Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Rentals
Golf carts are how Put-in-Bay moves: street-legal, easy to park, and the whole island is 20 minutes end to end. Here is every fleet on the island, what it costs by cart size, the season and hours, and why you should reserve it with your room.
Why everyone rents a cart
South Bass Island is under four square miles with more than nine miles of flat, paved road, and cars are more hassle than help: ferry vehicle fares, scarce parking, slow summer streets. A golf cart parks anywhere, putts from Perry's Cave to the winery to DeRivera Park in minutes, and turns getting around into part of the day. Visitors consistently say the island is more fun with a cart: you set your own pace instead of waiting on the tour train or hunting taxis, and a slow loop around the shoreline is one of the best ways to see the place.
Peak summer can bring 10,000 or more visitors to an island whose rental fleet is now capped by law. After years of gridlock, a 2024 ordinance capped golf-cart registrations at 865 per year for village rental companies — with a separate 865 cap for the surrounding township — and froze each operator at its 2023 fleet size, so nobody can add carts. Demand keeps climbing while supply is fixed, which is why Saturday sellouts are real, not marketing. Families, couples, and groups with a designated driver rent carts; bar-hopping crews who dock downtown often walk the strip and call a taxi when they need a longer hop.
Where to rent: the island fleets
Which fleet is easiest depends on your ferry. Miller Ferry passengers land at the Lime Kiln Dock on the south shore; Jet Express passengers land downtown. Here is who rents where.
| Fleet | Where | Carts | Rents by |
|---|---|---|---|
| E's Golf Carts | Top of the Miller Ferry Lime Kiln Dock, Langram Rd | 2, 4, 6 passenger | Hour & day (no overnight); Miller Ferry combo |
| Erie Island Carts | One block from the Miller Ferry, 1961 Langram Rd | Up to 8 passenger | Hour, day, overnight & multi-day |
| Golf Cart Depot | Downtown, 489 Catawba Ave by the Reel Bar (Jet Express) | 2 (electric), 4, 6 passenger | Hour, day & overnight |
| Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Center | Downtown strip, between Lovella's and Mr. Ed's | 4 & 6 passenger | Hour, day & overnight |
| Delaware Carts | Downtown, next to Mr. Ed's Bar & Grille | Various sizes | Hour & day |
| Village Carts | Toledo Ave, near the Jet Express | Various sizes | Hour & day (no overnight) |
| Island Bike & Cart | Two locations: Jet Express & Miller Ferry | 2, 4, 6 passenger (plus bikes) | Hour & day |
| Boathouse Cart & Bike | Hartford Ave near the Jet Express dock | 2 (electric), 4, 6 passenger (plus bikes) | Hour & day |
| A&B Golf Carts | Toledo Ave, near Perry's Monument | 4 passenger | Day |
| Island Club / PIB Condos | Private, at the lodging (center of island) | 4 & 6 passenger | Overnight, guests only |
Miller Ferry passengers who skip the Lime Kiln fleets can grab an island taxi to downtown depots (Golf Cart Depot, Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Center and others) in a few minutes. Jet Express passengers are already on the strip; walk to the nearest fleet or reserve online and pick up when you land.
Staying overnight in the center of the island? Island Club and Put-in-Bay Condos rent private carts to their guests with dedicated parking, so ask when you book your room and reserve the two together.
Reserve the room, then the cart
Carts sell out by mid-morning on summer Saturdays, and the fleets closest to the fun are the ones next to the busy hotels. Lock in your Put-in-Bay stay first, then book the cart for the day you land.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesWhat it costs, by cart size
Rates depend on cart size, the day of the week and the season, with weekends and holidays at the top. These are typical island ranges to plan around; a 4-seater on a June weekday sits at the bottom, an 8-seater on the Fourth of July at the top.
| Cart | Hourly | Full day | Overnight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-person electric | — | ~$20–40 | Usually n/a | Couples, solo, quick loops |
| 4-person gas | ~$12–15 | ~$60–75 | +~$20 | Small families, the default |
| 6-person gas | ~$18–20 | ~$70–85 | +~$20 | Big families, friend groups |
| 8-person gas | ~$22 | ~$90–100 | Some fleets | Large groups (Erie Island Carts) |
Multi-day deals save the most: two- and three-night rates run well below the nightly price. Watch for money-savers, too — online-booking discounts, ferry-and-cart combo packages (E's bundles a cart with the Miller Ferry), island-guide coupons, and lodging partners that discount carts for their guests.
Cart sizes, brands & what's on them
Most island carts are gas-powered EZ-GO, Club Car and Yamaha models; the fleet keeps them fueled before and after each rental, so you never buy gas. Gas carts hold speed all day on a full-island loop. A few downtown fleets also rent quiet two-person electric carts — cheaper and fine for a short downtown run, but they slow as the battery drains and are usually not offered overnight. For a full day hitting Perry's Cave, the wineries and the state park, book a 4- or 6-passenger gas cart. Every street-legal cart comes equipped for real roads:
- Seat belts for every seat — and every passenger, including toddlers, counts toward the limit.
- Headlights, taillights and turn signals for legal night driving.
- A top for sun and sudden lake-squall rain.
- A lock for overnight rentals so you can secure the cart at your lodging.
- Full vehicle registration — these are titled, plated motor vehicles, not toys.
Season & hours
Cart season runs roughly mid-April through late October, covering the full tourist window. In peak summer the fleets near the Miller Ferry open around 8:30 a.m. and run until 7 to 8 p.m., with extended evening hours from mid-June through mid-August. In spring and fall, hours track the ferry timetable — many fleets close about a half hour before the last boat departs — so confirm hours before you plan a late-day pickup or a sunset return.
From the ferry dock to your cart
Which ferry you take sets your first ten minutes on the island. Jet Express lands downtown on the Boardwalk; Golf Cart Depot, Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Center, Village Carts and Delaware Carts are all a short walk from the ramp. You can reserve online and pick up before you hit the bars.
Miller Ferry lands at Lime Kiln Dock on the quiet south shore, about two miles from downtown. E's Golf Carts is at the top of the dock hill; Erie Island Carts is one block up Langram Road. After you walk off the boat there is a short incline (plan on 30 to 40 yards uphill). Mobility issues? Tell a Miller deck hand when you disembark — they can have a cart meet you at the ramp. Miller also runs a bus and island taxis to downtown if you want to grab a cart on the strip instead.
Coming in on Miller and want ferry plus cart locked in together? E's sells a Miller Ferry combo package (book at least a day ahead through their site; give your name at the Catawba ticket booth for walk-on tickets). A few fleets, including E's, offer child car seats based on availability — worth asking if you are traveling with toddlers who count toward the passenger limit.
Downtown parking: what changed
Free cart parking downtown is mostly gone. Since July 2024 the village charges $4 an hour in the downtown paid zone. Scan the QR code on the parking sign (or text the number on the sign), enter your cart's license plate, and pay by phone. You need a smartphone and a credit card; if you opt in for text alerts, the system warns you before time expires.
The fee came out of a 2024 crackdown on cart congestion. Alongside paid parking, the village capped registrations at 865 per year for village companies, froze each operator at its 2023 fleet, and layered on fees: a per-cart registration of about $100 a year plus a $20 police inspection, and a rental-business license raised to $175 — with the parking revenue earmarked to put extra police on the street for peak weekends. (South Bass residents can buy up to two parking permits at $25 each that waive the hourly fee; visitors pay per hour.) For visitors the upshot is simpler than it sounds: you only pay the hourly fee in the marked downtown zone. Parking stays free at your rental company's own lot, at your lodging, at Perry's Monument and the state park, and at many downtown businesses that keep free customer spaces (fleets hand out a map). Two rules trip people up: the angle spots on Delaware Avenue are for 4-passenger carts only, and parking against a yellow or red curb is a $50 ticket.
Three loops worth doing
The island is small enough that one cart rental covers a full day if you plan a loop instead of backtracking. These three routes cover what most first-timers want:
- Harbor loop (1 to 2 hours): DeRivera Park, the Boardwalk, Perry's Victory monument overlook, and a slow lap along the waterfront. Suits Jet Express day-trippers who dock downtown and may not need a cart at all if the strip is the whole trip.
- Family loop (half day): Perry's Cave, the Butterfly House, Perry Family Fun Center and Heineman's Winery. Starts from either dock; Miller Ferry passengers save time picking up at Lime Kiln and heading north instead of taxiing into town first.
- Sunset loop (evening): South Bass Island Lighthouse grounds on Langram Road (tower open Fri.–Sat. in peak season), then back through the village for dinner. Give yourself 45 minutes to return the cart and catch the last boat on Saturdays.
Reserving, deposits & cancellations
- Reserve full-day and overnight carts ahead. Many fleets take reservations for day/overnight rentals only; hourly is walk-up.
- Book at least a day out for combo packages and to guarantee a specific cart size on a busy weekend.
- Deposits are standard, and most fleets charge the full amount at booking; a valid driver's license is required at pickup.
- Cancel 24 hours before arrival for a refund with most fleets; same-day reservations usually can't be canceled.
- Overnight carts are due back by noon the following day at most fleets, with a provided lock for overnight security.
The rules worth knowing
- 15 mph everywhere. The island speed limit applies to every cart and car. It feels slow, but you can cross the island in minutes; police enforce it on crowded summer weekends.
- Carts are street-legal vehicles: real traffic laws, real OVI enforcement. Put-in-Bay police issue dozens of OVI charges to cart drivers every summer — the same penalties as driving a car on the mainland.
- Valid driver's license required; minimum renter age varies by fleet, usually 18 to 21. A licensed 16-year-old may drive a cart only with a parent riding along.
- One sober designated driver per cart on party weekends. Ohio open-container law applies island-wide, so no open drinks for anyone in the cart; passengers should still buckle up.
- Kids count toward passenger limits; no lap riders, and buckle up.
- Park only in marked spots downtown and pay the hourly fee where signs require it. The village tickets illegally parked carts and expired paid sessions.
- Most rentals are island-only: carts stay on South Bass unless you arranged otherwise.
Big groups & party weekends
A 14-person bachelor or birthday crew is a common Put-in-Bay trip shape, and the cart question is really a drinking question. If you dock downtown on Jet Express and book lodging on or just off Delaware Avenue, the bars, DeRivera Park and the Boardwalk are walkable — many groups skip the cart entirely and call an island taxi when they need Perry's Cave or the wineries. That removes the OVI risk without giving up the weekend.
If you do rent for a big group, split sober drivers one per cart (a 6-passenger cart with six drinking passengers still needs a sober driver who is not counting drinks). Larger groups often book two properties: downtown for Saturday night, then a quieter Langram Road or Island Club cottage for Sunday when the island settles down. See our Put-in-Bay lodging guide for the noise map.
Cart, room, boat: the summer Saturday trio
All three sell out on peak weekends. Line them up together: pick your ferry, book a Put-in-Bay hotel, and reserve the cart for the day you land.
Check Put-in-Bay hotel pricesGolf cart rental FAQ
How much does a golf cart rental cost in Put-in-Bay?
Expect hourly rates starting around $12 to $15 and full-day rates roughly $60 to $100 depending on cart size and whether it is a weekday or a summer weekend, with 6- and 8-passenger carts at the top of the range. A 4-passenger cart runs about $12 to $15 an hour or $60 to $75 a day; a 6-passenger about $18 to $20 an hour or $70 to $85 a day. Overnight typically adds around $20, and two- and three-night rates lower the nightly cost. Prices move year to year and spike on holiday weekends; confirm when you reserve.
Which company should I rent a golf cart from in Put-in-Bay?
It depends on which ferry you take. Coming in on the Miller Ferry, E’s Golf Carts sits at the top of the Lime Kiln Dock and Erie Island Carts is one block away on Langram Road. Coming in on the Jet Express downtown, the Golf Cart Depot on Catawba Avenue, the Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Center on the strip, Village Carts on Toledo Avenue and Delaware Carts by Mr. Ed’s are all a short walk. Island Club and Put-in-Bay Condos guests rent private carts through their lodging.
Do I need a driver’s license to rent a golf cart at Put-in-Bay?
Yes. A valid driver’s license is required, and the renter typically must be 18 or older — though some fleets, including the Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Center, set the minimum at 21. Learner’s permits are not accepted. A licensed 16-year-old may drive a cart with a parent riding along, but the person on the rental contract still has to be an adult. Carts are street-legal vehicles on the island and normal traffic laws apply, including Ohio OVI law.
Should I reserve a Put-in-Bay golf cart in advance?
On summer Saturdays and holiday weekends, absolutely; carts routinely sell out by mid-morning. Reserve when you book your room, and most fleets discount online bookings. Midweek and shoulder season you can usually walk up. Note that many fleets take reservations for full-day and overnight rentals only, with hourly rentals walk-up.
Why do the golf carts sell out — is there a limit on Put-in-Bay?
Yes, and it is the reason to reserve. After years of summer gridlock, a 2024 ordinance (Put-in-Bay Code 858.06) capped golf-cart registrations at 865 per year for village rental companies, with a separate 865 cap for the surrounding township, and froze each operator at its 2023 fleet size so nobody can expand. Supply is now fixed by law while peak weekends still draw 10,000-plus visitors, so on busy Saturdays the island genuinely runs out of carts by mid-morning. Book ahead.
What sizes do the golf carts come in?
Two-person electric carts (great for couples), standard 4-passenger gas carts (the default), and 6-passenger carts for bigger groups. A few fleets, like Erie Island Carts, offer 8-passenger carts. Larger carts cost more and sell out first on busy weekends.
What brands are the carts, and are they gas or electric?
Most island carts are gas-powered EZ-GO, Club Car and Yamaha models, kept fueled by the fleet before and after each rental so you never buy gas. Two-person electric carts are available at a few downtown fleets like the Golf Cart Depot; they are quiet and cheap but slower and generally not offered overnight.
When are golf carts available, and what are the hours?
Rental season runs roughly mid-April through late October, covering the full tourist window. Peak-summer hours are long — fleets near the Miller Ferry open around 8:30 a.m. and run until 7 to 8 p.m., often later mid-summer. In spring and fall, hours track the ferry, closing about a half hour before the last boat, so check before you cut it close.
What is the cancellation and deposit policy?
Policies vary by fleet but most charge a deposit or the full amount at booking and require cancellation 24 hours before arrival for a refund; same-day reservations usually can’t be canceled. Overnight carts are typically due back by noon the next day, and fleets provide a lock to secure the cart overnight.
Can I bring my own golf cart to Put-in-Bay?
Yes. The Miller Ferry carries private golf carts from Catawba Point for a vehicle fare, which regulars with island cottages often do. For a weekend visit, renting on the island is simpler.
Do I actually need a golf cart in Put-in-Bay?
For a downtown-only day trip, not really. The harbor, DeRivera Park, the bars and the closest attractions are all walkable from the Jet Express dock. You want a cart if you are staying overnight, traveling with a group or kids, or want to reach the outer attractions (Perry’s Cave, the wineries, the state park, the far beaches) without a long walk. Most people rent one and are glad they did.
Can you get a DUI driving a golf cart at Put-in-Bay?
Yes. On the island a golf cart is a street-legal motor vehicle, so Ohio OVI law applies exactly as it would to a car, and Put-in-Bay police issue dozens of golf-cart OVI charges every summer. A conviction routinely runs well over $10,000 once fines, court costs and insurance are added up. Ohio open-container law also applies everywhere on the island — that means no open drinks for the passengers in the cart either, not just the driver. Everyone having fun downtown still needs one sober driver behind the wheel.
We are a big group bar-hopping. Do we all need a golf cart?
Not necessarily. If you land on the Jet Express downtown, the strip, DeRivera Park and most bars are walkable without a cart. For a bachelor or birthday crew worried about OVI, many groups skip the cart entirely downtown and use island taxis for longer hops. If you do rent, pick one sober designated driver per cart and treat it like a car: no open containers for the driver, seat belts on, and no lap riders.
Why do some fleets charge a big deposit on holiday weekends?
On special-event weekends (July 4th, Labor Day, large concerts), several fleets hold a refundable deposit of up to about $300 per cart until the rental is returned in good shape. It is separate from your rental rate and usually released when you bring the cart back on time. Ask when you book if your dates overlap a festival or race weekend.
Is there paid parking for golf carts downtown?
Yes. Since 2024 the village charges $4 an hour for golf cart parking in the downtown paid zone, paid by phone — scan the QR code on the sign or text the number listed, enter your cart’s license plate, and pay by credit card. You only pay in the marked downtown zone: parking is free at your rental company’s own lot, at your lodging, at Perry’s Monument and the state park, and at many downtown businesses that keep free customer spaces. Two rules catch people — the angle spots on Delaware Avenue are for 4-passenger carts only, and parking against a yellow or red curb is a $50 ticket.
What is the speed limit for golf carts on Put-in-Bay?
15 mph island-wide for every vehicle, including rental carts. It feels slow, but South Bass is under four square miles; you can reach Perry’s Monument, the state park or downtown in a few minutes. Police do enforce the limit, especially on crowded summer weekends.
I am coming off the Miller Ferry. How do I get to my cart?
Miller lands at Lime Kiln Dock on the south shore, about two miles from downtown. E’s Golf Carts sits at the top of the dock hill; Erie Island Carts is one block away on Langram Road. After you walk off the boat there is a short incline (roughly 30 to 40 yards). If walking the hill is hard, tell a Miller deck hand when you disembark; they can have a cart meet you at the ramp. Island Bike & Cart also rents at the Miller dock.
We are a big group and plan to drink. Should we skip the cart?
If you dock downtown on Jet Express and book lodging within a block of Delaware Avenue, many groups walk the bar strip and call an island taxi for longer hops instead of renting. That removes the OVI risk entirely. If you do rent, one sober designated driver per cart, seat belts for everyone, and no open containers for the driver. Groups of 10 or more often split: downtown hotel for Saturday night, quieter cottage or Langram Road lodging for Sunday recovery.
How much time do I need to return the cart before my ferry?
Plan at least 45 minutes on a summer Saturday: drop the cart at your fleet (not just anywhere), walk or ride back to the dock, and board early. Miller Ferry carts at Lime Kiln need extra time if you spent the day downtown. Overnight carts are due back by noon at most fleets, which does not always line up with an afternoon boat; confirm both times when you book.