Miller Ferry Put-in-Bay
The Miller Ferry (Miller Boat Line) is the cheapest way to Put-in-Bay: adult $9 each way ($18 round trip), free Catawba parking, an 18-minute crossing, and the only boat that carries a car or golf cart. 2026 fares, fall schedule from Sep 21, Lime Kiln dock, and when Jet Express is the better pick.
Sort the room before the boat
On summer weekends the island sells out rooms before ferry seats. If you are staying over, lock in a Put-in-Bay hotel now, then pick your boat.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesWorth booking before you sail
Hotel first, then a guided experience if you want time on the water without owning a boat. Start with the Kelleys kayak Treasure Tour or browse all Lake Erie tours. Availability and final prices are on Viator.
A guided paddle from the Kelleys Island State Park launch along the limestone shoreline, gear and beginner instruction included.
Why we recommend it: The most-reviewed tour on the island and the easiest way onto the water if you did not bring a boat. Calm, first-timer-friendly, and the shoreline geology looks completely different from the lake.
A guided loop through the state parks and preserves, from the Glacial Grooves to the island’s Devonian-era rock, on foot and by bike.
Why we recommend it: The best-value way to have someone who knows the island’s Ice-Age geology explain it, without renting your own bike and guessing at the trails. Active but easygoing.
A private two-hour sunset sail that passes Cedar Point from the water, the Marblehead Lighthouse and the Lake Erie Islands. You’re welcome to bring your own drinks.
Why we recommend it: A quieter evening after a day on the coasters or the bar strip, with the same skyline seen from the calm side of the rail. It’s the whole boat for your group, so it splits well across a family or a couple of couples.
Miller Ferry 2026 fares
These are the current Miller Boat Line fares to Put-in-Bay for the 2026 season. The vehicle and motorcycle fares are for the vehicle only and do not include the driver or passengers.
| Ticket | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $9.00 | $18.00 |
| Child (6–11) | $1.50 | $3.00 |
| Child (under 6) | Free | Free |
| Bicycle | $2.50 | $5.00 |
| Car (vehicle only) | $23.00 | $46.00 |
| Motorcycle (vehicle only) | $16.00 | $32.00 |
RVs and trailers pay a tiered fare by length (roughly $21 under 10 feet up to $68 at 35 feet, then $2/ft over 35, added to the vehicle fare). U.S. military and veterans save $2 off the round-trip fare; present your ID at the Catawba ticket booth before you buy. Fares change season to season; confirm at the booth or on the Miller Boat Line site before you drive out.
Driving to the Catawba dock?
Most visitors reach the Miller Ferry by car. It is at the tip of the Catawba peninsula, about 15 minutes past Port Clinton. Flying into Cleveland or Toledo first? Compare rental car prices for the drive out to the dock.
Compare rental car pricesWhere the Miller Ferry leaves from and lands
Miller Boat Line boards at Catawba Point, GPS address 5174 E. Water Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452, at the very tip of the Catawba peninsula off Route 53 North. The crossing to Put-in-Bay takes about 18 minutes, one of the fastest ways to the island, and in peak season boats leave roughly every half hour.
Miller lands at the Lime Kiln Dock on the quiet south shore of South Bass Island, about 2 miles from downtown Put-in-Bay. That is ideal for families and anyone renting a cart at the dock, but if your hotel and the bars are downtown, plan a quick taxi or cart ride into town, or take the Jet Express, which docks in the middle of downtown. Golf carts and island taxis meet every Miller boat at Lime Kiln.
2026 schedule: September 21 – November 1
From September 21 through November 1, 2026, the brochure fall timetable is in effect. Island departures run daily at 7:00 am, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 pm; mainland boats leave 30 minutes later (7:30 am through 5:30 pm). The last boat in that base table is 5:00 pm island / 5:30 pm mainland.
Extra evening boats in this window (brochure): a daily 6:00 pm island / 6:30 pm mainland departure runs roughly April 3 through October 25, so it is still on through October 25. Fridays add 7:00 pm island / 7:30 pm mainland from April 10 through October 9. Saturdays add 7:00 pm island / 7:30 pm mainland September 26 through October 10. After November 1, service thins again for the Spring & Fall Trips block (November 2 through November 25). Confirm that window on millerferry.com.
Earlier block (ended September 20): the September 8–20 block starts at 7:00 am island (7:30 am mainland), with half-hour gaps through midday and hourly later. Last daily island departure is 6:00 pm (mainland 6:30 pm). Friday through Sunday add 7:00 pm island / 7:30 pm mainland; the brochure also lists a daily 7:00 pm through September 13. Source: Miller Boat Line 2026 brochure.
Bringing a car, golf cart or bike
Miller is the only Put-in-Bay ferry that carries vehicles (cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, bicycles and private golf carts) and the only boat to the Middle Bass Island vehicle dock. See our Middle Bass Island guide if that is your destination. A few things to know before you load up:
- No same-day vehicle round trips on weekends. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you cannot round-trip a vehicle the same day because of traffic. Monday through Friday it is usually fine, though peak days can still limit it.
- No reservations; it is first come, first served. On a summer Saturday the vehicle line at Catawba can stretch to two or three hours, and island car parking is scarce once you arrive.
- Most people leave the car and walk on. Parking at Catawba is free, the island is under four square miles, and a golf cart rental is how everyone gets around. Bringing a private cart makes sense mainly for cottage stays.
Riding Miller and want the ferry and cart locked in together? E's Golf Carts sits at the top of the Lime Kiln Dock and sells a ferry-and-cart combo; book it a day ahead and give your name at the Catawba ticket booth.
Parking at Catawba: free, but arrive early
Miller runs five large free lots at Catawba Point for both day and overnight parking, which sets it apart from the Jet Express's paid Port Clinton lot. You do not need a car on the island, so leaving it at Catawba and walking on is the normal move. On summer Saturdays and holiday weekends the lots and the boats both back up by mid-morning, so get there early. Check the harbor cam for live dock conditions before you drive out, and the wave forecast if you are trailering a boat instead of walking on.
Walking on for one day? Our Put-in-Bay day trip plan fits the island stops around the return boat. Once ferry season ends, see the island air taxi guide for winter access.
Miller Ferry vs Jet Express, quickly
The two boats suit different trips. Here is the short version; our full Put-in-Bay ferry guide compares all four island boats.
| Miller Ferry | Jet Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves from | Catawba Point | Downtown Port Clinton & Sandusky |
| Lands at | Lime Kiln Dock (2 mi south) | Downtown Put-in-Bay |
| Adult round trip | $18 | ~$42 (Port Clinton) |
| Crossing | ~18 min | ~25 min (45 from Sandusky) |
| Parking | Free | ~$18/day |
| Carries vehicles? | Yes (cars, carts, bikes) | No (passengers & bikes only) |
| Best for | Lowest fare, vehicles, families | Downtown docking, late nights |
Boat sorted? Book the rest
Summer Saturdays sell out the island in this order: rooms, golf carts, dinner reservations. Get ahead of it. Browse Put-in-Bay hotels & lodging and reserve a golf cart for the day you land.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesMiller Ferry FAQ
How much is the Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay in 2026?
Miller Ferry fares for 2026 are $9.00 each way for adults ($18 round trip), $1.50 each way for kids 6-11, and free for children under 6. Bikes are $2.50 each way, cars $23 each way and motorcycles $16 each way (the vehicle fare does not include the driver or passengers). U.S. military and veterans save $2 off the round-trip fare with ID at the ticket booth. It is the lowest ferry fare to Put-in-Bay by a wide margin.
Where does the Miller Ferry leave from?
Miller Boat Line sails from Catawba Point at the tip of the Catawba peninsula, GPS address 5174 E. Water Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452 (off Route 53 North). It lands at the Lime Kiln Dock on the south shore of South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay), about 2 miles from downtown, and also runs the vehicle ferry to Middle Bass Island.
How long is the Miller Ferry ride?
About 18 minutes from Catawba Point to Put-in-Bay, one of the fastest crossings to the island. In peak summer boats leave roughly every 30 minutes.
Is parking free at the Miller Ferry?
Yes. Miller Ferry parking at Catawba Point is free, with five large lots for both day and overnight use, a real saving next to the Jet Express, which charges about $18 a day. The lots fill by mid-morning on summer Saturdays and holidays, so arrive early.
Do I need a reservation for the Miller Ferry?
No. Miller takes passengers and personal vehicles first come, first served, so you never need a reservation. On busy summer Saturdays and holiday weekends the vehicle line can back up for hours, so most visitors park free at Catawba, walk on, and rent a golf cart on the island instead.
Can I take my car or golf cart on the Miller Ferry?
Yes. Miller is the only Put-in-Bay ferry that carries cars, trucks, trailers and private golf carts, at $23 each way for a car ($16 for a motorcycle, plus tiered RV and trailer fares). Vehicles cannot round-trip the same day on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays due to traffic; midweek, same-day round trips are usually fine. Because island car parking is scarce, most people leave the car at Catawba.
What time is the last Miller Ferry back from Put-in-Bay?
On the September 21 to November 1, 2026 schedule, the last boat leaves Put-in-Bay at 6:00 pm daily through October 25 (6:30 pm from Catawba). Fridays and Saturdays through October 10 add one more: 7:00 pm from the island, 7:30 pm from Catawba. From October 26 through November 1 the last boat is 5:00 pm island / 5:30 pm mainland. The November 2–25 schedule is lighter, with a last boat of 4:30 pm island / 5:00 pm mainland in the 2026 brochure.
Miller Ferry or Jet Express: which should I take?
Take the Miller Ferry if you want the lowest fare, free parking, the most frequent boats, or you need to bring a vehicle or golf cart; it lands at Lime Kiln Dock on the south shore. Take the Jet Express if you want to land right downtown, skip the drive out to Catawba, or catch a late-night boat back. Many visitors ride Miller over and rent a cart at the dock.
Does the Miller Ferry run in winter?
No. Service runs roughly late March through late November: the 2026 schedule starts March 19, and the last published block runs November 2–25. In winter the island air taxi from Port Clinton is the only link; see our airports guide.
Can I bring my dog on the Miller Ferry?
Yes, leashed pets are welcome on the open decks. Bring water on hot summer days; the crossing is short but the decks warm up. Miller Boat Line prohibits open alcohol containers on board and on its premises.