Road Trip along Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive

Aug 22, 2024

Today’s road trip guide is all about the Minnesota North Shore Scenic Drive! Running from Duluth Minnesota to the border of Canada at Grand Portage, there’s so much to see and do along the way. Add this beautiful drive to your bucket list road trip destinations if you love beautiful beaches, miles of glistening lakes, small town charm, lots of fishing, and general maritime excitement. What are you waiting for? Hop in your new car from Classic and let’s explore these great American towns together!

Got a favorite spot along the North Shore that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments section and we might include it in a future blog update!

Begin Your Journey in Duluth and enjoy the ship watching!

We’re starting off strong with two budget friendly activities that cost exactly “Free-Ninety-Nine!” Yep, that’s right, $0 entertainment right from the get-go, it doesn’t get any better! First, stop near the Aerial Lift Bridge so you can check out the 1000-Footers and oceanbound ships that pass through the harbor. It is quite a sight to see when the bridge rises up to its full height in less than a minute! Then head on over to the Lake Superior Maritime Museum to check out the history of these impressive boats as well as lifesize replicas of a ship’s cabin, pilot house, and steam engine.

Just a short drive away from the bridge and museum, head over to the beautiful Brighton Beach with cobblestone shores, or Park Point for traditional sandy beaches. Enjoy some shipwatching, wading for gemstones, a beautiful picnic lunch, and some relaxation. Continuing on our quest for beautiful lake views, check out McQuade Harbor Rest Area for an opportunity to BYO Kayak, boat or canoe, and do a little fishing to enjoy the sunshine. Blue Bird Landing Beach is another few miles further, and offers an opportunity to do some trout and salmon fishing as well as whale watching!

Make a stop in Larsmont and Two Harbors and check out the lighthouses!

We recommend stopping for a little overnight rest at the Larsmont Cottages on Lake Superior resort in one of the charming cabins with scenic views. While you’re in town, take a little visit to the Little Red Schoolhouse, a historic building and community center for the local area. It makes for some truly picturesque photos.

A mere 5 miles away from the schoolhouse you’ll find the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota, the Two Harbors Lighthouse. Take a tour of the Fog Horn Building, learn about shipwrecks, and learn more about local history. Once you’re done with the lighthouse, you can head over to the Sonju Trail from Agate Bay to Burlington Bay and enjoy the Railroad Depot Museum, the Two Harbors Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop, observe the working iron ore docks, and enjoy a picnic lunch.

When you’re done touring, you simply must visit Gooseberry Falls State Park; marvel at the spectacular 4-level waterfalls, lush scenic overlooks, top notch fishing, birding, trails to hike through the woods, and some all around top-tier immersion in the great outdoors! Then it’s on to the next beachside location, the gorgeous Iona’s Beach Scientific & Natural Area featuring a truly magnificent site: a pink rhyolite beach! Please note that there are strict rules for recreational activities here, in order to protect local wildlife and plants, so be mindful. Then meander over to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park for some more hiking, biking, and sightseeing including the historic Split Rock Lighthouse.

Onwards to Beaver Bay for shopping, snacks, history, and hiking!

Outdoorsy folks will enjoy exploring the granite cliffs of Palisade Head with incredible views of Lake Superior and lots of options for rock climbing, as well as a short walk to appreciate the impressive views of the nearby Beaver Falls and Beaver River. Black Beach offers a truly memorable site with its taconite crushed rock shores and nearby agate beach for some gem hunting; as of 2020 there’s also a new campground nearby.

Head downtown for a bite to eat, a little R&R at the local spas, and shopping for souvenirs at places like the Beaver Bay Agate Shop, Second Hand Rose Gift Shop, The Cedar Chest, Shipwrecked Gift Shop, Skipping Rocks Shop, Christmas-Up-North, Quilt Corner, and more.

Shuffle on over to Shroeder to explore state parks and nature centers and the surrounding area!

Visiting Sugarloaf Cove provides another unique experience along the North Shore. This craggy rock nature trail takes you along some unique geological formations as you walk across billion-year old lava! There is an Interpretive Center with exhibits, artifacts, and historical displays about the area, and the site is a Scientific and Natural Area. We also recommend stopping by the Cross River Heritage Center, Father Braga’s Cross area, and Temperance River State Park. There are plenty of opportunities in this area for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and more.

Only a few miles away is the unique “ghost town” of Taconite Harbor; once home to families working the local Erie Mining docks and power plants, it has since been abandoned and left to the elements. You can follow down the road south of Highway 61 and take in the sites on your way to a small outdoor exhibit chronicling the area’s history and lore. You can also stop at the nearby Shore Commercial Fishing Museum to learn more about the local Scandanavian settlers and fishing traditions before you hit the road again.

Let’s take a look at Lutsen’s gorgeous mountains, state parks, and historic spots.

Make sure you stop by Lockport Marketplace and Deli for a Bite to eat, and grab a few bottles of wine from North Shore Winery.

Experience the Midwest’s only true mountain ski experience in the winter, beautiful views of mountain wildflowers and verdant green hills in spring and summer, and blazing autumnal colors during the autumn at Lutsen Mountains. The Gondola Ride takes you up to the top of the summit, and as an added bonus it is also dog friendly (though they can’t go inside the Summit Chalet restaurant). The four interconnected peaks provide unmatched views of Lake Superior! The nearby Cascade River State Park has plenty of hiking trails, camping, mountain biking, and more, as well as being a prime local spot for photography.

Get out and stretch your legs in Grand Marais for hiking, biking, and more!

Bike or hike along the Gitchi-Gami state trail in downtown Grand Marais, and do some agate hunting and enjoy a picnic lunch at Cut Face Creek Rest Side Area. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a local favorite for its canoeing water trails and gorgeous views. Take a walk out onto the lake at Artist’s Point island and enjoy the nearby cobblestone beaches and the Grand Marais Lighthouse. Want to catch some of the migrating whales? Then you’ll also want to make sure you stop by Five Mile Rock about 6 miles away. The local Grand Marais RV Park and Municipal Campgrounds offers the absolutely beautiful Sweetheart’s Bluff trailhead for gorgeous wooded hiking and glacial carved basalt rock areas, and views of the local harbor. Pincushion Mountain REcreation Area is located along the Gunflint Trail, or you can opt for the Superior Hiking Trail for some serious mountain biking and scenic overlooks!

Do some shopping downtown at Sivertson’s Gallery, Lake Superior Trading Post, Drury Lane Books, Dappled Fern Fibers, The Sweetwater Co, and more, as well as plenty of local coffee shops and restaurants for a bite to eat.