Sandusky Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

An aerial view of a coastal town with a prominent lighthouse, marina, and lush greenery.
A boat named 'GOODTIME I' with multiple flags, including the American flag, sailing on water with roller coasters in the background.
A landscaped garden with the words "Lake Erie" and "Shores & Islands" in the center.
A lighthouse with a red and white color scheme, a black top, and a large red propeller.
A sailboat on a calm lake with a large building and trees in the background.

Between seeking thrills on some of the world’s best roller coasters or reeling in your big catch from Lake Erie, this charming town will keep you entertained for days.

Sandusky, located directly on Lake Erie’s south shore in Ohio, is a small city with a big personality. It retains its vintage charm while having a variety of tourist attractions. Stop through as part of a Great Lakes tour or visit Sandusky as a standalone destination.

The months between Memorial Day and Labour Day are the high tourism season in the Great Lakes region. The famed amusement park at Cedar Point is easily the main attraction of Sandusky. It is widely known as one of the world’s best amusement parks for its large number of rides and prime spot on the edge of a peninsular. Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster are two of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. Cedar Point also has water rides, an arcade, children’s attractions and musical performances. Take a break from the rides and soak up the sun on the adjacent beach along Lake Erie.

Five indoor water parks operate year-round. These include Castaway Bay and Soak City, located adjacent to Cedar Point. Spend a day at Kalahari Resort, which has the largest indoor water park in the U.S.

Boaters and fishers will find Sandusky the perfect base from which to get out on the water. Charter a boat to reel in the big catches during a day of offshore fishing. Try your luck at the scenic Castalia State Fish Hatchery along Cold Creek or head to Cold Creek Trout Camp. Rent a motorboat or ride the ferry to go island hopping along the charming Lake Erie Islands. Explore the shops, restaurants and attractions at Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island and Middle Bass Island.

Stop at one of the many restaurants in the area for a delicious meal fresh from the lake. Take the marked wine trail to visit more than a dozen different wineries that offer tastings.

Sandusky is conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from Cleveland to the east and Toledo to the west.

Our guide on where to stay in Sandusky

Find the best Sandusky areas for the activities you enjoy most.

Historic Downtown Sandusky

Though Historic Downtown Sandusky may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Maritime Museum of Sandusky and Sandusky Speedway.

Cedar Point's Express Hotel

Cedar Point's Express Hotel

2 out of 5
1201 Cedar Point Drive Sandusky OH
The price is NZ$249 per night from 10 Sept to 11 Sept
NZ$249
10 Sept - 11 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Sandusky. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,281 reviews)
"Easy checkin. Staff is friendly. Close yo Cedar point. Room was clean but the bathroom could use new chalk."

Reviewed on 4 Sept 2026

Cedar Point's Express Hotel
Cedar Point's Hotel Breakers

Cedar Point's Hotel Breakers

3.5 out of 5
One Cedar Point Drive Sandusky OH
The price is NZ$694 per night from 6 Sept to 7 Sept
NZ$694
6 Sept - 7 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Sandusky. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.4/10 Very good! (1,034 reviews)
"I loved everything about my stay. The hotel was really nice. The room was clean. The staff was on point when called and everything was a great experience."

Reviewed on 4 Sept 2026

Cedar Point's Hotel Breakers
Cedar Point's Castaway Bay

Cedar Point's Castaway Bay

3 out of 5
2001 Cleveland Road Sandusky OH
The price is NZ$242 per night from 13 Sept to 14 Sept
NZ$242
13 Sept - 14 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this family-friendly resort in Sandusky. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
Cedar Point's Castaway Bay
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cedar Point's Lighthouse Point

Cedar Point's Lighthouse Point

2.5 out of 5
1 Cedar Point Drive Sandusky OH
Stay at this cabin in Sandusky. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and water park access (surcharge). Popular attractions Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (426 reviews)
"Room was clean staff were very nice always had a parking spot but sometimes not in front of the cottage air conditioning was fantastic"

Reviewed on 4 Sept 2026

Cedar Point's Lighthouse Point
GLASS HOUSE 5 BR Private Lake Erie Beach Great for Summer, Fall, Winter

GLASS HOUSE 5 BR Private Lake Erie Beach Great for Summer, Fall, Winter

Sandusky OH
Stay at this beach holiday home in Sandusky. Enjoy a beach locale, a water park and a garden. Popular attractions Cedar Point and Kalahari Waterpark Resort are ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (220 reviews)
"Spent 5 days end of aug. Enjoyed both the lake beach and bay beach, and sunrise from inside house in the early am. Agree with the past reviews on overall house. Great location. For walkers, the street has no sidewalks but lake side beach is walkable. well stocked house though we always carry a large ..."

Reviewed on 3 Sept 2026

GLASS HOUSE 5 BR Private Lake Erie Beach Great for Summer, Fall, Winter
Five bedroom  in United States of America, Sandusky

Five bedroom in United States of America, Sandusky

Sandusky OH
Stay at this family-friendly holiday home in Sandusky. Enjoy an in-room coffee maker. Popular attractions Sandusky Bay and The Watering Hole Safari and Waterpark ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"I rate the place 5 stars! The place itself is very very nice! Lots of room. Very clean. Exceptionally stocked. It has everything you need.With all that being said, I must warn if you have any fear of spiders, this may not be the place for you. There are a ton of spiders on the back deck. And I truly ..."

Reviewed on 16 Aug 2026

Five bedroom in United States of America, Sandusky
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Sandusky attractions

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