane

• Toledo Express Airport (TOL ^IATA)
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE ^IATA)
• 🌍 Erie-Ottawa County International Airport. Flights to the Lake Erie islands are often arranged here. Can accept international visitors, but the customs are a bit less fluid then they would be at a larger airport.. (updated Jul 2017)

Get around

See

• 🌍 Liberty Aviation Museum. An aviation museum at the Erie Ottawa International Airport with a heavy emphasis on aviation from the 1920s to the 1940s. (updated Jul 2017)

Do

Head Boats - Port Clinton, OH

Plenty to do here. Fishing charters, head boats, ferries, marina's all located downtown on water front. Nice public beaches, parks.

• 🌍 Monsoon Lagoon Waterpark.  - located in Port Clinton
• Great Lakes Popcorn Co., 60 Madison St., Port Clinton, ☎ [phone]. Sample 30+ flavors of popcorn including Vanilla Butternut, Rootbeer, Jelly Bean and so on. The production process is done in front of customers. 
• 🌍 African Wildlife Safari, 267 Lightner Rd. (off SR 163), Port Clinton, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. This drive-thru safari has exotic animals, camel and pony rides, entertaining and educational animal shows, pig races, gift shop, picnic facilities, a snack bar and café and grill.  
• Annual Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival. Main Street Port Clinton in May each year. 
• Island Adventures Family Fun Center, 280 SE Catawba Rd, ☎ [phone]. 7 days. 11AM-10PM. (SR 53) 18 hole mini-golf, go-carts, bumper boats, arcade, pizza. Open Memorial Day/Labor Day. 
• Annual New Years Eve Walleye Drop. Down Town Port Clinton, December 31 of each year. 

Beaches

• 🌍 Port Clinton City Beach, Perry St (SR 163). (updated Mar 2019)

Fishing charters

• FishinFul/Myrmidon Charters, 1124 Lee Ave, ☎ [phone]. Apr 1-Oct 31 
• Lake Erie Fishing Charters, Lakefront Marina [phone]
• Lakeland Charters, Brands West Dock, [phone]
• Sassy Sal Charters, 40 Jefferson St, ☎ [phone]. (SR 163). 
• Shore-Nuf Charters, 247 Lakeshore Drive, ☎ [phone]. Head-boats - $30-35.00 per head. 

Welcome Center

• 🌍 Lake Erie Islands Welcome Center, 770 E. Catawba Rd, ☎ [phone]. (SR 53). 'Discount tickets' for ferry boats, attractions, maps, restrooms. Open year around. 

Buy

• Cheese Haven, 2920 E. Harbor Rd (SR 163, east of Port Clinton), ☎ [phone]. The Largest Cheese Shop In Ohio, located at Providing, cheese, smoked meat and fish, BBQ ribs, wine, beer, candy since 1949. Some free samples for tasting. It is one of those places, you just want to visit. Unique. 
• The Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery, 3845 East Wine Cellar Road (on Catawba Island), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• Jims Taxidermy, 2133 E. Harbor Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Northcoast Canvas, 250 SE Catawba, [phone] Marine upholstery, enclosures, storage and canvas shop.

Eat

• Jolly Roger Seafood House, 1737 E Perry St, ☎ [phone]. Dine inside, outside or carry-out. Fresh Lake Erie fish, shrimp, soups. Great food! Closed part of winter. 

Yellow Perch - About $5.00

• 🌍 Tin Goose Diner. Classic American diner at the airport. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Mendoza's. (updated Mar 2019)

Drink

• Mr Ed's Bar & Grill, 255 W Lakeshore Dr, ☎ [phone]. (updated Nov 2018)

Sleep

Budget

• Commodore Perry Inn & Suites, 255 W Lakeshore Dr, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. ~$60. (updated Dec 2018)
• Our Guest Inn & Suites, 220 E Perry St. ~$40-$60. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Super 8. (updated Mar 2019)

Mid-range

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port Clinton-Catawba Island, 50 NE Catawba Rd, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast & WiFi ~$105. (updated Dec 2018)

Splurge

Bed & Breakfast

• The Five Bells Inn, 2766 Sand Rd, toll-free: [phone]. 

Camping

Connect

• 🌍 Ida Rupp Public Library, 310 Madison St, ☎ [phone]. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Port Clinton Post Office. (updated Nov 2018)

Go next

Jet Express

• Catawba Island
• Cedar Point
• Huron
• Marblehead
• Milan Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison, inventor.
• Put-in-Bay
• Sandusky
• Vermilion

Routes through Port Clinton

Toledo ← Oregon ←	W  E	→ Sandusky → Cleveland
Upper Sandusky ← Fremont ←	S  N	→ Catawba Island → END
Perrysburg via ←	W  E	→ Lakeside → Marblehead