Duluth

Duluth is a city of about 86,000 people (2018) in northern Minnesota. It is one of the most scenic cities in the Midwest.

Understand


Duluth has always been a shipping town: first for furs, later for iron ore, timber, and grain. As a shipping and milling town, Duluth once had the most millionaires per capita in the United States. This is still reflected in the large number of mansions in the east end of town. Ocean-going vessels come up the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes to Duluth Harbor. Since these "salties" go through the locks, they are smaller than the native "lakers" that stay within the Great Lakes. Ships under many flags, including Nigeria, Greece, and Denmark, frequently dock in Duluth to pick up grain and coal for overseas markets. Iron-ore and taconite still go to Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania for processing into steel.

Built largely on a 700-foot (215-m) hill overlooking Lake Superior, Duluth also has a thriving tourism industry, with antique shops, excellent restaurants, cozy inns, and scenic views of the lake. There is a ski resort inside city limits. Canal Park and Superior Street have the highest concentrations of tourist destinations in the city. The famous Aerial Lift Bridge is on Lake Avenue, next to Canal Park. Particularly proud residents liken the city to San Francisco, which also has bridges, hills, a bay, and a thriving tourist business. The renowned Grandma's Marathon is held annually, named after Grandma's Saloon (restaurant) in Canal Park. The University of Minnesota-Duluth and St. Scholastica College are the two largest colleges in the city with over 12,000 students together.

Duluth is the western endpoint of the scenic North Shore Drive, which follows the rugged north coast of Lake Superior nearly 700 miles (1,120 km) to Sault Ste Marie (Ontario). Across the bay is Superior, Wisconsin.

Climate
Set on deep Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, Duluth can be cool or cold anytime of year. The official temperatures are reported from the airport, over the hill, and can be ten or more degrees (Fahrenheit) above the downtown temperatures. Sixties (about 18°C) for a high in August are not uncommon, but it can reach the 80s (about 28°C) just as easily. Bitter windchills can occur in the winter, although air temperatures generally do not go below -20°F (-29°C). Despite this, some people bike to work year-round. The temperatures can also change very rapidly, especially near the lake: a wind switch can be accompanied by a temperature drop of 30 degrees (F) in a couple of minutes.

Visitor information
Visit Duluth operates two visitor information centers:

By car
Duluth is about a 2½-hour drive north of the Twin Cities on Interstate 35. A driver entering Duluth on I-35 from the Twin Cities will be rewarded by a spectacular view of Duluth laid bare in the valley and Lake Superior into the horizon. Travelers not familiar with Duluth may be surprised at how elevated the surrounding hills are. The international airport sits at an elevation of 1,427 feet. After long hours of relatively flat scenery, the view is a treat, especially during peak fall colors. The highway then descends at a steep grade just to the east of downtown; Exit 256B is the recommended exit for most downtown attractions.

By plane
. Offering daily non-stop service to Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Detroit and Chicago. In addition service is offered occasionally and sometimes seasonally to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Orlando.

Airlines serving Duluth International Airport:


 * Sun Country Airlines
 * Delta Air Lines
 * United Airlines

By bus
Duluth is served by Jefferson Lines. The main bus terminal is the at 228 W Michigan St in downtown Duluth; Jefferson Lines also stops at the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Skyline shuttle runs 10 times a day between the Minneapolis-St Paul airport and Duluth downtown Radisson hotel. Landline Bus Service runs several direct shuttles a day between Minneapolis and Duluth Miller Mall and the airport.

By boat
Duluth-Superior (WI) is an international seaport, by way of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and while the taconite industry has dropped way off from the Iron Range, timber is still shipped by boat. Cruise ships that travel the Great Lakes have Duluth as a stop on their itineraries.

By car
Driving is probably the best option for getting around Duluth. The city generally does not have any traffic problems, although it can get congested in Canal Park.

The city is built on a rather steep hill, so if you travel around anywhere other than downtown or I-35, make sure your brakes are in good order. It can be slushy in the winter as the road crews typically put down salt first, then plow the roads when traffic is lighter. However, being on the west side of the lake, Duluth doesn't normally receive the large lake-effect snowfalls, $$ is the normal snowstorm.

US Highway 53 crosses from Wisconsin to the south to the Iron Range in the north, and will take you to Miller Hill Mall, on top of the hill on the west side. US Highway 2 runs east-west. Keep in mind that the majority of the city is laid out in a grid based on the Lake Superior shoreline. This is about 45 degrees off of true north, however the residents refer to east/west streets running parallel to the lake, and north/south avenues that are perpendicular to the lake. Lake Avenue is considered to be the dividing line between east and west.

By bus/taxi
Public bus and trolley services are operated by the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA).

Uber and Lyft drivers are often available throughout the Twin Ports area.

Allied Taxi and SK Taxi  offer transportation within the city limits and into Wisconsin as well.

By bike
The Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council has made a bike map for the Twin Ports area.

Scooter rental is available from multiple vendors, including Leaf.

Museums

 * (The William A. Irvin is dry-docked for repair as of October 2018.)
 * (The William A. Irvin is dry-docked for repair as of October 2018.)
 * (The William A. Irvin is dry-docked for repair as of October 2018.)
 * (The William A. Irvin is dry-docked for repair as of October 2018.)

Do
Duluth is filled with plenty of activities for people of all ages. Canal Park is a tourist district on the lakefront filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels. Some of Canal Park's attractions include a 4.2-mile long lakewalk, a lighthouse pier, the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, the Great Lakes Aquarium, and the William A. Irvin floating ship museum. Those interested in boats will also enjoy watching vessels from around the world enter Duluth's port. Travel the bricked streets in Downtown Duluth and enjoy the historic architecture that defines the city. Walk down Bob Dylan Way (Michigan St, Superior St and London Rd) and celebrate the continuing commitment to supporting local art and local artists.

Sports & recreation

 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.
 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.
 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.
 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.
 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.
 * Bike! Duluth has 45 miles of single track trails for the mountain bike enthusiast and many paved trails and bike routes for bikers and hikers.

Buy


Canal Park is an excellent place to kick off a shopping trip. Plenty of stores line the streets and are close together and easy to walk between. Other great shops can be found throughout downtown Duluth and scattered throughout local shopping centers.

Eat
There are plenty of restaurants throughout Duluth. Canal Park is home to restaurants and cafes you wouldn't find anywhere else in the world, plus popular chains such as Famous Dave's, Old Chicago, and Red Lobster.

Stay safe
Dial 911 for emergencies.

Connect
Duluth, along with the airport and its surrounding towns and suburbs (except Superior) are in the 218 area code.

Publications

 * Duluth News Tribune. Duluth's daily newspaper.
 * BusinessNorth. Business newspaper for northeastern Minnesota.
 * Perfect Duluth Day. Alternative Duluth blog.

Hospitals
St. Luke's, 915 E 1st St. For more than 25 years, St. Luke's has provided advanced trauma and emergency care to people in a 17-county region.

St. Mary's Medical Center, 407 E 3rd St. St. Mary’s Medical Center is the largest hospital in northern Minnesota and is nationally recognized for clinical excellence and Top 100 heart care.

Go next

 * Pine City is just a little over an hour's drive south on I-35. Great small town!
 * Set off for a camping/canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
 * Drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior along 'Scenic 61'
 * Bike the Willard Munger trail (over 100 km / 70 miles between Duluth and Hinckley)
 * Across the bay is Superior, Wisconsin.
 * Travel south on I-35 to the Twin Cities metropolitan area
 * Split Rock Lighthouse (40 miles north). Wonderful lighthouse built around 1910.  There were no roads at the time so they hauled all material by boat and lifted it to the top of the cliff.