Looking for a beach getaway? This itinerary for Kelleys Island, Ohio allows you to live your best island life without even taking a flight.
Disclaimer - This is a sponsored blog post by Shores & Islands Ohio. As always, my opinions are unbiased and my own. I want to thank Shores & Islands Ohio for their generosity!
Why Kelleys Island
Kelleys Island, located in Lake Erie off the coast of Sandusky, Ohio is an unexpected gem. The island is very relaxing, yet there’s enough to do to make sure you’re never bored. I was on Kelleys in summer 2024 and it was such a unique place to explore. It’s got great food, beautiful views and a lot of adventure!
Read on to plan the best itinerary for visiting Kelleys Island!
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Kelleys Island
- How to Get Around Kelleys Island
- Where to Stay on Kelleys Island
- What to Do on Kelleys Island
- Where to Eat on Kelleys Island
- FAQs about Kelleys Island
How to Get to Kelleys Island
I took the Jet Express ferry from Sandusky to Kelleys Island. The ferry is extremely on time so make sure to be in the waiting area with your ticket at least 15 minutes before departure. The process was super simple – the tickets were emailed to me and I could screenshot or add them to my apple wallet to be scanned before I got on the boat. It was also really easy to change ferry times with three clicks from my original ticket. Note that all Jet Express tickets are transferable to another time during the calendar year season, however they are not refundable.
The ferry from Sandusky first stops at Cedar Point, an amusement park about 10 minutes away. It was fun to see all of the roller coasters from the water. After Cedar Point, the ferry heads straight to Kelleys Island, which was a 25-30 min ride. Overall it was a very quick and easy trip from Sandusky to Kelleys Island!
The boat has an indoor first level and an outdoor second level. I sat outdoors both times because I had beautiful weather for my trip! This was a great way to take in all the lovely Lake Erie views (just remember to wear sunscreen!)
Where to Stay on Kelleys Island
Hotels
Kelleys Island Venture Resort was a great place to stay and relax! My room was super spacious, and was split into two spaces by the bathroom. The front door opened into the bedroom with a comfortable king size bed. Then there was a little living room and office area with a desk and a couch. The back door took me right to the pool, which was a beautiful place to relax in the summer sun! The location is perfect for being close enough to town for an easy bike in. I highly recommend Kelleys Island Venture Resort.
Camping
If you’re looking for more outdoorsy lodging, Kelleys Island State Park offers camping. There are both tent and RV spots available. This campground was beautiful and was one of the best spots on the island to see sunrise. It’s also located super close to the Glacial Grooves and all of the hiking trails.
Vacation Rentals
The island also has multiple house rentals available if you’re looking for somewhere to spread out with a larger group.
Note that if you book via the affiliate links on the map below, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
How to Get Around Kelleys Island
There are multiple unique ways to get around this small island.
Rent a Bike
I loved exploring the island via bike. I rented a bike from the Caddy Shack, a super quick process that took about five minutes. While it took me a little bit to remember how to ride, especially with my luggage on my back, I was able to cruise around in no time. I brought a bike lock with me, but never needed it.
Both cars and golf carts are very respectful of bikers on the island and give a wide berth when passing. I just recommend choosing outfits that cover your legs enough to avoid chafe! How much I enjoyed biking around was also helped by the fact that I had beautiful weather – I think if it had been raining I would not have been as happy with this option.
Rent a Golf Cart
While I didn’t rent a golf cart on my trip, it’s also a great way to get around the island! I enjoyed seeing all the families piled into the tiny carts with their luggage. I think this is a great option if you have kids – it seemed like all the kids I saw were very into the golf carts! If you’re staying further outside of town or if you have a lot of luggage you can’t bike with, a golf cart is a great option.
Bring Your Car
If you’re coming for a longer trip and have a lot of stuff or people in your party, you can also bring a car to the island. To do this, you will need to take Kelleys Island Ferry, which is the only ferry that allows cars. This ferry is, as expected, more expensive than the Jet Express. There are pros to bringing your own car, but if you want the true KI experience, I recommend getting a bike or golf cart!
What to Do on Kelleys Island
Go for a Hike
For such a small island, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Kelleys has multiple amazing areas to hike.
East Quarry Trails
The East Quarry Trails wind around Horseshoe Lake, named for its unique shape. The lake’s water is an amazing blue color that I did not expect to see in a lake in Ohio. I’d recommend not bringing young kids on these trails as there are some steep drop offs.
North Pond State Nature Preserve
This spot is perfect for nature lovers! A trail leads to a boardwalk loop through a marshy area. The preserve has an observation tower and visitors can also walk right to the beach. It was a great place for birdwatching and was my favorite hike on the island.
North Shore
This loop near KI State Park starts off at an abandoned building (which was a little creepy as a solo hiker) and loops out towards the beach. I found this trail to be buggier than the rest of them and the views were somewhat covered by foliage – I think this would be much better in the winter or fall after the leaves have fallen down.
Glacial Grooves
This is a must visit spot for first time visitors to Kelleys. These grooves were carved by a glacier as it formed Lake Erie and are the largest example of this phenomenon in the world. The Glacial Grooves are recognized as a National Natural Landmark by the NPS. While the entire trail around the grooves is not wheelchair accessible, portions are accessible. This attraction was relatively popular and had a lot of visitors while I was there on a weekend afternoon.
Watch Sunrise or Sunset (or both!)
Lake Erie sunrises and sunsets are amazing. I prefer a sunrise myself, but I loved being able to experience both beautiful views on KI. The best sunrise spot on Kelleys Island is at Kelleys Island State Park on the northern shore of the island. Make sure to be respectful of the campers who may still be sleeping at the early hour! The best sunset spot is the West Bay Inn, a restaurant that shoots off a cannon every night at sunset.
And of course, visit some of the amazing restaurants in the area!
Where to Eat on Kelleys Island
Kelleys Island offers some amazing places to eat on the island. From island coffee to dinner with a view, there’s something for everyone.
Kelleys Island Coffee Company
One of my favorite activities on a trip is to grab a coffee and a pastry and sit with my book. KI Coffee Company was the perfect place to do that. Their apple cinnamon muffin was incredible and baked from scratch that morning. I got to sit outside and enjoy people watching while listening to music from the Sand Trap bar across the parking lot.
The Casino
If you like dining with a water view, check out The Casino. This laid back bar has live music, a view of the ferries coming in, and a place to dock your boat outside if you want to grab a quick bite. It’s located right off the pier from the Jet Express so perfect if you’re waiting for your ferry. The food is no frills – I had a burger that was good but nothing special. I went for lunch on a Sunday and I could definitely see this restaurant having party vibes on the weekends and at night.
West Bay Inn
This restaurant located on the west side of the island is a super fun place to eat dinner. It’s the home of the best sunset view on the island, something the restaurant definitely promotes. There’s a chalkboard with sunset time and they set off a cannon as soon as the sun goes down! The bar is open air, so it’s not ideal for bad weather but great for enjoying the outdoors. I recommend the flatbreads. I had a BBQ pork flatbread and it was delicious and filling enough that I ate the other half for lunch the next day. They also have great mocktails.
Monarch Winery
Monarch Winery opened in 2020 and is located about a mile from downtown, near the Glacial Grooves. Named for the Monarch butterfly, this winery offers locally produced wine and wine slushies. Monarch has a greenhouse on site and often features live music.
Love Ohio and trying to figure out where to go next? Check out Cuyahoga Valley National Park!
FAQs about Kelleys Island
How big is Kelleys Island?
Kelleys Island is the largest island on the US side of the lake at 4.3 square miles. From a visitor’s perspective, it was the perfect size to explore on my own via bike.
Is Kelleys Island a good place for families?
Kelleys Island is great for families! I saw kids of all ages enjoying the golf carts, hiking, on the beach, and wandering around town. I could see KI as being a great place for a multi family vacation or a family reunion.
Is Kelleys Island a good place for solo travelers?
This solo traveler says yes! I loved my solo trip to KI. I was able to relax when I wanted to but also was able to meet folks when I sat solo at a bar. If you’re looking to make friends to do things with while solo traveling, it might not be the best place but it’s great for a solo getaway.
Can you drive a car on Kelleys Island?
Yes, you can drive a car on Kelleys Island but I recommend getting a bike or golf cart for the true Kelleys experience!
Updated August 30 2025
This is amazing and so helpful! Going to KI in a couple weeks and am more excited and more prepared after reading this! Thanks for posting your travels!!
YAY thank you so much for sharing! I hope you have a great trip!!