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Looking for the perfect road trip to do from Cleveland, Ohio? How about an idyllic drive along the Lake Erie coastline! A road trip from Cleveland to the Marblehead Peninsula is a great choice for a mini escape, especially during the summer.
On a sunny day, glistening Lake Erie is an incredible backdrop for a drive. In fact, taking road trips down Lake Road has always been one of my favorite warm weather activities. Often times, there isn’t even a destination in mind; I simply want to enjoy the ride.
With gorgeous views in mind, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water on this route. What follows is a full day itinerary telling you what beaches, lighthouses, and other fun stops are between Cleveland and the Marblehead Lighthouse. It’s an incredibly pleasant, stress-free drive that will take you through many Northeast Ohio towns and villages.
So with that, let’s dive in and start our journey down Route 2 from downtown Cleveland.
The Ultimate Road Trip from Cleveland to Marblehead
The road trip between Cleveland and Marblehead will take about two and a half hours without stops. With stops, I would factor in an extra four or five hours.
Keep in mind there are multiple stops along this route that may appear redundant, such as various parks, beaches and lighthouses. You don’t need to stop at them all. I am simply providing you with all the options!
Road Trip Stop #1: Cleveland
Start your morning by grabbing a quick breakfast. I suggest something you can take away to a nearby park, such as bagels or doughnuts. Cleveland has some great options for both of these items.
For bagels, head to The Cleveland Bagel Company to fuel up for your day with one of their awesome egg sandwiches. There may be a line out the door, but it moves quickly. If you want doughnuts instead, stay tuned for an excellent option in the next town over.
Take your bagels to a nearby park right on the water. Here are two options I love:
- E 9th Street Pier in downtown Cleveland: This pier never gets too crowded, and offers the opportunity for a photo op by a Cleveland script sign.
- Edgewater Park: This park is really close to the bagel shop and takes less than five minutes to reach. There is a beach, plenty of picnic tables, as well as another Cleveland script sign for a photo. The downside is this park gets busy.
Road Trip Stop #2: Lakewood
Navigate back to Route 2, and keep going as the road turns into Clifton Avenue and you cross into Lakewood. Be sure to notice the gorgeous old homes that line either side of this road.
Donuts
Now, if you want donuts, the The Vegan Doughnut Company in Lakewood is the place to go. You might be doubting the word “vegan” in there, but these are honestly the best doughnuts I’ve tried in the area. There is usually a line out the door on the weekends because the place is that popular.
Lakewood Park
Grab a couple doughnuts to-go, and head north to Lakewood Park, which is only about two minutes away. There are many picnic tables available, but I recommend sitting on the beautiful solstice steps by the water.
Even if you don’t buy doughnuts, I recommend checking out this park to stroll along its waterfront path. There is an excellent view of downtown Cleveland at the end.
Road Trip Stop #3: Rocky River
Rocky River Reservation
Next, it’s time for a little outdoors time in Rocky River Reservation. This huge park follows the Rocky River, and has extensive walking and biking paths. I recommend renting a kayak or stand-up paddle board and doing a little paddling out to Lake Erie.
If you choose to get out on the water or check out the trails, you’ve earned some ice cream. Luckily, the best ice cream place in Cleveland happens to be in Rocky River!
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Exit Rocky Reservation heading north towards Detroit Road, and turn left. Follow this road west until you reach Linda St., where you will find Mitchell’s on the corner of Linda and Detroit. A single scoop is plenty, with our go-to flavors being wildberry crumble and vegan chocolate.
Exit Mitchell’s by turning right onto Linda and letting it take you to Lake Road (or Route 6). Turn left onto Lake Road and prepare for some pretty views.
For the rest of your drive through Rocky River, and continuing into Bay Village and Westlake, you will see some incredible homes. Many of them are gorgeous mansions that belong on HGTV or in a glossy magazine.
Road Trip Stop #4: Bay Village
Continue to follow Lake Road passed the many waterfront mansions in Bay Village. You will soon come to a couple very lovely parks. Here are my two favorites in this quiet, residential town:
- Huntington Beach: This large park has a nice beach, and one could spend a whole afternoon here. However, be aware that it does get very busy during the summer months.
- Cahoon Park Trail: This much smaller space is located right next to Huntington Reservation. It features a beautiful waterfront walking path that stays pleasantly quiet and scenic.
Road Trip Stop #5: Avon Lake
The large beautiful homes will continue into Avon Lake. However, once you pass the Veterans’ Memorial Park at Route 83, things start to get a little industrial.
Very soon, you will reach the Avon Lake Power Plant, which has been significant to the Greater Cleveland area since 1926. While not exactly something you’d want to stop and visit, it still looks very striking, and is obviously in stark contrast to the beautiful mansions and parks you’ve seen so far.
Before leaving Avon Lake, you will pass one more park worth stopping at. Miller Road Park is a nice place to walk around, and has a long pier for gorgeous lake views to downtown Cleveland. You’ll also likely see people fishing at the end of the pier.
Did You Know?
There used to be a beach at Miller Road Park, but it has a bit of a tragic history. The beach was very close to the power plant, and one side of it was very hazardous for swimming (the water would be sucked into the plant for cooling). Despite clearly marked signs, sure enough someone would get fatally pulled under each year. Therefore, swimming is no longer allowed here, though there really isn’t much of a beach anymore.
Pass Through Sheffield Lake
Sheffield Lake is tiny, and you’ll likely want to just keep driving through this town. Continue to sit back and enjoy the view as you make your way towards Lorain.
That said, if you love history and don’t mind adding an extra stop, you may want to check out the 103rd O.V.I. Civil War Museum. It’s located right near the water as soon as you enter Sheffield Lake. Tours are available by appointment, so be sure to call ahead.
Road Trip Stop #6: Lorain
Lorain is city that used to be big on manufacturing and provided lots of jobs, until the bulk of it was outsourced overseas. The city experienced decline in the years that followed, but there have been revival efforts in recent years.
In my opinion, Lorain still has some gems, and you should definitely make a stop or two. Put these at the top of your list:
- K Cream Corner: A nostalgic favorite of my husband, stop at this old soft serve standby for an orange twist.
- Lorain Lighthouse: Visit one of the most beautiful lighthouses on Lake Erie (my personal favorite). Most people view it from the Mile-Long Pier at Riverside Park or take a boat tour to see it up close. There are also some spots behind the Lorain Water Department that give excellent views.
- Lakeview Park: Check out one of the best beaches on this route. You can even see the Lorain Lighthouse to the east, though it is tiny.
Take note as you’re driving through Lorain that you cross the Black River over a drawbridge. We’ve gotten stuck a time or two when the bridge was up, but it is a cool sight to see.
Road Trip Stop #7: Vermilion
Vermilion is my favorite city near Cleveland to escape to on the weekends. It’s a small lakeside village, with a cute historic downtown and wonderful farms worth visiting. While this could warrant a whole post, here is a condensed version of my favorite stops in Vermilion.
- Shops in downtown Vermilion: Swan Creek Candle and Lee’s Landing for nautical gifts are my favorites. If you’re into knitting, Cast On Yarn Studio is another adorable shop.
- Touche: If you’re passing through around dinner time, Touche is an excellent place to go. Their patio overlooks the Vermilion River, and you can eat their awesome lobster bisque as you watch the boats head out into the lake.
- Vermilion Lighthouse: Craving another lighthouse? Walk down Main Street (near Touche) to the beach. This is a pretty spot to chill for a while, and even to watch the sunset.
- Vermilion Vineyards: If you’d like to check out my favorite spot in town, head a little off course to Vermilion Vineyards. My husband and I love sipping Chardonnay on their patio, and it’s some of the best wine you’ll find in Ohio.
Pass Through Huron
Once you leave downtown Vermilion, things will start to get very rural. You’ll first drive through Vermilion Township until you reach Huron.
While there isn’t too much to stop for in this town, you will pass lovely Nickel Plate Beach. Since it’s not near a lot of commercialism, it feels more remote than some of the other beaches passed so far. There is also a really cute “Lake Erie Love” sign here for a photo op.
Road Trip Stop #8: Sandusky
Once you pass the beach, you’ll eventually reach a fork in the road. What you do here is up to you. You can either stay on Route 6 into downtown Sandusky or get onto Route 2 towards the Marblehead Peninsula.
Option One
Stay on Route 6 to continue into quaint downtown Sandusky. This town is famous for the Cedar Point amusement park and Soak City water park. Both are awesome, and you may want to get a twilight pass into Cedar Point if you’re a thrill seeker.
For food, Small City Taphouse is one of our favorite stops for sushi and top notch craft beer on tap. If you’re a craft beer snob, this place is legit.
Option Two
Feel like driving a bit longer? Take the fork onto Route 2 and head towards the Marblehead Peninsula. Once on the peninsula, you can go one of two directions :
- Head east towards the historic Marblehead Lighthouse.
- Head west towards Port Clinton, where there is a fantastic beach with a smaller, but super charming lighthouse.
Did You Know?
In 2019, USA Today named Sandusky “Best Coastal Small Town in America”. You should definitely check out what this over 200 year old city has to offer!
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That will end our fun-filled road trip heading west along Lake Erie from Cleveland. I hope you’ve had a relaxing day full of wonderful scenery. This truly is a lovely and laid back drive meant for slowing enjoying what each coastal Ohio town and village has to offer.
Great post. Thanks for putting this together. Took my family of 5 on this trip together and it was a wonderful time well spent. Kids asked, can we do the same thing going east? Like like I’ll have to put something together like this. Truly appreciate this post. Thanks once again
Thank you so much for your kind comment! It was my pleasure writing this, and I’m so glad your family had a great time!
This blog is great
I will ve following along, in all your past + future journeys
Thanks so much!