Cedar Point

[bucket o' butter]

I am trying to plan a mini-vacation to Cedar Point in Ohio. DH would love to stay at one of the hotels on site, but I think they are too expensive.Does anyone have any experience with some decent hotels that are off site, but still close to Cedar Point. I found a Holiday In Express in Port Clinton that has reasonable rates? Has anyone stayed there? I would appreciate any information you might be able to offer. Thanks!

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

I don't have much experience with the hotels but I did live there for several years. When we went with the kids two years ago we stayed in the new part of Breakers in a lake view suite and really enjoyed it. Port Clinton is quite a distance from CP so you'd have to take that into consideration.

 

[dawson5]

*I think the PP meant Port Clinton. Port Huron is quite a ride from Sandusky. Port Clinton should be 30-45 minutes.

I can't speak for that Holiday Inn Express, but we have a friend who works at the one in Vermilion on Rt 60. That is about 30 minutes east of Cedar Point.

There are oodles of hotels all around there.

There is a ton of info here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2341397&highlight=cedar+point

 

[lynn46356]

We've been to Cedar Point numerous times and have stayed on property and I agree, the rates are very expensive. The last time we went (08) I checked out tripadvisor.com and found The Maples Motel (its ranked #2 in Sandusky now). By no means is it a brand new motel but it served our needs and was much cheaper. It was still only 10 minutes from CP. The only draw back we had was that it was right along a very well traveled railroad tracks. My husband said that the trains ran every 15 minutes most of the night. I took a tylenol pm and didn't hear a thing! If you don't need modern/new you will enjoy this motel. They were very very friendly and helpful and the pool was enjoyed by my kids!!!!!!!!! We would definitely stay here the next time we visit CP. Hope this helps.

 

[Chelley00]

We usually stay in Port Clinton when we got to Cedar Point. It's about 20+ minutes to Cedar Point. We like that it's far enough way to miss the people who want to stay closer, but it's close enough it doesn't take long to get there. Plus there are numerous restaurants nearby.

I think we've stayed at that Holiday Inn Express, but it was AGES ago.

 

[Bearvet]

Last year DH took our 3 teenage boys to Cedar Point since they're all roller coaster junkies. I stayed home and had some girlfriend time! I bought tickets early and the 2nd day was free, so they planned to go for 2 days.

After much research, I booked the cheapest room at the Breakers - it includes free parking and you can get into the park 1 hour early on both your check-in and check-out day (this perk was worth every penny!).

They got in early and rode as many big coasters as possible in the first hour (maybe 3 or 4) and then the wall of people entered the park! They had much longer lines the rest of the day and went back to the hotel to rest (you simply walk in and out a back entrance!). They went back at night and had the ultimate coaster experience - riding Millenium Force at 10PM (front row) - DH says it's the most exciting ride he's ever had!

They went back early the second morning and finished up by mid-afternoon. DFIL lives in Cleveland, so they stayed with him the night before and the night after. Maybe you could do less expensive hotels those nights, but I highly recommend at least 1 night at the Breakers. DH and the boys are still singing my praises for that one!

 

[RachaelA]

We stay in Port Clinton on the weekends in April-September. My parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents all own houses on the lake.

Its probably 25 minutes to Cedar Point, but its nice because its on Lake Erie. There is a public beach in Port Clinton. African Wildlife Safari is there. The jet ferry to Put in Bay is there if you wanted to spend a day at Put in Bay.

If you decide to stay in Port Clinton and want to spend a day or two in the area let me know. I can help you with any info you might need!

 

[Mom_Rides]

Check out the Breakers Express. It's owned by Cedar Point but not right at the park and generally it's cheaper. We've stayed there a few times and it's nice. They usually run bundle type deals with a PM tickets, full day tickets, breakfast and a parking pass. You also get the ERT (Early Ride Time) as mentioned in a PP.

Port Clinton is a nice area and if you are visiting the Lake Erie Islands and Cedar Point, it would be a very nice option for you. I've stayed at the Clarion by the mall in Sandusky (ok but breakfast was mass hysteria) and the Fairfield on 250 south of State Rt 2. The Fairfield was nice. Both of those will take you about 10 minutes to get to the park.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm a Floridian who's been to Cedar Point 3 times and each of those times stayed in that Holiday Inn Express in Port Clinton.It's not one of the closest hotels to Cedar Point,the figure of 20-25 minutes sounds about right,but the hotel itself is very good and I would stay there any other time I visit Cedar Point.What I remember when i was booking rooms for Cedar Point is that the hotels were either older looking and overpriced or the ones that looked better were very expensive,the Port Clinton HI Express was newer,nicer and at a good price,I however never went in the middle of the peak season,I think they were all late May or early June trips,so the price would probably go up later in the summer.

 

[dawson5]

I'm a Floridian who's been to Cedar Point 3 times and each of those times stayed in that Holiday Inn Express in Port Clinton.It's not one of the closest hotels to Cedar Point,the figure of 20-25 minutes sounds about right,but the hotel itself is very good and I would stay there any other time I visit Cedar Point.What I remember when i was booking rooms for Cedar Point is that the hotels were either older looking and overpriced or the ones that looked better were very expensive,the Port Clinton HI Express was newer,nicer and at a good price,I however never went in the middle of the peak season,I think they were all late May or early June trips,so the price would probably go up later in the summer.

*bolding is mine

This is what makes me wonder with everyone's quotes of 20 minutes. I have not looked at the route bucket o' butter would have to travel, but I know that the direct route in usually packed (or at least was, years past). We always take Rt 6/Lake Rd in and go in the back way, but we also start from the east. I remember once going in directly from Indiana and getting off at 250 and heading in that way, it was ridiculous--we also stopped at Kroger's to get lunch stuff.

 

[caborst]

What about the campground? Strolling out of the camper and onto a roller coaster was a bit surreal. A unique and different experience. I always stay in budget/value hotels but would definitely go for the on-site hotel if you can swing it. It was one of our family's best trips.

 

[Megkel]

We went 5 years ago and stayed at Cedar Point. I'm not sure how much it was (my mother in-law came and paid for it) but it was TONS of fun. It has a water park inside of it sort of like Great Wolf Lodge. It was really nice because it was REALLY hot during the summer. Sorry I couldn't be more help but the park was fun!

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I had a recent stay at the Fairfield Inn in Feb when my daughter had a cheerleading competition in Sandusky. It was perfectly fine. Clean, free breakfast, pool. Pretty no frills but worked fine. After a day at Cedar Point do you really need much more?

 

[Parksfamily5]

I had a recent stay at the Fairfield Inn in Feb when my daughter had a cheerleading competition in Sandusky. It was perfectly fine. Clean, free breakfast, pool. Pretty no frills but worked fine. After a day at Cedar Point do you really need much more?

Did you go to the Kalahari competition? We were there. We ended up getting a group rate at GWL for 99.00 per night.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Did you go to the Kalahari competition? We were there. We ended up getting a group rate at GWL for 99.00 per night.

Yep! We drove from Detroit in that nightmare blizzard. It was terrifying. But we made it there alive and laugh about it now. We got our rooms for $79 @ the Fairfield.

GWL for $99 is an awesome deal!

 

[bucket o' butter]

Just booked at the Great Wolf Lodge. Got an excellent deal! $167 a night for the Kids Cabin Suite so I am excited! Thank you all for the great advice!