Cincy to CP

Just wondering if anybody could offer help in driving from Cincinnati to CP. I'm stuck between going through Dayton (I-75) and Columbus (I-71). We've been on the Dayton route before, but the Columbus route seems shorter and something new to try. Also (for the Columbus route mainly), are mapquest/yahoo maps/etc. accurate on their directions? My family and I have had problems with some internet maps in the past. Any help would be appreciated.

I use mapquest quite often, and it usually works for me. Occasionally they dont point out the little details once you get close to your destination, but with cedar point, the little details don't matter as much once you get close, because there are signs all over the area which will direct you in the way to go.

------------------
Trips to CP thus far: 5
Maggie - 15; Raptor - 12; WT - 9; MF - 8; ID - 6; BS - 6; Mantis - 5; WE - 2 Gemini - 2; MS - 2; DT - 2; CCMR - 2; Corkscrew - 1; Wildcat - 1; TTD - 1; Jr. Gemini - 0

Mapquest sucks.

Sethquest is better.

Take I-71 north towards Columbus. In Columbus, at the I-71&I-70 junction, stay in the middle lane...OH-315; you won't even have to slow down. OH-315 is a multi-lane highway that goes to the northern outerbelt of Columbus, I-270. Take I-270 East and in two or three miles, take the I-71 North ramp. Exit in Mansfield, at exit 169 (OH-13) and turn LEFT at the end of the offramp. Follow the OH-13 North signs through Mansfield and continue north on 13 until you hit US-250. Turn LEFT onto US-250. OH-13 also goes left here. Follow US-250 through Norwalk and into Sandusky where there will be a plethora of signs directing traffic towards Cedar Point.

I am from Sandusky and went to college in Cincinnati from 1997 till the past June...I know the route well. I've taken them all and this is the quickest.

------------------
--Seth
*** This post was edited by Seth Oakley 7/21/2003 11:39:28 PM ***

Thanks for the assist guys. Seth-the yahoo map is similar to what you posted, but its good to know more details (especially from a local). A few of the internet maps "made up" places, since they didn't have the address in their database (assumption on my part). Its a good thing to see that what is supposed to be there really is, this time anyway. Thanks again.

I hate to contradict a fellow CP fan, but I have made the Cincy run a number of times myself, when I lived off on Cinn-Day Road. (Record: 3 hrs flat from the I-71/I-75 split at the Ohio River to the Cedar Point Ferry Dock on Sandusky Bay)

While the route suggested above might be good during the school year, you do not want to be anywhere near US 250 in the summertime! You will waste time riding to Cedar Point that you could spend riding at Cedar Point! The run up SR 13 can be a two-lane nightmare, and US 250 North of the Ohio Turnpike is nothing less than a parking lot between June and September.

You might try I-75 north to Findlay, take State Route 12 North out of Findlay to Fremont, take US 6 East to Sandusky. Once in Sandusky, use Monroe Street, which turns into First Street, and turn left at the light from First Street directly onto the Causeway.

If you want to come through Columbus, try I-75 to I-71 North, take I-71 North to I-270, then I-270 one exit West, over to US 23 North. Take US 23 North to SR 98, then SR 98 to SR 4 North to Sandusky. Once you are in Sandusky, follow SR 4 to Perkins Avenue, turn right on Perkins Avenue, head East to Columbus Avenue, turn left & head North on Columbus Avenue to Scott Street, turn right. Take Scott Street East until it turns into Fifth Street, and continue straight on through until Fifth Street intersects with Causeway Drive. Turn left at the light.

The whole point is to avoid the notorious choke-points in Sandusky. Avoid US 250 at all costs! Avoid First Street, if you can, although it is not that bad, it can back up. By far the best route is taking Scott Street to Fifth, to Causeway Drive. A lesser known alternative is to take Perkins Avenue to Pipe Street, or even better, Remington Avenue, which has a light, and turn left onto Cleveland Road, which puts you about a mile from Causeway Drive, and you can make a right from Cleveland Road onto Causeway Drive.

Finally, MapQuest is not that bad on actual map accuracy, it's just that their driving directions leave a lot to be desired. Pull maps of Sandusky, Findlay, Fremont, etc, and use them as guides to plan your route. I would be glad to answer any questions about directions in Sandusky. I was born, raised, and lived 35+ years there.

------------------
Tank
Magnum: 2

3 hours!! Geez...the State Highway Patrol must not have seen you ;-P Normally, it takes around 3:30 or so...not that I haven't come close to 3 either...

At one time, Tank, 250 was a mess. Last year they widened it to four lanes from the turnpike all the way to the CP ramp. It's crowded, but hardly a parking lot. As far as 13 being a '2 lane nightmare", the road doesn't get enough traffic to really get as bad as you say. I've been on that road at all times during the day or night and different days of the week and never had a problem. The same could be said for OH-4 like you suggested, but the only difference is that you stay on I-71 for another 40 miles north of Columbus rather than a 2-lane highway from Columbus to Sandusky.
------------------
--Seth

Tank-Nothing against your route, but I think I'm going to try the Columbus path. Just wanna try something new this time. Still, I apprieciate the input. As far as bad maps and such, I do have a secret weapon (aviation GPS). I haven't got to use it much while flying, so the "unintentional" getting lost helps justify the purchase.

I Brought up this old topic, to see if I could get some new local incite on which route from Cincinnati is the fastest to Cedar point. I have gone both 71 and the 75 routes before. They always seems to take me a little over 5 hours to make it to Cedar point from Louisville.
Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I also checked the buckeye traffic website and everything looks good to go.

I would try 71 to route 250 in Ashland. It is a more direct route. 250 is a 2 lane road most of the way but is goes straight into Sandusky. You cut off the East/West travel from 75 or 71. Speed limit is 55 most of the way. The only really slow travel will be through Norwalk, and that will only be about 20 minutes. Hope this helps.

Mapquest directions are like margaritas: they should be taken with more than a grain of salt...

Don't take 71 all the way to 250; that goes way out of your way to the East.

If you go IR-71, take IR-71 North to US-36/OH-37, then take OH-37 West to US-23. Take US-23 North to either OH-98 or OH-4. OH-98 is your most direct route; OH-4 is one mile longer and a little bit of 35 MPH, but more miles at 65 MPH. Take OH-98 or OH-4 North; OH-98 intersects with OH-4 in Bucyrus. Follow OH-4 all the way into Sandusky. Do NOT take the turn-off at OH-2; stay on OH-4 all the way into town, then follow the signs.

If you go IR-75, take IR-75 to OH-12 to US-6.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Watch out if you do decide to take 250. Last week, before Norwalk, they had part of it closed off and we had to take this huge detour to 229 (?) and back to 250 again. Idk how long they intended to have it closed but still something to be prepared for.

Rideman I cant believe you still take the 23 to 98 to 4 route. Blech! :(
We haven't touched that route in years. HATE 23! We did take that route for poops and giggles when we met some friends in Sandusky this winter, and after 30 minutes we looked at each other and said "who's idea was it to go this way???"
Needless to say, we took 250 to 71 home! :)

Jo

These days I only take 23 out of Delaware. The part of 23 that now SUCKS is the part between Powell Rd/Polaris Pkwy and OH-315. Trouble is, OH-315 is no better.

I really wish there were a connector between US-23 and IR-71, perhaps running on a diagonal from, say, where Orange Road would cross IR-71 up to about where that railroad bridge is just South of Delaware State Park. That would give me a really nice route that bypasses all of the bullcrap on US-23, and doesn't go out of the way at all.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I grew up in the Mansfield area and have gone up and down most every major Ohio road, and I personally prefer taking 71 to US 30 if you are coming from Cincy.

You would do this: Take I-71 north (personally, I don't have a problem going through Columbus on 71, just check construction), then get off on US-30 West towards Mansfield. Next you'll exit to OH-13, and follow that until US-250 splits off (it bears to the left). Norwalk can be a pain sometimes, but its over with quick enough. Continue on 250 until just before you pass underneath Rt. 2. The intersection before Rt. 2 is Bogart Rd., and you can turn right there. Almost as soon as you turn onto Bogart, you'll turn left onto Galloway Rd. Take this until it reaches Perkins Ave. and hang a left. Then you'll make a right on Pipe St. (if you prefer a light intersection on Cleveland Rd, you can make a right on Remmington Ave. just before Pipe). Then you'll make a left on Cleveland Rd. and you're pretty much right there at the Causeway entrance.

The above route does kind of go out of the way but avoids the traffic and lights of 250 through Perkins/Sandusky. If the traffic on 250 isn't too bad, I would recommend just continuing up 250 until you reach the Perkins Ave. intersection. Turn right and then turn left onto either Pipe St. or Remmington, then you will make a left onto Cleveland Rd.

Do not take I-75 to Findlay and then follow 12 to 6, etc.! My mom and I made that mistake several years ago and it took at least an hour more than the two other routes we use from where we live. The current route I use the most now is US-224 out of Decatur, IN to US-30, and then I catch OH-4 north. Depending on how I feel is the determining factor in if I take 4 into town or take Rt. 2 across to 250.

Thank you for that. I personally like going 71 to Mansfield, its the way I have gone before. I just wanted to make sure I was not missing out on a better way. I have found the drive from Mansfield to Cedar Point on the two lane road kind of peaceful.
Also on the route, a stop at exit 100 right before Columbus always seems to work out well, with finding a place to eat, and fill up the tank.