5 Of The Best Cheap Hotels Near Cedar Point

Located in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point has been all about big rides, big fun, and even bigger screams throughout its 150-plus-year history. Dubbed the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" — and hailed as one of the best amusement parks in the United States — the park boasts a whopping 68 rides (18 of which are roller coasters) that draw millions of visitors each year. From the towering Steel Vengeance to the classic Blue Streak, Cedar Point's lineup is as wild as it is varied — which makes it a top pick for thrill-seekers and families alike in the Midwest.

However, finding the right accommodation can make the difference between a smooth trip and a headache — especially if you're traveling as a family or couple. After all, even though staying near the park generally means you'll have a better time maximizing your fun, most of Cedar Point's official hotels can ultimately be incredibly pricey and crowded — especially during peak season.

Luckily, the area surrounding Cedar Point also offers a variety of more affordable options that won't necessarily skimp on the basics or put a dent in your wallet. And, after digging through tons of guest feedback and online booking agents, we picked out a solid selection of cheap hotels near Cedar Point to fit different budgets and needs. Because whether you're looking for a basic place to crash after a long day at the park or a more spacious set-up for you and your family, there's an option for you out there.

Kicking off our list of the best cheap hotels near Cedar Point is the park's official Express Hotel. Hear us out: we know we said that staying inside the park isn't always a cheap option. However, considering its amenities and location, Cedar Point's Express Hotel still manages to offer good value and convenience while staying within the limits of a pretty reasonable budget.

Located just 2 miles from the park, the Express Hotel is a top choice for families that offers everything from an on-site children's playground to spacious rooms, an outdoor pool, and access to Early Access tickets to the amusement park (included in your package). With an 8.1 rating on Booking.com, as well as more than 600 reviews to back it up, Cedar Point's Express Hotel seems to be a popular pick for families who are a little more budget-conscious, but still want to enjoy all of the perks of staying just a stone's throw from all of the rides.

As for pricing, a two-night stay at the Express Hotel will set you back around $650 after taxes for a queen room if you book directly through its website. It also offers the option to add a $30 parking voucher, as well as dining packages, jet ski rentals, and more. Over on Booking.com, the same stay will cost around $600. However, the site makes no mention of early access benefits, so book with caution!

Away from the park — although just an 8-mile drive from all of the action — the Best Western Plus Sandusky Hotel and Suites was fully renovated in 2019 to provide guests with a fresh and more modern experience. Equipped with a 24-hour reception, as well as an on-site gym, nearby dining options, and laundry facilities, the Best Western Plus is a great option if you're hoping to cut back on costs and still have a comfortable stay.

Unlike the Cedar Point Express Hotel, however, staying at the Best Western Plus doesn't come with any additional perks — think early access or the option to purchase park add-ons ahead of time directly through your reservation.

In terms of rating, the hotel currently scores a 7.7 on Booking.com with nearly 600 reviews from guests, a lot of whom agree that the location is ideal for a Cedar Point visit. As for booking a room for a non-refundable, two-night stay over the weekend, the official Best Western website lists a suite at $567, while Booking.com currently has the same room and dates available for $578. This ultimately comes out to a roughly $100 difference with Cedar Point's Express Hotel — so whether or not it's worth it for the longer drive (and no pool for the kids) is totally up to you!

A breezy 8-mile drive from Cedar Point, the Hampton Inn Sandusky is a centrally located option for couples and small families to enjoy the best of Cedar Point and the rest of Sandusky's nearby attractions, like the popular Kalahari Water Park. Offering free buffet breakfast, as well as access to a heated pool, fitness center, secure parking, and even some pet-friendly rooms, the hotel covers all the basics and more.

Similarly to the Best Western Plus, the Hampton Inn doesn't provide guests with the option to add-on any park tickets or packages. However, these are still available to purchase online through a separate booking. Along with its convenient location, the Hampton Inn also seems to be a popular choice for Redditors on r/cedarpoint looking to save some cash. In fact, a handful of users claim this property — along with a few other hotel chain options — is a great pick if you're not looking to pay extra for the official accommodations.

Price-wise, the Hampton Inn Sandusky has different listings available for a queen room depending on your preferences. Specifically, the non-refundable member's rate is currently set at $400 for a two-night weekend stay, while Booking.com has it listed for around the same price. With an 8.2 rating on the platform, it's a solid choice for the budget-conscious. Compared to Cedar Point's Express Hotel, the difference is about $260.

Another hidden gem just 10 miles from Cedar Point, Comfort Inn River's Edge — located in the town of Huron — was recommended by Redditor u/Yttam1013 as "reasonably priced and a safe/clean area". Which, let's be honest, is all you want when you'll be spending most of your time at the park anyway.

Quaint and basic, and located along the Huron River, the Comfort Inn is equipped with a heated pool, sun deck, picnic area, on-site restaurant, free breakfast, and more. Although it's technically one of the farthest hotels on the list, venturing further away from Cedar Point also means you get to enjoy an added touch of peace and scenic views that doesn't necessarily break the bank.

A two-night stay at the Comfort Inn River's Edge — which currently holds an 8.0 rating on Booking.com, along with more than 600 reviews — will set you back $427 for a non-refundable Double room if you book directly through the Choice Hotels website (the parent brand of Comfort Inn). On Booking.com, the same type of room is also available for $433. If you decide to choose this option, you'll be saving roughly $219 on your stay compared to Cedar Point's Express Hotel.

Last, but definitely not least, there's the Quality Inn & Suites Sandusky. A 9-mile drive from Cedar Point, the Quality Inn & Suites is well-equipped for a comfortable and budget-friendly stay. Preferred by families traveling together, the hotel boasts an indoor pool, BBQ facilities, an on-site gym, and free breakfast.

Similarly to the Comfort Inn — they both fall under the Choice Hotels umbrella — the Quality Inn & Suites Sandusky is a top pick if you don't want to overspend and would rather stay and budget a little more sensibly. With easy access to Cedar Point and the Kalahari Water Park, there shouldn't be anything holding you back from enjoying a day exploring Cedar Point's best family-friendly rides while still keeping your wallet (and kids) happy.

For the best rate, the Choice Hotels website currently has the queen room listed at $419 for a two-night stay over the weekend. Meanwhile, Booking.com, which rates the hotel at 7.9 with more than 350 reviews, has the same room priced at $475. This ultimately means that the Quality Inn & Suites will be around $230 cheaper than Cedar Point's Express Hotel.

In order to evaluate these five hotels, we hit up some of the most popular travel websites and booking engines — from TripAdvisor to Booking.com and Expedia — looking for key factors such as reviews, ratings, amenities, distance from the park, and cost-to-value ratio. To begin our comparison, we selected the same date range (Friday, August 9th to Sunday, August 11th, 2024) for a hypothetical family of three — two parents and a 10-year old child — to stay at different accommodation options we'd found online and on social media. Once we'd found the average price per stay for a similar room, we then compared the amenities and guest feedback for each one, narrowing down the results even further and focusing on the top-rated budget options.

This ultimately made it easier to take into account what previous guests were saying with our own research, and put together a curated list that didn't just focus on price, but also considered comfort, distance from Cedar Point, and overall value for money.