Living on the Lake Erie islands year-round
Winter ferries and air taxis, groceries, clinics, schools, and the questions to ask about a house that has to make it through January.
Quick answer
Can you live on Put-in-Bay or Kelleys Island in winter?
Yes. Both islands have year-round houses, schools, EMS, and a store open on limited hours. Miller Ferry to South Bass and Middle Bass has no winter service in 2026, so winter travel is by small plane from Port Clinton. The Kelleys Island Ferry runs weather and ice permitting.
How do you get to the Lake Erie islands when the ferry stops?
By air. Griffing Flying Service flies reserved charters from Erie-Ottawa International Airport in Port Clinton to the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island, and Island Air Taxi, based at Put-in-Bay Airport, flies year-round. Both are weather permitting, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Is there medical care on the islands in winter?
Put-in-Bay EMS runs ambulances and a walk-in clinic on South Bass and keeps an ambulance on Middle Bass. Kelleys Island has volunteer EMS and an Erie County Health Services clinic on selected Fridays. Serious cases go to the mainland by Life Flight when weather permits.
As of October 24, 2026. Sources: Griffing Flying Service; Put-in-Bay Airport; Put-in-Bay EMS; Village of Kelleys Island. General information, not legal or tax advice.
This guide is about places and houses on the Lake Erie islands and the mainland shore next to them: Kelleys Island, South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay), Middle Bass, Catawba, Marblehead, and Port Clinton. It covers what changes in winter. It is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice.
Island by island
| Place | Winter boat | Winter air | Public schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelleys Island (Erie County) | Kelleys Island Ferry from Marblehead, weather and ice permitting | Griffing Flying Service charters | Kelleys Island Local |
| Put-in-Bay, South Bass (Ottawa County) | None. Miller Ferry runs roughly mid-March to late November 2026 | Griffing Flying Service; Island Air Taxi, based on the island | Put-in-Bay Local |
| Middle Bass (Ottawa County) | None. Same Miller Ferry season | Griffing Flying Service; Island Air Taxi | Middle Bass Local has no school; students have attended Put-in-Bay since 1982 |
| Catawba, Marblehead, Port Clinton | Mainland, you drive | Not needed | Port Clinton City; Danbury Local (Marblehead) |
Ferry seasons as of October 2026, from the operators. Air service from Griffing Flying Service and the Put-in-Bay Airport page, checked Oct 24, 2026. Flights are by reservation and weather permitting. School districts: confirm the address; this site does not rate or compare schools.
Winter living
Ice and getting across
The car ferries to South Bass and Middle Bass stop in late fall. The Kelleys Island Ferry keeps running later, but every trip is weather and ice permitting, so a January crossing is never a given. When the boats stop, people, mail, groceries, and small freight move by small plane from Erie-Ottawa International Airport in Port Clinton. Wind, fog, and ice can ground the planes too. Island Air Taxi posts that it usually holds flights when winds top about 40 mph (its own posting, winter 2026).
Groceries
On South Bass, the Miller Ferry winter list names Island Hardware Store and Market and a fuel stop among the businesses open in winter. On Kelleys Island, Ohio Cooperative Living reports that the Island Market stocks nonperishables before the ice and has fresh goods flown in. Hours are short and change. On Middle Bass, the Middle Bass General Store carries groceries, with limited produce, dairy, and frozen foods; its winter hours were not confirmed. Many owners stock up in the fall.
Medical care
Put-in-Bay EMS runs advanced life support ambulances on South Bass, with a walk-in clinic in its building for minor care, and keeps an ambulance on Middle Bass. The Village of Kelleys Island describes volunteer EMS, an Erie County Health Services clinic on selected Fridays, and Life Flight to mainland hospitals when weather permits. Hospitals, specialists, and pharmacies are on the mainland. All checked Oct 24, 2026.
Schools
Each island has its own public district, listed in the table above. Enrollment is small, and Middle Bass has no school building. Confirm the arrangement for the address with the district.
Seasonal or year-round house
Many island and peninsula cottages were built for summer. A year-round house is a different building. Questions to ask about any house:
- Is it insulated and heated for January, and what is the heat source? Propane and fuel oil deliveries depend on the boats and the weather.
- Is it on public water and sewer, or a well, a cistern, or a septic system? Who drains and refills the lines if it is closed for winter?
- Who checks the house when you are away, and how do they get there in February?
- What does the insurer require for a house left vacant in winter?
Electric service still reaches the islands in winter. Ohio Cooperative Living reports that Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative serves Kelleys Island through underwater cables, with staff on the island year-round. Ask the seller for a year of utility bills. More on closing up a house: the summer home guide.
Short-term rentals, place by place
- Kelleys Island: village registration certificate, $600 a year, with inspection and insurance.
- Village of Put-in-Bay: special use with a one-week minimum and a village business license.
- Put-in-Bay Township, including Middle Bass: stays of 7 to 90 days as a conditional use.
- Catawba Island Township: overnight rentals of a dwelling are prohibited.
- Danbury Township and Marblehead: stays under 30 days prohibited outside the Lakeside district and the village Business District.
- Port Clinton: permitted with a city certificate and fees.
As of October 2026. Rules change. Fees, taxes, and sources are on the Lake Erie short-term rental rules page. This is not legal advice.
Getting there, and moving goods and vehicles
By car from downtown Toledo, per the OSRM route service on OpenStreetMap data, free-flow estimates computed Oct 24, 2026: Port Clinton about 57 minutes (38 miles), Catawba about 69 minutes (47 miles), Marblehead about 74 minutes (50 miles). Traffic and weather add time.
- Cars and trucks: Miller Ferry from Catawba carries vehicles to South Bass and Middle Bass in season. The Kelleys Island Ferry from Marblehead carries vehicles. Book oversized loads, trailers, and moving trucks with the operator ahead of time.
- Furniture and appliances: plan a move for ferry season. Ask the ferry operator about freight rules, and ask movers whether they serve the islands.
- Winter freight: small packages can fly with the air services. Griffing lists a freight service. Large items wait for the boats.
- Golf carts: common for getting around the island villages, with village rules on inspection, plates, or permits. Check the village.
Florida winters, Lake Erie summers
Many island and peninsula houses are used in summer and closed in winter. If you split the year between Florida and Ohio, the questions above matter most: who checks the house, how the water is shut down, and how you reach it in March. Two related guides: from Florida to a Lake Erie summer home, and the Ohio to Florida mover guide for selling an Ohio house before a move south.
A year-round house that does not depend on a ferry is on the mainland: Port Clinton, Catawba, Marblehead, or the metro shore in Oregon and Point Place.
More guides: all guides. Questions: FAQ.