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Short answer: Three days on the North Shore: Duluth’s Canal Park on day one, Split Rock Lighthouse on day two, and a long day to Grand Portage National Monument, which the National Park Service puts about 150 miles northeast of Duluth. In winter Split Rock is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and Grand Portage’s Historic Depot is closed.
- 3Days
- 20 miSplit Rock north of Two Harbors, per MNHS
- 150 miGrand Portage northeast of Duluth, per NPS
- $0Grand Portage entry
How we checked: the guides linked under each day. All read on November 3, 2026. Hours, prices, rules and closures change, so check the named agency or business before you rely on them. Anything we could not read is marked Not confirmed where it appears. Order and facts come from the official pages named on each linked guide; we give no time estimates and no drive times here. For measured road times use our drive times page. Winter driving on Highway 61 can close roads; read the winter driving answer and check 511mn.org the morning you go. General guidance on this page is labelled as general guidance. This is not safety, medical or legal advice; where a safety or legal rule appears, the quoted words are the official source’s own.
Day 1: Duluth
- WaterfrontCanal Park: the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Lakewalk and the Maritime Visitor Center (Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. per its association).
- EatEat near Canal Park
- AlsoOur two-day Duluth plan adds the railroad museum, a freighter and Glensheen, from earlier readings.
Day 2: Split Rock
- DriveSplit Rock is 20 miles north of Two Harbors, off Highway 61.
- LighthouseSplit Rock Lighthouse: winter hours Monday and Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $8 grounds pass; closed Tuesday and Wednesday through January 4, 2027.
- Also nearGooseberry Falls and the state park; park hours Not confirmed
Day 3: Grand Portage
- MonumentGrand Portage National Monument: free; winter Heritage Center 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Sundays and federal holidays.
- OrA Boundary Waters trip needs a permit; see permits and fees from Ely.
Dress for The Month
- Layers and daylightSee Minnesota Weather By Month for Grand Marais, Duluth and Ely normals and daylight.
What We Could Not Confirm
- Drive timesSee the drive times page; we state none here. Not confirmed
- Lakeshore road conditions on your date. Not confirmed
- Great Lakes Aquarium hours and prices. Not confirmed
- Time on site for any stop. Not confirmed
Keep Planning
Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “North Shore in Three Days: Duluth, Split Rock and Grand Portage”, itsminnesota.com/itineraries/north-shore-in-three-days/ (updated ). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.