CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cedar Point opens for its 150th season on May 9.
Snake River Expedition, the park’s lone new ride for 2020, will be ready for opening day, along with returning favorites like Steel Vengeance, Valravyn, Maverick, Millennium Force and rest of the coasters that make the amusement park on Lake Erie “America’s Roller Coast.”
The new attraction combined with a 40-percent increase in season passes is a recipe for a busy weekend. So, if you want to be among the first visitors to take on Cedar Point this season, it’s best to start planning.
Check out our travel guide to everything outside of the park, from transportation and hotels to dining suggestions and other things to do.
Snake River Expedition is scheduled to open May 9.Cedar Point
THE DETAILS
Cedar Point opening weekend hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, May 10.
TICKETS
Single-day tickets can be purchased online for $45.99, a significant savings over the $75 price at the gate. Season passes start at $115. Parking is $20.
To celebrate its 150th year in 2020, Cedar Point introduced the Gold Pass, part of a industry-wide trend to boost attendance via season passholders. (Photo: courtesy Cedar Point)Courtesy Cedar Point
GETTING THERE
By car
Cedar Point is located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, about 60 miles west of Cleveland. The park is within same-day driving distance of Detroit (113 miles), Columbus (123 miles), Pittsburgh (180 miles), Cincinnati (230 miles), and Buffalo (250 miles).
By air
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, located about an hour east of the park, offers direct service from more than 40 U.S. cities. Frontier, United and Southwest are the most popular carriers. Here are some sample round-trip fares we found on Expedia for direct service from some big cities for May 8-10 (prices always subject to change).
- From Orlando (MCO) on Spirit: $72
- From Atlanta (ATL) on Spirit: $91
- From Las Vegas (LAS) on Frontier: $148
- From Newark (EWR) on United: $199
- From Washington, D.C. (IAD) on United: $214
- From Chicago (ORD) on United: $248
You can also search your own dates and locations on these sites: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline and Orbitz.
Renting a car
There are no cars to rent on site at the airport, but a consolidated rental car facility is located about 5-7 minutes away. Shuttles run continuously across from baggage claim No. 7.
You can find the major rental car companies at the consolidated facility: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Here is a samplng of rates on Orbitz for each type of vehicle:
- Economy: $37 a day at Alamo
- Midsize: $46 at day at Enterprise
- Minivan: $75 at Budget
- Standard SUV: $75 at Budget
- Luxury: $84 at Alamo
The historic Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point completed a $50 million renovation in 2015. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
WHERE TO STAY
Staying on property has its advantages such as early entry and special ticket packages that include parking. But if you don’t mind a short drive, staying a few miles away can save you money. Here are some options we found on Hotels.com.
Sleep Inn: Located 6 miles from the park, this hotel has a heated indoor pool and offers free hot breakfast for $97 a night. Book through choicehotels.com.
Cedar Point Express Hotel: All guests staying on property, people staying here get into the park one hour before the general public. Rates start at $139 a night and can be booked through Hotels.com. For more amenties, rooms are also available at Hotel Breakers ($189) or Castaway Bay ($239).
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sandusky: Located just south of the causeway, this hotel is centrally located and features a full breakfast and indoor pool. Book for $238 a night at ihg.com.
Great Wolf Lodge: Make a vacation out of it by staying at one of Sandusky’s three major indoor water park resorts. The most affordable is Great Wolf Lodge at $190 a night. Book now at hotels.com.
Airbnb: The home-sharing site has 28 listsings in the Cedar Point/Sandusky area available for opening weekend. Accomodations range from a downtown apartment at $114 a night to a top-deck boathouse with bay views of the park for $250 a night.
Here are several other sites where you can search your own dates and locations: Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Homeaway, Choice Hotels and Intercontinental Hotels.
Chez Francois, 555 Main St., Vermilion, 440-967-0630, chezfrancois.com: Go. Put on a jacket, don a dress, and don't let a lifetime pass you by without seeing for yourself what this restaurant is all about. $$$$, all major credit cards accepted. Cuisine: Traditional FrenchThe Plain Dealer
DINING OPTIONS
Here are six restaurants in the area worth checking out according to Yelp:
Chez Francois: One of the best restaurants in the Ohio, located halfway between Cedar Point and Cleveland, this French dining institution is as fancy as it gets-- men are required to wear jackets, while women must wear a dress, pantsuit, or slacks.
Sample Yelp review: “I will be the first person to admit that a high end French restaurant with a dress code feels out of place in rural Ohio but don’t let that discourage you.”
The Brick Oven Bistro: Named best pizza in Erie County by cleveland.com in 2016.
Sample Yelp review: “This place is AMAZING. Everything tastes homemade and you can tell that they use quality ingredients.”
Berardi’s Family Kitchen: If you’re looking for a home-cooked meal, this family has been serving Sandusky for 75 years, including the first french fries at Cedar Point in 1942.
Sample Yelp review: “Excellent place with a history that is as honorable as the food and service they provide!!”
Thirsty Pony: Located right outside the Cedar Point entrance, there’s a lot going on here, from extreme cocktails, bowling and off-track betting to laser tag, arcade games and a menu with a little bit of everything.
Sample Yelp review: “This place is like a neighborhood bar in Germany, but with American foods, and if you’re into it, off-track gambling.”
Bay Harbor: White tablecloth seafood and steakhouse on the water.
Sample Yelp review: “A lovely view compliments a very very good meal.”
DeMore’s Offshore Bar & Grill: Classic seafood shack located about 4 miles from the park.
Sample Yelp review: “Great fried walleye and perch at a good price.”
No visit to Put-in-Bay is complete without a trip up Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, 352 feet high.
ACTIVITIES
Put-in-Bay: Hop aboard the Jet Express from Port Clinton to enjoy everything South Bass Island has to offer, including bars, restaurants, wineries, and shops. If you’re feeling more adventurous, climb up Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, explore Perry’s cave, bike around the island, rent a jet ski, or go parasailing.
Kalahari: You don’t have to be a hotel guest to get wet and wild at Ohio’s largest indoor waterpark. Featuring more than a dozen slides and attractions in over 174,000 sq. ft., day passes range from $52 to $65.
Firelands Winery: One of Ohio’s most renowned wineries, located about 8 miles from Cedar Point, offers tours, a tasting room and gift shop in a charmingly rustic setting.
African Safari Wildlife Park: About 16 miles from Cedar Point, this zoological park offers both drive-thru and walk-thru safari experiences. Visitors encounter zebras, camels, bison, giraffes, warthogs and more. Admission Tickets, $12-$18.
Merry-Go-Round Museum: Learn about the history of carousels, get an up-close look at the museum’s collection of carved horses restored to their original glory, and ride a classic merry-go-round. Admission, $4-$6.
More cleveland.com travel guides:
Rock Hall Inductions 2020 set for May 2: Info on Cleveland flights, rental cars, hotels & more
Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductions 2020 travel guide: Canton flights, hotels, tickets for Aug. 6-9