Play on the Lake Weekend at Grand Lake St Marys
Sunshine. Pontoon boats. Dockside tacos. Sunset drinks.
A weekend at Grand Lake St. Marys is all about getting outside, slowing down, and staying near the water as long as possible. Leave Friday night and stay through Sunday at the best lake playground in Ohio.
Here’s everything you need to plan an easy lake weekend in Ohio’s Grand Lake Region.
| BEST FOR | MAIN ACTIVITIES | BRING | BEST TIME TO VISIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Couples weekends | • Boating | • Water-friendly clothing | May through October |
| • Families | • Fishing | • Sunscreen | |
| • Bachelor & bachelorette weekends | • Tubing and water skiing | • Cooler | |
| • Friends getaway weekends | • Dockside dining | • Flip-flops | |
| • Live music | • Portable speaker | ||
| • Sunset cruises | • Fishing gear | ||
| • Life jackets | |||
| • Boat snacks |
Before you leave:
Several weeks before – Reserve your hotel, vacation rental, or campsite, contact the marina for your boat, or rent your pontoon.
There are so many places to stay throughout Ohio’s Grand Lake Region, from big brand hotels to quaint, privately owned bed and breakfasts or vacation rentals. Book your stay at least 2 weeks in advance (more is better) to ensure you get the kind of hotel or vacation home you want and to give yourself plenty of time to plan your trip.
And don’t forget to reserve a place to dock your boat, or rent a boat or pontoon for your time at the lake. Grand Lake St. Marys supports a wide array of marine vessels. From sailing to speed boating, you’ll find a place to dock for each day of your stay.
Friday Night:
4 PM – Check into your hotel or vacation rental
Ease into lake life with an outfit change and a quick freshen up.
6 PM – Grab dinner by the water, then drinks on the deck
Waterfront dining, some with gorgeous outdoor decks, is available in many locations around the lake. Check out our Food & Drink page for a complete listing.
9 PM – See some live music
Many restaurants and bars around the lake offer live music throughout the season. Check out our Events page to see who’s playing now, where, and when.
Saturday = Full Lake Day:
What’s the best way to spend the day?
- Pontoon cruising
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Dock hopping
- Sand volleyball
- Floating with absolutely no agenda
With 13,500 acres of water and 52 miles of shoreline, there’s room for every kind of lake day:
9 AM – Coffee and breakfast in Celina
11 AM – Pick up your pontoon rental
1 PM – Dockside lunch on the lake
3 PM – Float, ski, tube, cruise, repeat
6 PM – Dinner and sunset drinks
8 PM – More live music and tiki bar energy
11 PM – Back to your hotel or vacation rental
How to get here
Less drive time. More lake time. Grand Lake St Marys is a short drive from many surrounding areas in Ohio and Indiana.
- 1 hour from Dayton
- 2 hours from Columbus
- 2 hours from Indianapolis
- 1.5 hours from Fort Wayne
- 2.5 hours from Cincinnati
