10 Tips to Plan Your North Shore Drive in Minnesota This Fall
Every fall, a good share of the cars we look after point themselves north. The North Shore scenic drive up Highway 61 is one of those trips Minnesotans grow up taking and keep coming back to, because there is so much to do and see. You can spend a lifetime taking it in.
We're an auto shop in St. Paul, not a travel company, but we know this road for two main reasons. First, it’s the drive a lot of us make ourselves in September and October. Second, we get calls when something goes sideways for folks on the way up, or back down.
We’ve gathered our recommendations as Minnesotans on when to take your trip, which stops to build your trip around, and how to make sure your car is road-trip-ready before you go.
A long fall drive is a lot easier on a car that's properly maintained. If you're not sure when your last oil change was, learn how to know when you’re due for one
Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive: What to Know Before You Go
The North Shore Scenic Drive is about 150 miles of Highway 61, running from Duluth up to Grand Portage at the Canadian border. It's designated an All-American Road, the top tier of the national scenic byway system, and not a label handed out lightly. You follow Highway 61 the whole way, so navigation is simple: point the car north out of Duluth and stay on it.
You could drive it straight through, but nobody does it that way, and you shouldn't either. The incredible sights along the way are the whole point, so pack snacks, buckle up, and plan to take your sweet time.
10 Tips for Your North Shore Road Trip(From Real Minnesotans)
There are more things to do on the North Shore than any one trip can hold, so here's what we'd actually build a fall drive around. Some of the best spots aren't marked by much more than a small sign or a gravel pullout, so it helps to know they're coming.
Here are our 10 best tips for your drive along Minnesota’s north shore this fall:
- Go When the Fall Colors Are Actually Peaking on Lake Superior
- Make Sure Your Car Is Ready for Highway 61
- Stop in at Duluth for Food and Sights on the Way Up
- North Shore State Parks: Plan to Visit More Than One Along the Way
- Pick Up Pies or Pints (or Both) in Two Harbors
- Explore the Pink and Black Beaches. Yes, Even In the Fall.
- Take a Gondola Ride in Lutsen
- Carve Out Time for Exploring Waterfalls
- Make the Most of Grand Marais
- Save New Scenic Cafe for the Drive Home
1. Go When the Fall Colors Are Actually Peaking on Lake Superior
The most reliable window to see fall colors is the last week of September into the first week of October. Timing shifts year to year and region to region, so if you'd rather plan around the current season, the Minnesota DNR keeps a Fall Color Finder that tracks where the color is and predicts how it'll progress through September and October.
One thing to plan for: it gets cold up there earlier than it does in the Cities, and the weather turns fast. Pack layers even if the forecast looks mild. You’ll be glad for the extra sweaters.
2. Make Sure Your Car Is Ready for Highway 61
You're about to drive into the North Woods where the towns get farther apart, cell service goes from spotty to nonexistent, and there's no repair shop waiting once you're north of Duluth. That's part of what makes the drive feel remote and wonderful, and it's exactly why your car needs to be in good shape before you go.
A pre-trip check covers the basics:
- Tires and tread
- Brakes
- Fluids
- Battery
Any shakes or knocking sounds you've been noticing are worth checking out before you go. Better to sort them in the shop than on the shoulder in a remote stretch, hours into your trip.
At Lancer, our goal is never to sell you a repair you don’t need. If everything checks out, we’ll let you know so you can head out knowing your car is up for the journey.
3. Stop in at Duluth for Food and Sights on the Way Up
Start in Canal Park. Down on the water, there's a lighthouse you can walk out to and watch ships come in and wait to pass under the Aerial Lift Bridge, a classic Duluth landmark. There are tons of shops and restaurants to explore.
We highly recommend getting lunch at Northern Waters Smokehaus. Canal Park is a good place to fuel up, stretch, and get your bearings before hitting the open road.
4. North Shore State Parks: Plan to Visit More Than One Along the Way
The north shore is dotted with the most beautiful of Minnesota’s state parks, and a couple are located near the beginning of the route. A state park pass gets you into all of them, so if you're hitting more than one, grab a day or annual pass and keep it on the dash.
- Gooseberry Falls State Park: The most popular and most accessible, with waterfalls right off the parking area
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park: The famous one on the cliff, only about 6 miles up from Gooseberry
- Tettegouche State Park: Known for its hiking and waterfalls
5. Pick Up Pies or Pints (or Both) in Two Harbors
About 28 miles up the road from Duluth is Two Harbors, where you'll find Betty's Pies , a required stop. It's been there since 1957, and it's exactly as good as everyone says.
Two Harbors is also home to Castle Danger Brewery, a name Minnesotans know and love. The taproom sits in a beautiful space right by the water, and we suggest visiting. Grab a pint, take in the view, and cover both halves of the pies-and-pints equation before the next stretch of driving.
6. Explore the Pink and Black Beaches. Yes, even in the fall.
You may be surprised to see a beach visit on this list, but there’s a reason we suggest it for your fall road trip. At this time of year, they won’t be as busy, and you get a unique view of the fall leaves along the shore of Lake Superior.
Keep an eye out for Iona's Beach, a crescent-shaped beach with pink rocks covering the beach that's easy to miss from the road. Farther up in Silver Bay is Black Beach, a dark, dramatic shoreline that looks like nowhere else in Minnesota.
7. Take a Gondola Ride in Lutsen
Lutsen is one of the best-known downhill skiing destinations in the Midwest. Although you certainly won’t be skiing in the early fall, the landscape provides an entirely different draw. Ride the gondola up into the hills for an unmatched view of the fall colors that stretch as far as you can see.
8. Carve Out Time for Exploring Waterfalls
The North Shore has more waterfalls than you can count, but we happen to have some favorites. Cascade River State Park has a waterfall you can reach right from a Highway 61 pullout. You can walk the trails and see it without entering the park or paying the fee, which makes it one of the most accessible falls on the whole drive. If you want more, head deeper into the park for five more notable falls and plenty of smaller ones.
Another easy one to reach is at the Cut Face Creek Wayside at mile marker 104, where you can see the Fall River waterfall from the Gitchi-Gami Trail.
The final waterfall you must not miss is Devil's Kettle, in Judge C.R. Magney State Park. This one is a real gem. It's a one-mile hike each way, two miles round trip, along the Brule River to a cascade that pours over volcanic rock and splits into two pools.
9. Make the Most of Grand Marais
Grand Marais is the arts-and-harbor town at the top of most people's drive. For food, the Angry Trout Cafe and the Fisherman's Daughter are both good calls. If you're the type to plan ahead, the North House Folk School runs classes worth building a trip around, mostly geared toward adults.
You’ll also find excellent art galleries and great local shopping perched right on a beautiful stretch of lakeshore. After checking out the local shops, take a few more steps to see sweeping views of Lake Superior, scramble around Artist’s Point, and explore the Grand Marais Lighthouse.
10. Save New Scenic Cafe for the Drive Home
On the way back down toward Duluth, the New Scenic Cafe is a great dinner spot to close out the trip. It's a small space that books up fast, so make a reservation in advance and time your return so you roll in hungry.
Driving onvthe North Shore: Weather, Wildlife, and Cell Service
There are a few key things to know before you go, whether you've driven the shore before or not:
- The weather turns fast. It can be sunny in Duluth and cold and gray by Grand Marais. Dress in layers, always.
- Watch for deer, and up north, the occasional moose. Dawn and dusk are riskiest, so drive safely, be on the lookout, and use your brights when you can.
- Cell service drops out in long stretches, especially past Two Harbors. Download your maps (and your music) for offline use before you leave.
- Gas and food thin out the farther north you go. Fill up in Duluth or Two Harbors and don't let the tank get low betting on the next town.
- Drive slower than you think you need to. Half the best stops are marked by nothing more than a small sign, and you'll miss them at highway speed.
Headed Up North From the Cities? Visit Lancer Before You Go
Give your car the once-over before you go. A pre-trip check means you spend the drive watching for the next overlook instead of listening for the next strange noise.
And if you're coming through the Twin Cities on your way north, we're an easy stop before the highway opens up. Save our number just in case: (651) 224-0267
We've been keeping St. Paul's cars on the road since 1977. No pressure, no upsell. We'll tell you what needs attention before your trip and what's fine to leave alone.
Book your appointment online and get on the road with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About the North Shore Drive
Where Is Minnesota's North Shore?
Lake Superior sits on the northern U.S.-Canada border. On the U.S. side, it touches Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Wisconsin and Michigan shorelines are referred to as the ‘South Shore’, while the Minnesota portion is the ‘North Shore’.
How Long Is the North Shore Scenic Drive?
The drive is about 150 miles of Highway 61, running from Duluth up to Grand Portage at the Canadian border. Driven straight through with no stops, it's a little under three hours one way.
How Many Days Should a Trip to the North Shore Last?
It’s really up to you. You could tackle the round trip in one long day and take in some beautiful scenery from the car. Two or three days let the trip breathe, and driving back down the same road gives you a second shot at the things you missed on the way up.
If you want time to explore and take it easy, make a weekend or more out of it. You will need to book lodging ahead. Look at when colors peaked in the previous season to get a reasonable time frame for your trip.
How Do I Get My Car Ready for the North Shore Drive?
Start with the basics: tires and tread, brakes, fluids, and battery. If you've been ignoring a shake, a pull, or a new noise, get it looked at now rather than on the shoulder hours from home.
Do this a week or two before you leave, not the morning of, so there's time to fix anything that turns up.
Will the Cold Weather Up North Affect My Car?
It can. Fall comes early on the North Shore, and overnight lows near freezing can pull down your tire pressure and trigger your TPMS light or make your battery work harder to start.
If your battery is a few years old and slow to crank, have it tested before the trip. Check your tire pressure once you're up there.
Better yet, let us know before you head out and we'll set your pressure a little above spec so it lands right once the cold pulls it down. We start doing this automatically in the fall, but let us know about your road trip plans so we can set you up for success.
What Should I Do if My Car Has Trouble North of Duluth?
Services get farther apart and cell coverage drops the farther north you go, so a little prep goes a long way.
- Know what your roadside assistance covers before you leave (your insurance, your automaker's app, or an auto club like AAA)
- Keep the tank above a quarter, and download offline maps in case you lose signal
- A basic kit in the trunk, like a blanket, water, a flashlight, and jumper cables
And if you've got a signal and it's during our business hours, give us a call at (651) 224-0267. We can talk through what you're seeing and whether it's worth dealing with now or fine to wait until you're home. Sometimes that call is all it takes to put your mind at ease.
Can I Drive the North Shore in an Electric Vehicle?
Yes, but charging thins out the farther north you go, so map your stops before you leave rather than counting on the next town.
You’ll find EV charging in Duluth, Two Harbors, the Lutsen/Tofte area, and Grand Marais, with fast-charging options along I-35 on the way up from the Twin Cities.
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