Hotels in Cedar Point Shores
Cedar Point Shores is the 18-acre waterpark of Cedar Point, on the Lake Erie peninsula at Sandusky, Ohio, and it runs on a shorter calendar than the rides: in 2026 it opened on May 23 and closed on August 31, while Cedar Point stayed open until November 1. For a waterpark day, I would sleep on the peninsula itself, at Hotel Breakers or Cedar Point's Express Hotel, both Cedar Point Resorts properties whose guests get early entry, one hour before the public. Castaway Bay and Sawmill Creek, the two other Cedar Point Resorts hotels on this page, are on the mainland side of the causeway. The chain hotels along US-250 south of Sandusky are a drive away but closer to the indoor water parks: Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky and Castaway Bay have their own, and Kalahari is about seven minutes by taxi from the Country Inn & Suites Sandusky South. The trap: a Cedar Point ride ticket does not cover the Shores, which has its own admission; the Gold Pass covers both parks.
For Cedar Point Shores, the closest beds are on the peninsula at Hotel Breakers and Cedar Point's Express Hotel, whose guests get early entry; families who also want a water park after August 31 base themselves at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky or Castaway Bay, both with an indoor water park on site. The 18 hotels on this page average 8.1 out of 10 across 31,595 guest reviews.
Cedar Point Shores in numbers
Indoor WaterparkHoliday Inn Express & Suites Milan – Sandusky Area by IHG
Breakfast IncludedTru by Hilton Sandusky
Spa & WellnessHotel Breakers
Indoor WaterparkCountry Inn & Suites by Radisson, Sandusky South, OH
Indoor WaterparkGreat Wolf Lodge | Sandusky
BudgetFairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Sandusky
Spa & WellnessSawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resorts
Spa & WellnessHoliday Inn Express & Suites Sandusky by IHG
Heated PoolsCedar Point's Express Hotel
BudgetCedar Stables Inn and Suites
Spa & WellnessComfort Inn River's Edge
Spa & WellnessSouth Beach Resort Hotel
Spa & WellnessBest Western Plus Sandusky Hotel & Suites
Breakfast IncludedCountry Inn & Suites by Radisson, Port Clinton, OH
BudgetLa Quinta Inn by Wyndham Sandusky near Cedar Point
Indoor WaterparkCastaway Bay by Cedar Point Resorts
BudgetComfort Inn Sandusky
BudgetCedar Cove
What to expect
- Cedar Point Shores covers 18 acres on the Lake Erie peninsula, beside the Cedar Point rides.
- The 2026 waterpark season ran from May 23 to August 31, two months shorter than the ride park.
- Point Plummet is a four-capsule drop slide; Lakeslide Landing and Lemmy's Lagoon are the zones for young children.
- Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky and Castaway Bay each have an indoor water park inside the hotel.
- The 18 hotels average 8.1 out of 10 across 31,595 guest reviews.
Local tips
- ✓Buy the right ticket: Cedar Point Shores has its own admission, separate from a Cedar Point ride ticket, while the Gold Pass covers both parks.
- ✓Stay at a Cedar Point Resorts hotel such as Hotel Breakers or the Express Hotel to ride one hour before the public under the early entry program.
- ✓Plan the waterpark days before the end of August: in 2026 the Shores closed on August 31, when Cedar Point itself still had two months to run.
- ✓For a September or winter trip, book Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky or Castaway Bay, the two hotels on this page with an indoor water park on site.
- ✓With toddlers, go straight to Lakeslide Landing, built with pint-sized slides, geysers and fountains, and Lemmy's Lagoon, themed on Lake Erie's mythical monster.
- ✓Reserve a cabana ahead for a full day with small children: the park rents redesigned cabanas, which shade a family base between slides.
Where to stay
FAQ
Which hotels are closest to Cedar Point Shores?
Hotel Breakers and Cedar Point's Express Hotel, both on the Cedar Point peninsula; Hotel Breakers is a five-minute walk from Magnum XL-200. Both belong to Cedar Point Resorts, whose guests get early entry. Castaway Bay and Sawmill Creek, also Cedar Point Resorts, sit on the mainland, and the chain hotels south of Sandusky mean a drive.
Is Cedar Point Shores included with a Cedar Point ticket?
No. Cedar Point Shores has its own admission and its own calendar, so a standard Cedar Point ride ticket does not let you into the waterpark. The 2026 Gold Pass included unlimited visits to both Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores, which suits a family planning several park days in one summer.
When is Cedar Point Shores open?
In summer only. The 2026 season ran from Saturday, May 23 to Monday, August 31, while Cedar Point stayed open from May 9 to November 1. The 2027 calendar was not yet published in October 2026, so look at the official Calendar & Hours page before booking a late-August stay.
Is there an indoor water park near Cedar Point?
Yes, three in Sandusky. Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky and Castaway Bay by Cedar Point Resorts each have an indoor water park built into the hotel, and Kalahari's indoor water park is about seven minutes by taxi from the Country Inn & Suites Sandusky South and the Holiday Inn Express Milan. They save a trip outside the Shores season.
Is Cedar Point Shores good for young children?
Yes. Lakeslide Landing has pint-sized slides, geysers and fountains, Lemmy's Lagoon is a themed play area built around a mythical Lake Erie monster, and the park has shallow-depth play areas and a kids' activity pool. Older children head for Point Plummet, a four-capsule drop slide, and the six-story plunge.
Do Cedar Point hotel guests get early entry?
Yes, overnight guests of Cedar Point Resorts properties, including Hotel Breakers, Cedar Point's Express Hotel, Castaway Bay and Sawmill Creek, get early entry one hour before the public opening. If Cedar Point opens at 10 am, early entry guests ride from 9 am; times change through the season on the official calendar.