Discover the top things to do while staying at the Maumee Bay Lodge.
Overlooking scenic Lake Erie sits the tranquil Maumee Bay Lodge. Soak in a spectacular sunset, take a peaceful stroll along the boardwalk, or cozy up next to one of the fireplaces. You will not want to leave with tons of great things to do at Maumee Bay State Park Lodge!
A key point when traveling to Maumee Bay is to know that Maumee and Maumee Bay are two separate locations in the Toledo area in northwest Ohio.
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the banks of the Maumee River, about 10 miles southwest of Toledo.
Maumee Bay is on Lake Erie and is just east of the city of Toledo Ohio.
The Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center is inside Maumee Bay State Park.
Address: 1750 State Park Road #2 Oregon, OH 43616.
We want to thank Great Ohio Lodges for sponsoring this post. As always, my opinions are my own. This page contains affiliate links.
Maumee Bay State Park is a unique environment formed by the convergence of the land and Lake Erie. The bay and the surrounding wetlands form most of the Maumee River basin, and in 1975 part of the area was incorporated into Maumee Bay State Park.
The park is 1,450 acres with excellent birdwatching in the wetlands, bike trails, a golf course, and fishing. Surrounding Maumee Bay State Park is additional refuges to explore, such as Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, and the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge.
A quick 20 minutes drive will have you in downtown Toledo. Spend the afternoon enjoying the best things to do in the city. Pay a visit to the Toledo Zoo, stroll The Toledo Museum of Art, and stop by the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Planning Tip: Outside the Maumee Bay Lodge, there is not a big selection of dining options. We recommend bringing meal options such as sandwiches to keep in your mini-fridge to help supplement dining costs.
Maumee Bay Lodge is one of the Great Ohio Lodges found throughout Ohio. After our recent visit, it quickly took place as not only one of our favorite lodges but one of our favorite spots in Ohio.
The guest rooms are renovated, featuring a modern shower, decor, and furniture. Each room has a mini-fridge, coffee maker, a small table, a safe, and flat-screen televisions. The shower had four sprayers which had me never wanting to leave with sore muscles from our hiking adventures.
Guests of Maumee Bay Lodge will also enjoy complimentary wireless internet access and complimentary toiletries.
Our room had breathtaking views of Lake Erie. Many evenings were spent on our private balcony soaking up the beautiful views of Lake Erie.
Insider Tip: The way the Lodge is designed, there are many rooms with superb lakeside views; some will face the lake overlooking the walking trails, while others will overlook the outdoor pool. Depending on what you are looking for, you can call to request a particular lakeside view if it is available.
Families may opt for a patio near the pool for quick access to fun, while those looking for a more tranquil escape could request one overlooking the walking trail.
Discover all the great lodging options at Maumee Bay or another of our favorite lodges, Mohican Lodge and Conference Center.
One of the highlights of Maumee Bay Lodge is that they offer a variety of cabin rentals. If you are looking for a different option outside of the lodge rooms discover the two-bedroom and four-bedroom cabins available for rent. These cabins are great for families and friends to plan a getaway.
The first level has two bedrooms, the first has one queen bed, and the second has one bunk bed, a living area, kitchen, dining table, and bathroom with a shower (no bathtub).
The second story has an open loft space with two twin beds and an additional Rollaway bed if needed.
Many of the cabins even have a relaxing hot tub.
Cabin Tip: Be sure to pack things to make meals if you do not want to venture to the LodgeLodge for all of your meals.
Planning Tip: The cabins at Maumee fill up quickly! I recommend booking as far in advance as you are able. For example, July rentals start booking a year in advance as soon as their booking window opens.
Maumee State Park is full of outdoor activities including miles of trails to explore that will take you throughout the park. Maumee Bay Lodge offers bicycle rentals by the hour. Hop aboard and spend the morning or afternoon discovering the park’s beauty.
We would often spend the day cycling the different trails, plan a stop at the playground or beach, then end with a visit to the Nature Center.
The sunsets over Lake Erie are hard to beat. Enjoy them from the privacy of your patio or take a stroll along one of the walkways. One of my favorite memories of our recent visit to Maumee Bay Lodge is watching the sunset with a giant scoop of ice cream from the Bayside Snack Shop.
The Bayside Snack Shop is a seasonal snack bar serving up scoops of delicious ice cream. Our favorite is the Spumoni, or “Splamoni” as Sophie calls it. The Snack Shop is perfect for grabbing a burger and fries to enjoy by the outdoor pool.
Only a hop, skip, and short walk from the entrance of the Lodge is the Nature Center. Home to snakes, a snapping turtle, and a few other wildlife friends, the Nature Center is one of the best places to learn about the environment and wildlife in the surrounding area.
Kids will enjoy the interactive displays. Sophie loved discovering the food chain and putting together food chains. Don’t forget to see the old Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Light in the side room.
There is an entrance to the boardwalk trail that starts at the Nature Center. I recommend beginning here as there are also bathrooms.
Planning Tip: The Nature Center is open from 10 AM-4 PM on Tuesday-Saturday. The bathrooms and trailhead are available till dusk.
Additional Planning Tip: Check the calendar of events in the Lodge’sLodge’s lobby daily. The Nature Center will often bring over animals such as snakes, a touch table, and more.
Maumee Bay Lodge’s signature restaurant is the Waters Edge which offers fine dining. The Waters Edge is open for three meals a day, giving guests a fabulous view of Lake Erie while they dine.
Located inside the Maumee Bay Lodge, The Water’s Edge offers a great selection of entrees such as the Black Angus Sirloin, Grilled Salmon, and a classic All-American Burgers. The lunch and dinner menus have traditional sandwiches, various appetizers, and a kid’s menu. My personal favorite was the fresh Berry Salad with Grilled Chicken.
The Lodge does not offer a breakfast option outside of a Breakfast Buffet. The buffet is $12.99 for adults and $7.95 for kids ages 5-11. It includes items such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, etc. A drink such as juice or coffee is included with your buffet purchase.
Tip: Free coffee is available in the lobby daily.
A highlight of any Ohio Lodge visit is the indoor pool. Maumee Bay not only has an indoor pool but an indoor splash pad as well! Kids will love making their way through the sprayers before hopping into the heated pool.
Maumee Bay Lodge is also home to two hot tubs, which were a treat. If you don’t feel like getting wet, sweat out those impurities in the indoor sauna. There are two saunas one both of the changing rooms.
Tip: The pool is 3ft deep and gradually goes to 5ft deep.
Don’t miss out on the seasonal outdoor pool with a separate gated 1ft area for littles.
One of my favorite things to stumble across in Ohio is their storybook trails. A storybook trail is a strolling trail designed for children progressively telling a story. Markers throughout the path each hold a different page to the story. Complete the trail to read the entire story.
The Story Book trail in Maumee Bay State Park is next to the tennis and basketball courts. It is a short walk from the entrance.
Planning Tip: The trail snakes its way through a beautiful meadow with very little shade. I recommend going on this trail in the evening or on a cloudy day.
I often question if you even went to an Ohio State Lodge if you didn’t get the pizza. It is a well-known fact that Lodge Pizza is some of the best pizza. Therefore, after a hard day exploring the state park, venture to the Ice Breaker Lounge for a more relaxed atmosphere.
After 10 PM, the lounge is reserved for guests over 21 years of age, but all are welcome up until then. There is a pool table, darts, TVs, and a full bar.
Tip: The Ice Breaker Lounge has the same menu as the Water’s Edge Restaurant minus the pizza.
If you are traveling with little ones, the ocean-themed indoor soft play area across from the indoor pool is a great place to take them. Put shoes in the cubby and let their little imaginations go wild as they climb about the pirate ship, follow the lines to buried treasure or climb aboard an ocean friend.
If the weather cancels your outdoor plans, rent out the indoor racquetball courts and wallyball courts. The courts are well maintained and make for a great rainy day activity in Maumee. See the front desk to get more information and the gear to play.
Big Hill is exactly that, a big hill in the middle of Maumee Bay State Park. Guests can climb to the top of the hill to get a scenic view of Lake Erie. The hike is very short, and the view is lovely. There is even a bench at the top for you to catch your breath if needed.
Directly across from Big Hill is the family fishing pond. Bring your own supplies and spend the day fishing on the pond! Don’t forget your permit.
Don’t forget your binoculars or camera for a spectacular walk along the boardwalk. The boardwalk takes guests out into the marshes with giant cattails, towering trees, and plenty of wildlife viewing. The boardwalk is a 1.9 miles walk but can be shortened to a smaller loop.
I recommend starting your hike at the Nature Center. The Nature Center will give an excellent overview of the wildlife found in the wetlands. Look for deer, muskrats, mink, frogs, bald eagles, herons, and more during your walk!
Tip: Don’t miss out on the observation deck that overlooks the marsh, and bring plenty of sunscreen along with a water bottle.
Maumee Bay State Park is one of the premier destinations in the United States for birding, with over 300 species being recorded in the area.
Planning Tip For Birders: Take the Lake Erie Birding Trail for an adventure through the Western Lake Erie Marshes Loop.
Maumee Bay State Park State Park Beach is a great spot to build a sand castle, stick your feet in the water or relax on one of the swinging benches. The State Park Beach is on Lake Erie, while the Inland Lake Beach is directly across from the State Park Beach.
There is plenty of parking, restrooms, and changing areas next to both beaches. We really enjoyed the playground next to the beach. There was something for all ages with a toddler and big kid structure, swings, and climbing structures.
Tip: Inland Lake Beach was full of geese and their droppings, while the Maumee Bay State Park Beach had more seagulls.
Health Notice: Maumee Bay is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Advisory. A beach is marked Green when a single sample shows enterococci counts below 235 units/ 100 ml of water. A beach is marked Red when a single sample shows enterococci counts above 200 units/ 100 ml or when Harmful Algae Blooms are confirmed at the beach.
Take to the water by renting a paddleboat or canoe. Rentals are handled at the front desk. While you will not be venturing into Lake Erie, you will explore the nearby lake.
Marina
Cruise or sail to Maumee Bay Lodge with our easily accessible marina. We have 32 total slips, 24 overnight reservation slips with electric and water, and eight non-electric transient slips for day use on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Planning Tip: The Marina does not offer launch service or have fuel.
A highlight of any Great Ohio Lodge visit is spending time by one of their roaring fireplaces. Bring a game, grab a book and enjoy the great public spaces the Lodge offers. After spending time in the game room or having dinner, we often find ourselves cozying up by the fire.
If you own an Ohio Parks Passport, get it stamped at the gift shop. The gift shop has tons of great souvenirs, things you may have left behind, and snacks. You can pick up a bottle of wine here as well.
Play arcade games, skeeball, or try to win a prize at the game room in Maumee Bay Lodge. We particularly found the photobooth that yielded some hysterical photos of our daughter. There is also a ping-pong table in the nearby room. See the front desk for paddles and the ball.
Maumee Bay is a premier lodge on the shores of Lake Erie. It is the perfect place for a family getaway or friends retreat, with tons of fun things to do at Maumee Bay State Park. Check out our other favorite Great Ohio Lodge getaways:
10 Exciting Things To Do While Staying At Salt Fork Lake Cabins
5 Cool Things To See at The Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Ohio
The Perfect Last-Minute Ohio Getaway To Shawnee Lodge
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