Ohio has a truly beautiful coast and more lighthouses than you might expect. (Be sure to check out this lighthouse road trip.)
If you don’t have the time to see all of Ohio’s Lake Erie coast, consider taking a drive to two of the state’s most beautiful and most photographed lighthouses. We’ve designed this mini road trip to give you a peek at Ohio’s coastal life and boating culture when you might only have one day to explore it.
Screen shot via Google Maps The total trip clocks in at just an hour and a half, so that leaves you with plenty of time to stop and eat, explore and take in the views along the way. To view a Google Map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.
- Marblehead Lighthouse Park (Marblehead)
Dave/Flickr We recommend kicking off your day trip with a visit to this beautiful coastal park, centered around Marblehead Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the United States side of the Great Lakes is a beautiful sight to behold. Since 1822, this lighthouse has been an active aid-to-navigation. Today, you can tour the lighthouse for a small fee, observe the museum in the keeper’s house and explore the grounds of the park.
- Dockside Cafe (Sandusky)
Dockside Cafe/Facebook
Dockside Cafe/Facebook With gourmet burgers and tacos, live entertainment and scenic views of Cedar Point Amusement Park and Lake Erie, you couldn’t ask for a better waterfront dining experience than Dockside Cafe in Sandusky. It’s located at 611 W Shoreline Dr., Sandusky, OH 44870.
- Toft’s ice Cream Parlor (Port Clinton)
Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor/Facebook
Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor/Facebook Of course, you have to go out for ice cream after lunch—even if it means a little bit of a detour. For what’s arguably the best ice cream in the Lake Erie area, stop on your way through Port Clinton at Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor. (You can thank us for this stop later.) You’ll find it at 3717 Venice Rd., Sandusky, OH 44870.
- Lorain Harbor Lighthouse (Lorain)
Rona Proudfoot/Flickr This “Jewel of the Port” is a beloved landmark in Lorain. Since 1908, this iconic lighthouse has stood as a historical reminder of Lorain and Lake Erie’s shipping history. It’s especially beautiful at sunset. Today, you can tour the lighthouse during the summer months for a fee. For more information, click here.
What do you think? Would you take this trip? Let us know!
Screen shot via Google Maps
The total trip clocks in at just an hour and a half, so that leaves you with plenty of time to stop and eat, explore and take in the views along the way. To view a Google Map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.
Dave/Flickr
We recommend kicking off your day trip with a visit to this beautiful coastal park, centered around Marblehead Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the United States side of the Great Lakes is a beautiful sight to behold. Since 1822, this lighthouse has been an active aid-to-navigation. Today, you can tour the lighthouse for a small fee, observe the museum in the keeper’s house and explore the grounds of the park.
Dockside Cafe/Facebook
With gourmet burgers and tacos, live entertainment and scenic views of Cedar Point Amusement Park and Lake Erie, you couldn’t ask for a better waterfront dining experience than Dockside Cafe in Sandusky. It’s located at 611 W Shoreline Dr., Sandusky, OH 44870.
Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor/Facebook
Of course, you have to go out for ice cream after lunch—even if it means a little bit of a detour. For what’s arguably the best ice cream in the Lake Erie area, stop on your way through Port Clinton at Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor. (You can thank us for this stop later.) You’ll find it at 3717 Venice Rd., Sandusky, OH 44870.
Rona Proudfoot/Flickr
This “Jewel of the Port” is a beloved landmark in Lorain. Since 1908, this iconic lighthouse has stood as a historical reminder of Lorain and Lake Erie’s shipping history. It’s especially beautiful at sunset. Today, you can tour the lighthouse during the summer months for a fee. For more information, click here.
To see more of Ohio’s lighthouses, check out our previous article: The Lighthouse Road Trip On The Ohio Coast That’s Dreamily Beautiful.
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