14 of the Best Things to do on Kelleys Island, Ohio

Kelleys Island is an island on Lake Erie with a laid-back vibe, beautiful scenery and fun activities for all ages!

Almost every summer we plan a family vacation to the Lake Erie Shores region! 2023 was the first time we visited Kelleys Island as a family! After many trips to Put-in-Bay, we finally made plans to visit this beautiful island that is south east of South Bass Island and directly north of Marblehead Lighthouse and Cedar Point.

Let me just say, we fell in love with Kelleys Island! We had no idea what we’ve been missing all this time! We discovered a beautiful island with incredible views of Lake Erie, historic homes and natural shorelines full of unique things to do and places to eat!

Ever since returning back to Columbus, I have been missing Kelleys Island and that island life! It is definitely a place we will return to as a family!

How to Get to Kelleys Island:

Either way you slice it, you’ll need to take a ferry to Kelleys Island! There are multiple options to make the trip from the mainland to the island via ferry. My family chose to take the Kelleys Island Ferry.

Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line

• Address: 510 W Main St, Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440
• Website

The Kelleys Island Ferry leaves from Marblehead. Boats are scheduled every hour during non-peak times and every half an hour during peak times. Riders can take their vehicles on the The Kelleys Island Ferry or it can be ridden as a passenger.

Jet Express

• Address: Sandusky Dock, 158 W. Market Street, Sandusky, OH 44870
• Website

Jet Express also offers ferry service to Kelleys Island from their Sandusky Dock. They also offer a ferry service between Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island. Departure times are listed on their website, depending on which ferry you plan to take. No vehicles are taken on Jet Express, it is passenger service only.

How to Get Around on Kelleys Island:

Cars are allowed on Kelleys Island, but a lot of people get around the island on golf carts. If you want to take your car to the island, you’ll need to take the Kelleys Island Ferry. Jet Express does not take vehicles on their ferries.

When we visited, we parked our car at the Kelleys Island Ferry dock at Marblehead. There is a fee for parking. (At time of writing it was $15.) We rented a golf cart on Kelleys Island and that was our main transportation on the island!

Is Kelleys Island walkable?

If you take the ferry to Kelleys island without your car, both ferry docks are within a pretty easy walk to downtown. But if you want to see all of the attractions on Kelleys Island, you’ll need another form of transportation!

There are a lot of shops and restaurants that can be walked to in the downtown area, but to visit the state parks, glacial grooves and some of the restaurants listed in this post, you’ll need a car or golf cart! We think toting around the island on a golf cart is the best way to experience island life!

Is there a Taxi Service on Kelleys Island?

If you’d prefer to take a taxi service on Kelleys Island, Island Ride is available for service anywhere on the island. At the time of writing, there is a $10 minimum per trip.

Is Kelleys Island Kid-Friendly?

Absolutely! A trip to Kelleys Island is great for all ages! There is something for the entire family! Read on to find out what are some of the best things to do on Kelleys Island!

Top Things to do on Kelleys Island:

1. Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve

• Address: 739 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

The Glacial Grooves are one of the top attractions on Kelleys Island! Don’t miss it when you visit! The grooves were carved by a glacier that flowed from Canada into Ohio. This area has been a National Natural Landmark since 1967 and they are recognized as the most famous glacial groves in the world!

2.27 million dollars worth of upgrades to Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve were completed in May of 2023. The enhancements included new bridges, parking and fencing to protect the grooves and allow visitors to better view them.

Walk the bridges and pathways to see the incredible grooves and learn about how this natural wonder was formed.

2. Inscription Rock

• Address: E Lakeshore Dr, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Inscription Rock is another top attraction on Kelleys Island! Admittedly, the etchings on the rock have been worn away over time so they are very hard to see, but it’s definitely worth a stop at this historic landmark for posterity’s sake.

The Inscription Rock petroglyphs are believed to be carved by the Erie Tribe three to four hundred years ago. There is a relief of the rock done by Captain Seth Eastman in 1850 that will help you see what was carved into the rock.

3. Kelleys Island State Park

• Address: 920 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Kelleys Island State Park covers 677 acres and offers fishing, boating, hiking, bird watching, camping and more! I will go into more detail about some of the features in individual listings in this section!

But, if you’re looking for a place to camp on Kelleys Island, the campground has full-hookup, electric and non-electric camp sites. They also have two yurts and two Sherman Cabins. The campground is closed during the winter.

4. Kelleys Island Observation Deck

• Location: W. Lakeshore Dr. between Cameron Rd. and Bianchi Ln.

Another quick stop and fun photo op on Kelleys Island is the Kelleys Island Observation Deck! Stop here for a photo by the Welcome to Kelleys Island sign and a look over Lake Erie!

5. Pebble Beach

• Address: 515 E. Lakeshore Dr., Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Just south of the Seaway Marina where you disembark from the Kelleys Island Ferry is Pebble Beach. I’ve also seen this beach called Rocky Beach. Either way is a descriptive name for this beach on Lake Erie: it is definitely a rocky beach!

You can get in the water here at Pebble Beach but it’s not necessarily ideal for laying out. Bring a chair or plan to stand for the most part. It’s a perfect spot to see the sunset on Lake Erie!

6. Scheele Preserve

• Address: Monagan Rd, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Scheele Preserve is another option for hiking on Kelleys Island. This area is a nature preserve that is part of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Hiking is allowed from sunrise to sunset. It’s a natural path through grass and trees.

7. Missy Magoos Candy Shop

• Address: 108 State Rte 575, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Facebook Page

Missy Magoos is a fun stop for souvenirs, candy or bike rental! It’s a picturesque store that sells everything from throw pillows to PEZ candy dispensers! They also have a selection of travel-sized toiletry items if you forgot something on your trip!

8. Caddy Shack Square

• Address: 115 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Caddy Shack Square is home to lots of family-friendly things to do on Kelleys Island! Check out the 18 Hole Putt Putt course, the Island Arcade, gem mining a Tiki Bar and Meg’s Makeshop for activities the whole family will enjoy!

9. Charles Herndon Gallery and Sculpture Garden

• Address: 114 Laylin Ln, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Charles Herndon Gallery and Sculpture Garden is a unique stop on the island. This gallery is located on the east side of the island and you’ll definitely need a golf cart, bike or car to get there! The sculpture garden is fun to roam through. What you find may just surprise you!

Charles Herndon is a living artist who grew up in Cleveland and now resides on Kelleys Island. You can tour the two galleries on the property to see more of his work.

10. Kelleys Island General Store

• Address: 118 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

There are many places to rent a golf cart on Kelleys Island and we chose to rent ours from Kelleys Island General Store. We had a great experience here. And I credit the young man behind the counter for recommending two places to eat that we ended up LOVING: Kelleys Island Wine Co and West Bay Inn. (They are listed below!)

The General Store is also a great place to get a souvenir or to pick up cold drinks or other necessities. It’s conveniently located in downtown.

11. Kelleys Island State Park Beach

• Address: 920 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

The most traditional beach on Kelleys Island is at the Kelleys Island State Park! There is a decent sized sandy beach here. Kayaks are available for rent and there are primitive bathrooms on site. If you’re looking for a place to lay on the beach and build a sand castle, this is for you!

12. East Quarry Trails and Horseshoe Lake

• Address: 423 Ward Rd, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Don’t overlook a stop at the East Quarry. We entered the clearing and the scenery amazed us! It’s gorgeous here!

There is a trail from the parking area to the abandoned quarry and it takes you along a rocky edge overlooking Horseshoe Lake. More trails throughout the park are available for hiking, too.

13. North Pond State Nature Preserve

• Address: Ward Rd. Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

North Pond Nature Preserve is a natural wetland on the Lake Erie coast. The preserve is a great spot for birdwatching! In fact, it is part of the Lake Erie Birding Trail. There is a natural hiking trail that leads to a boardwalk through the preserve that leads to a barrier beach on Lake Erie.

According to signage in the preserve, the beach opens and closes depending on the amount of rainfall and wave action on Lake Erie. The small sandy beach area is beautiful and home to rare beach plants and birds.

In fact, there is a huge eagle’s nest here and we were able to see a bald eagle fly from the it’s tree here at North Pond State Nature Preserve! There is a small bench on the boardwalk right in front of the eagle’s nest, so when you see that bench, look up!

The trail here is 1 mile and there is also an observation tower here (which we didn’t make it to due to tired hikers 😉 ).

14. Memorial Park

• Address: 112 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438

Memorial Park is a small park and public space in the heart of Kelleys Island. There is a cute little playground here if you need a place for the kids to play while you chill.

In the park, you can see a memorial here to the men and women of Kelleys Island who served in and died in U.S. wars. Additionally, there are picnic tables and a large green space for kids to run around and play!

Places to Eat on Kelleys Island:

We spent about 24 hours on Kelleys Island, so we didn’t get to try out all 9 restaurants on the island 😉 but we did really enjoy the ones that we did try! Here’s a “taste” of what we ate!

1. Kelleys Island Wine Co.

• Address: 418 Woodford Rd, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Kelleys Island Wine Co was one of our favorite places to eat on Kelleys Island! There’s really so much here! There is the main restaurant and bar and then a smaller restaurant and bar called KI Cantina. Both restaurants are on the same property and in between you will find tons of patio seating!

There are yard games, a playground, and (my kids’ favorite) goats! They also have Papa T’s ice cream truck on the property so you don’t even have to leave for dessert!

We had dinner at Kelleys Island Wine Co on our first night on the island and then came back the next day for ice cream! Both times we enjoyed sitting out on the patio (and seeing the goats)! The whole set up is a great family-friendly place to eat and relax!

2. West Bay Bar and Restaurant

• Address: 1230 W Lakeshore Dr, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

Another really fun place to eat on Kelleys Island is West Bay! We loved the location here, too. If you’re visiting with kids, these restaurants with amazing patios and yard games are a gem!

Each day they list the time of the sunset! A local told us this was an amazing place to see the sun set over Lake Erie. We ended up eating here for lunch, so no sunset, but I could imagine how beautiful it would be!

There are so many seating options here including picnic tables and an outdoor bar. They have corn hole and a volleyball court. They also have a stage for live music.

For lunch, my son has the biggest pretzel I have ever seen! My husband had a delicious kabob and I had a burger. My youngest son had chicken fingers (shocker!). We all enjoyed our meals and loved the scenery!

3. Taste By the Lake

• Address: 115 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Facebook Page

We had coffee and a light breakfast at Taste By the Lake after our overnight stay. They had a selection of donuts, muffins and other baked goods. They also sell (ice cream based) smoothies, egg sandwiches and quiche.

4. The Island House

• Address: 131 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Facebook Page

I wanted to mention Island House as an option for breakfast, too! We did not end up eating there because we got pastries at Kelleys Island Coffee Company, but I think this would be a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to have a sit-down breakfast on the island! A larger brunch menu is served on the weekends, as well. They have a great patio area, too!

Where to Stay on Kelleys Island:

Kelleys Island Venture Resort

• Address: 441 W Lakeshore Dr, Kelleys Island, OH 43438
• Website

We were invited to stay at Kelleys Island Venture Resort and we LOVED our stay here! I would absolutely stay here on our next trip to the Island! The rooms are first class! We had a loft in our hotel room so that the boys could have their own space upstairs and us adults could be downstairs!

There were 3 flat screen TVs, a kitchenette and a balcony facing the pool area. The resort is on the shores of Lake Erie and there is a 3-tiered deck for residents of the hotel to enjoy across the street and right on the water.

My kids loved the pool and hot tub here! This is the only resort hotel on the island! Downtown is just about a mile from the Kelleys Island Ferry dock, so we walked there after getting off the ferry, Then, we rented our golf cart before heading to the hotel.

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I hope this post helps you plan a great trip to Kelleys Island! We loved our visit here and really can’t wait to come back! There are so many great things to see and do on the island and we loved the laid-back vibe, bird watching and beautiful scenery!

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