Cedar Point
If you’re looking for a new favorite amusement park in the Ohio area, check out Cedar Point in your RV. It’s so big it has its own peninsula.
Event information
With 72 rides to enjoy including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is one of the top 10 amusement parks on Earth. In fact, it has won the award for Best Amusement Park in the World for multiple years. This 364-acre playground is fun for everyone, from toddlers to teens and young adults to… well, older adults. Open from mid-May until Labor Day, you can enjoy the water rides in the summertime and come for the amazing decorations, food, and fun in the early fall. They stay open on weekends until November for the Halloween and fall attractions.
Cedar Point is so awesome it has its own peninsula on Lake Erie! It’s like it has its own island because the whole place is parkland. Besides the thrills and chills of the rides, the park also boasts a one-mile-long beach with pristine white sand where you can enjoy the water. And speaking of the thrills, this is the only park in the world that has six roller coasters that are over 199 feet tall. Maybe that is why the area is known as America’s Roller Coast.
The park itself has been around since 1888, making it one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. The first ride was a water toboggan, which was basically just a ramp that launched the toboggan and its riders into Lake Erie. The first roller coaster was not open until a couple of years later when the Switchback Railway opened. It only went 10 miles per hour and stood 25 feet tall, but for those days, that was pretty thrilling. Not like the park’s 420-foot Top Thrill Dragster that reaches speeds of 120 miles per hour more recently.
Of course, there are dozens of games to play, food to eat, and shows to see. The kids have four sections of their own called Gemini Midway, Camp Snoopy, Kiddy Kingdom, and Planet Snoopy with special kids rides and activities. You can also stay a night or two at the RV park so you can go back and do all the things you didn’t have time for the day before. Stay the whole weekend and get special discounts, early entry, and all kinds of other fun and free amenities. Everyone loves it here, so plan on making this part of an annual tradition.
Tickets
Although the price of tickets cannot be expected to stay the same year after year, the ticket prices at Cedar Point have stayed pretty reasonable in the past years. For a single day ticket, the prices tend to range from $46 in advance and $50 if you buy them at the park. For an even better deal, you can typically get two days for $80. For those who plan to come more than once a year, a season pass is usually about $130, and you can pay this in payments.
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Transportation
Driving
This place will be easy to find since it has its own peninsula, and you can see it from miles away. US-6 runs parallel to Cedar Point Road on the park's land. Only 60 miles from Cleveland to the east and 65 miles from Toledo to the west, you can stop in and visit one of these cities while you are in town. Since there are only two ways into and off of the peninsula, plan your route with extra travel time in mind. Traveling across the Cedar Point Causeway to arrive at the park is only allowed in vehicles.
Parking areas
If you are not staying at the park overnight, you will be looking for a place to park your rig. While the park allows free parking for buses with 15 or more people, those with smaller vehicles like campervans and RVs have to pay the parking fee. There is a special section for larger vehicles near the Cedar Point entrance. If it is full, the parking attendants will show you where to park in the main lot.
Public Transportation
If you are staying at a nearby campground and need a ride to the park or if you are staying at the park and need a ride into town, you can usually find a shuttle or bus service nearby. You can also get a taxi or use a rideshare app. Although, you can probably find whatever you need at the park so it is unlikely that you will have to leave to get anything from basic necessities to souvenirs. Food is plentiful and you can even get first aid at the park if needed.
Where to stay
Onsite
With over 200 Cedar Point RV campsites, you can be sure to have a place to stay at the park’s Lighthouse Point if you plan early. Reserve a spot to your liking ahead of time so all you have to do is get there and enjoy yourself. You will be just a few steps away from the entrance to the park and get an hour of early entry before the park opens to get on some of those rides that are usually crowded all day long. All sites have full hookups and can accommodate rigs from 60 to 70 feet long. They even accept pets as long as you register them at the desk. They also have a pool, hot tub, beach, store, parasailing, and shuffleboard. It’s almost as fun as the park itself!
Nearby
If you would rather stay somewhere near Cedar Point or along the way, you are in luck. Sandusky / Bayshore KOA is just five miles down the road off US-6. This place is amazing, with over 200 campsites, including utilities. They can accommodate rigs up to 100 feet long and have tons of fun stuff like paintball, a fun zone, two pools, playgrounds, and much more. They even have a train and a pond to fish in, and your fluffy friends will love Kamp K9. Sandusky also has a nature trail, Wi-Fi, and a biking path.
However, if you would rather have a more rugged and secluded camping experience, there are over a dozen campgrounds nearby that range from primitive to luxury. East Harbor State Park sits about a 30-minute drive and just over the Sandusky Bay and offers RV camping, fishing, hiking, and bird watching.
Getting around
A shuttle bus is provided for guests at the park to get from the parking lots to the entrance as well as to and from certain areas such as the campground, hotel, and cabins. You can also get a ride from Cedar Point Shores, Bay Harbor, and the Marina. Once you get into the park, you can rent a stroller or wheelchair if needed. Otherwise, just wear comfy shoes and take occasional breaks on the park’s many benches or at the picnic areas, restaurants, and shows.
What to pack
Clothing
Most people who visit Cedar Point dress in t-shirts and shorts or jeans, depending on the weather. If you go in May or June, expect warm weather in the upper 60s and 70s with high humidity. You’ll want to pack a hat to protect your head and may even need a jacket for the evenings if you are not going in July or August. Comfortable shoes are a must and flip flops or sandals are not a good choice on many of the rides. And don’t forget a bathing suit if you are going to the water park or the beach.
Gear
Although you are not allowed to bring food and drinks into the park, you can bring in an unopened water bottle as long as it is plastic. For the other items you need to have with you that won’t fit in your pocket or purse, you can bring a bag or backpack and keep it in a locker. There is a small fee and they only accept cash or credit cards, no debit cards. You can get a standard-sized locker that holds bags up to 12x14x18, large that holds 15x18x18, or a jumbo that can hold 18x24x27.
Health & Safety
Bring sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to protect you from sunburns. Sunglasses and a hat are also good ideas to help keep the sun at bay. Insect repellent is also important if you are going to be in the park after the sun goes down. You will also need it at the campground to repel those ticks and mosquitoes. Bring a small first-aid kit with you as well with the basics. The prices can be steep at the park for basic items like aspirin and band-aids.
Where to eat
Cooking
There will be plenty of options for you to cook at the campsite if you stay at Lighthouse Point, the Sandusky / Bayshore KOA Holiday Campground, or one of the other campgrounds with utilities. If you don’t want to cook inside the rig, campsites often have a campfire ring. However, it is always a good idea to have a portable grill or camp stove just in case. For quick meals to eat on the go, prepare your food ahead of time and freeze them, and then just thaw them out and eat them as needed.
Restaurants
If you have been to every one of the park’s eating establishments and just cannot find what you are looking for, take a trip into Sandusky. Only five miles from the park, you can find several nice places to eat, including a Mexican restaurant, Italian cuisine, and a pizza place. There is also an interesting steak house with car-themed meals. You’ll also see quite a few fast-food joints in all varieties, from burgers and fries to tacos.
Vendors
Cedar Point certainly has a wide variety of food and drink choices. With over 50 eateries, you're likely to find something for everyone here. If you like burgers and fries, the park has over a dozen places for that. Pizza can be found in over 10 establishments. And if you want a soft drink, you can get them at any of these places. For dessert, you can find ice cream, candy shops, fudge, and even yogurt sundaes. If you are looking for souvenirs or other fun items, there are over 30 gift shops in the park.
Safety
Security
Cedar Point guests can find security throughout the park as well as at the security office in the middle of the park between the Main Midway, Planet Snoopy, the Lakeside Midway, and Kiddy Kingdom. Each guest will also go through a metal detector before entering the park and all purses, bags, backpacks, and other items will be searched. Do not bring any sharp objects, glass, or other dangerous items with you to the park.
Weather
This part of Ohio is not one of the hottest places in the U.S., so you don’t have to worry too much about the heat. However, in July and August, the temps can get up to the 80s, which can feel warm for some people after walking around in the afternoon. The lows will generally be in the 60s except for in May and September when it can drop into the 50s. Rain is possible just about any time of the year here, so bring your rain gear, too.
Medical
If you are feeling ill or incur and injury, notify one of the park personnel as soon as possible. If you do not see any personnel, make your way to one of the first-aid stations in the park. One is by the Snoopy Boutique off the Main Midway and the other is in Frontier Town by Fountains & Floats. If you cannot make it to one of these places, call 911 for help. There are also several hospitals and medical centers nearby as well as urgent care offices.
