Escape to the Minnesota North Shore | A Family-Friendly Itinerary

The Minnesota North Shore is one of those Midwest destinations that truly feels like an escape. Located along Lake Superior and about six hours from the Des Moines area, it’s filled with incredible scenery, waterfalls, hiking trails, charming small towns, local restaurants, and plenty of opportunities to slow down and explore.

Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a girls’ getaway, a couples trip, or a weekend adventure with friends, the North Shore has a little bit of everything. It’s one of my favorite Midwest road trip destinations, and a place I think everyone should experience at least once.

Below, I’m sharing an itinerary filled with some of our favorite stops along Minnesota’s North Shore. I’ve listed everything from south to north, making it easy to customize depending on where you’re staying and how many days you have to explore.

Minnesota, North Shore, Minnesota North Shore, Midwest Travel, road trip, Black Beach, Duluth, Canal Park, Split Rock Lighthouse, Grand Marais

Where to Stay

Black Beach Campground

Where to stay!? This truly depends on where you want to end up on the North Shore Scenic Drive. Several small towns along this drive offer small hotels and campgrounds. When we made our visit as a family, we camped in Silver Bay, Minnesota, at Black Beach Campground. Silver Bay is about 60 minutes north of Duluth and about 90 minutes south of Grand Portage (near the Canada border). I found Silver Bay to be the perfect sweet spot! Black Beach Campground was also great; it is newer, offers nice shower/bathroom facilities, and is near the famous Black Beach.

The Carriage House on Lake Superior

This was the perfect place to stay for our girls’ getaway. It is located right in Duluth along the North Shore. Each morning you can wake up with beautiful views of Lake Superior, access to kayaking, clean and modern amenities, a full kitchen, fireplace, and more. It was a great home base after a day of exploring. You can book The Carriage House on Airbnb here.

Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth, Minnesota is a beautiful city located right along Lake Superior’s North Shore and is best known for being a seaport. If you have younger children, they will LOVE to see all the boats and large ships come in and out of the port. Along with seeing all the boats, there are several fun attractions to visit.

Canal Park

Canal Park is the hub of fun restaurants and attractions in Duluth. If you are looking to get close to the water and see all the ships, head to the Duluth Lakewalk & Boardwalk. We enjoyed following this loop, which also included very large rocks to climb on, benches along the way, the lift bridge, memorials, and more.

Lake Superior Maritime Museum

The Lake Superior Maritime Museum is located on the Duluth Lakewalk and is free! This museum offers several exhibits and programs, replicas of cabins and pilothouses from ships, interactive displays (the kids loved!), and tons of history of the Duluth Ship Canal.

William A. Irvin Floating Ship Museum

This was such a fun museum and tour! The William A. Irvin Floating Ship Museum tour is self-guided with several stops along the way where you can ask questions and take in history from guides. It was fun to board a large ship, take a look inside, and learn how crews worked years ago. Tours last about 45 minutes, and it is a paid attraction.

Vista Fleet Boat Tours

If you are looking to get on Lake Superior and experience going through the Duluth Ship Canal, book a Vista Fleet Boat Tour. They offer several tours, some of which include dinner. We chose the 1-hour 45-minute Sightseeing Tour, which was perfect for our entire family. Vista Fleet offers snacks and drinks on the ship. I would recommend packing your own snacks, as the line gets super long for drinks and snacks. Get there early to stand in line so you can get a good spot when you board the boat.

Food

Duluth offers so many great restaurants, and if you are planning to spend the day there, you will probably need a good restaurant recommendation. These are some popular ones!

Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse is a must-visit while visiting the Minnesota North Shore. This attraction is located in Twin Harbors just north of Duluth. This is a fun place to learn how a lighthouse works, why a lighthouse was important, and what the jobs of the workers were. The visitor center offers fun interactive displays that the kids enjoyed, an opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse, and tours through old historic buildings. Pack your hiking shoes, because there is a trail to the bottom of the lighthouse which has tons of rocks to climb and play on!

Gooseberry Falls

Gooseberry Falls State Park offers several waterfalls and hiking trails to explore. There are trails for all capabilities, including paved, wheelchair accessible, and hiking. This park does tend to fill up and get busy. Make sure you plan to arrive early!

Black Beach

Black Beach, located in Silver Bay, Minnesota, used to be a private beach. Just a few years ago, they opened this one-of-a-kind Midwest beach to the public, and it is a must. The black sand is what makes this beach so unique, but the rocks and views are worth it too. Make sure you wear your swimsuit. Although the lake was super cold, our kids did not care and enjoyed jumping and splashing in the water.

Tettegouche State Park

Pack your swimsuits and head to Tettegouche State Park along the Minnesota North Shore. You will not want to miss Below High Falls. The hike to the waterfall is moderately difficult, and if you have young kids, I would recommend paying the small fee to park closer to the falls to cut the hiking length. The trail is fun and includes beautiful views above the falls and a suspension bridge to cross. Once you get to the bottom of the falls, you will not want to leave. Pack a picnic and spend time swimming and climbing the rocks.

Superior National Forest

You will enter the Superior National Forest once you head north of Tettegouche State Park along the North Shore Scenic Drive. If your family loves to collect National Passport Stamps, make sure you grab this one. You will drive by a couple of visitor centers that you can stop at to get your stamp. There are also several hiking trailheads. Make a stop and do some exploring!

Grand Marais

Grand Marais was my favorite spot along the Minnesota North Shore. I quickly fell in love with this small town, its food, and its views. Our main reason for the visit was a hike on Artist’s Point, which is the name of the small peninsula that forms the double harbor. While walking the path, be very careful as it is very narrow, and there are no railings. The kids could have spent hours there climbing the rocks, and the views are breathtaking.

Grand Portage State Park

Grand Portage State Park is located on the United States and Canada border. There is a one-half-mile trail to Minnesota’s highest waterfall. It is paved with very gentle elevation changes. Take some time to put your feet in the Pigeon River, which serves as the border between the United States and Canada.

Add These Stops to Your List!

One of the best parts about exploring Duluth and Minnesota’s North Shore is all the little stops you discover along the way. From cozy coffee shops and local bookstores to breweries, cocktails, incredible food, scenic adventures, and small businesses, there’s always something worth pulling over for. Add a few of these favorites to your North Shore itinerary, or save the whole list for your next trip!