Middle Bass Island: Ferry, State Park & Lonz
Middle Bass Island sits a half mile north of Put-in-Bay: wetlands, wild grapevines, a state park marina, and a quieter pace than the Bay. Ride the Sonny S from the Boardwalk in about ten minutes, or take Miller Ferry from Catawba, which also runs the vehicle boat. Lunch at J.F. Walleye's or the revived Lonz Winery site, then hop back.
How to get to Middle Bass
No single boat loops all the Lake Erie islands, so you string crossings. From Put-in-Bay the hop is the Sonny S. From the mainland, Miller is the vehicle boat. Compare all four island ferries in the ferry guide.
| Sonny S | Miller Ferry | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves from | Put-in-Bay Boardwalk (downtown) | Catawba Point |
| Crossing | ~10 min | Confirm current run time with Miller |
| Adult round trip | ~$20 (kids 6–12 $10) | Confirm Middle Bass fares with Miller |
| Carries | Passengers only | Passengers, cars, golf carts, bikes |
| Best for | Lunch hop from Put-in-Bay | Bringing a vehicle from the mainland |
Miller's Put-in-Bay passenger fares ($9 each way for adults, free Catawba parking, Lime Kiln Dock on South Bass) are on the Miller Ferry guide. Those figures are the South Bass run. Do not assume the same ticket covers Middle Bass; ask at the Catawba booth.
Lonz, Walleye's and the state park
Middle Bass offers wetland habitat, trees draped in wild grapevines, and a state park marina. It is a world away in pace from downtown Put-in-Bay, even though the water gap is only a half mile.
| Stop | What it is |
|---|---|
| Lonz Winery site | Reborn as a seasonal gathering spot: Island Grind cafe, Prohibition speakeasy, and an events pavilion set among the preserved wine cellars. Confirm seasonal hours before you count on lunch. |
| J.F. Walleye's | By the marina. Lunch, a pool and a tiki bar. The regular Put-in-Bay day-trip lunch stop. |
| State park marina | The island's working waterfront. This is the sleepy, natural island, not a second bar strip. |
Typical day cost on our islands comparison runs about $30–60 per person, including the hop and lunch. Overnight lodging on Middle Bass is limited; the Put-in-Bay lodging page notes St. Hazards Resort (villas and a beachside pool) and cottage rentals along the shoreline. Confirm what is open and how to book directly. Many visitors sleep on Put-in-Bay and treat Middle Bass as the afternoon.
Sleep on Put-in-Bay, hop at lunch
Most Middle Bass visits start with a South Bass bed. Lock a Put-in-Bay room, ride over on the Sonny S, and be back for the harbor evening.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesA Put-in-Bay lunch hop
The classic loop on the islands guide: Jet Express into downtown Put-in-Bay in the morning, Sonny S to Middle Bass around 12:30 pm, lunch at J.F. Walleye's or the Lonz site, back to Put-in-Bay by 3 pm, last Jet home or stay on-island. You do not need a second hotel. Confirm the Sonny S timetable the day you go.
Already on South Bass for the day? Walk to the Boardwalk from the Jet Express dock, or cart over from Lime Kiln if you came in on Miller. Golf carts stay on South Bass unless you arranged otherwise with a fleet, so the hop is on foot at the Boardwalk. Cart rules live on the golf cart guide.
Middle Bass vs Put-in-Bay vs Kelleys
Put-in-Bay is the lively village: caves, Perry's grounds, the Beer Barrel, golf carts, summer weekend nights. Kelleys Island is the family counterweight: Glacial Grooves, a sandy state-park beach, trails, quiet after 9 pm. Middle Bass is smaller and sleepier than both, a marina-and-wetland stop for people who already have a Put-in-Bay day and want an hour of wind.
| Middle Bass | Put-in-Bay | Kelleys Island | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Sleepy, natural, marina | Walkable village, bars, attractions | Quiet, green, beach and geology |
| Get there | Sonny S or Miller Ferry | Miller or Jet Express | Kelleys Island Ferry from Marblehead |
| Typical day | Lunch, Lonz grounds, back to the Bay | Cart, cave, harbor, last boat | Grooves, beach, village |
| Best for | Peace and a short hop | Groups, nightlife, first island day | Families, campers, hikers |
Perry's tower on South Bass is closed for 2026–2027 restoration, so a Put-in-Bay morning that used to mean the observation deck now means the grounds plus a cave, which leaves room for this hop. Camping notes for the region, including St. Hazards on Middle Bass, are on the camping guide.
Build the hop into a Put-in-Bay day
Start with the mainland ferry, sleep in Put-in-Bay or day-trip it, then add the Sonny S. For the full island map see the Lake Erie Islands guide and where to stay.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesMiddle Bass Island FAQ
How do you get to Middle Bass Island?
Two public boats. The Sonny S runs from the Boardwalk in downtown Put-in-Bay to Middle Bass in about ten minutes, passengers only, about $20 adult round trip and $10 for kids 6-12. Miller Ferry also runs the vehicle ferry from Catawba Point to Middle Bass. Confirm current times and any vehicle fare with the operator; schedules shift with the season.
Can you day-trip Middle Bass from Put-in-Bay?
Yes. That is the usual move: ride the Sonny S over around lunch, eat at J.F. Walleye's by the marina or at the revived Lonz site, walk the grounds, and be back in Put-in-Bay by mid-afternoon. The islands guide times it as about 12:30 pm over and back by 3 pm on a hop itinerary.
What is there to do on Middle Bass Island?
A quieter list than Put-in-Bay. Wetland habitat and trees draped in wild grapevines, a state park marina, J.F. Walleye's with a pool and tiki bar by the marina, and the old Lonz Winery site, now a seasonal gathering spot with the Island Grind cafe, the Prohibition speakeasy and an events pavilion among the preserved wine cellars. People come to hear the wind more than the crowd.
Does the Miller Ferry go to Middle Bass?
Yes. Miller Boat Line is the vehicle ferry from Catawba Point to Middle Bass Island, and the only Put-in-Bay-area boat that carries cars, trucks, trailers and private golf carts. It also lands passengers at Lime Kiln Dock on South Bass. Vehicle rules (including no same-day round trips on weekends and holidays for Put-in-Bay) are on the Miller Ferry guide; confirm Middle Bass vehicle fares and times with Miller before you load up.
What happened to Lonz Winery on Middle Bass?
The landmark winery site has been reborn as a seasonal gathering spot. The Island Grind cafe, the Prohibition speakeasy and an events pavilion sit among the preserved wine cellars. Hours are seasonal; confirm with the operator the week you go rather than assuming a winter kitchen.
Do I need a passport for Middle Bass Island?
No. Middle Bass is a U.S. island, same as Put-in-Bay and Kelleys. You need a passport or approved travel document only for Pelee Island, which is Canadian territory.
Middle Bass, Put-in-Bay or Kelleys Island: which should I pick?
Put-in-Bay for nightlife, caves and a walkable village. Kelleys Island for the Glacial Grooves, a sandy state-park beach and quiet nights. Middle Bass when you want almost nobody around: a marina, a lunch stop and wetlands a half mile north of the Bay. Plenty of Put-in-Bay day-trippers hop over for lunch and return the same afternoon.
How much is the Sonny S to Middle Bass?
About $20 adult round trip and $10 for kids 6-12, passengers only, from the Boardwalk in downtown Put-in-Bay. That is the published figure on our ferry guide; confirm at the dock because seasonal fares move. The crossing is about ten minutes.