Howdy folks! We headed north to the shores of Lake Erie to hop a ferry and do a little truck camping on Kelleys Island — the second-largest island in the lake, about 4.41 square miles, and part of Ohio. The plan: cook on the Blackstone, explore on our folding bikes, and hike the trails. If you're thinking about a trip out there yourself, this one's packed with the details you'll want.
The Ferry & the Campsite
The most common way over is the ferry, and the round trip for the two of us plus the truck ran $88. Winds were 15–20 mph, which made for a pretty choppy crossing. Once ashore we rolled past Inscription Rock — most of its petroglyphs have eroded away — and set up at Kelleys Island State Park, site 91, for a nearly unobstructed view of the lake. Now that's a view we could get used to.
Blackstone Camp Cooking
The flat-top earned its keep. Dinner was bison burgers with homemade potato salad and a green salad with quinoa and fresh tomatoes — a camper's feast under the stars. Breakfast the next morning was eggs, fresh homemade sourdough with cranberry jelly, and Greek yogurt with blueberries, chia seeds, cocoa nibs, and a banana. And of course, our green tea. You can eat awfully well out of a truck cap.
Exploring the Island
After a lakeside calisthenics-and-bands workout (we try not to let the routine slide on the road), we hopped the folding bikes into town for lunch at Captain's Corner — where a very persistent gull tried to sample everything — then strolled the historic breakwall. It's at least our fourth time on this island, and it still makes you feel like you've left Ohio entirely for somewhere on the coast. Dinner that night was pizza rolls from the general store, and we took a quick peek at the old limestone quarry on the way back to camp.
Gear From This Trip
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Blackstone Griddle
Bison burgers, sourdough, eggs — the camp kitchen workhorse.
Folding Bikes
Pack into the cab and turn a parked truck into island transportation.
Cast Iron Skillet
For camp breakfasts that taste better outdoors.
12V Portable Fridge/Freezer
Keeps the bison and eggs cold from the mainland to the island.
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