Looking for ways to save on your roadtrip to Duluth this summer? We’ve got some fun ideas for you!
We love to travel to Duluth each summer, but wow it has gotten so expensive! From the pricey lodging options to the amazing attractions, it can really add up. But you can save some money by planning ahead and picking more thrifty options. Read on for our suggestions below!
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
One of our favorite and FREE places to visit on Canal Park is the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center. The museum is completely free to explore and is very fun. It has multiple levels with various ships and components.
They also post about the incoming and outgoing ships from the harbor on their website and at the museum. So depending on your trip, you could see some gigantic ships coming through the harbor as well!
600 Canal Park Dr
10am- 4:30pm, everyday EXCEPT closed on Wednesdays
Glensheen Concerts on the Pier
Glensheen Mansion is a gorgeous place to tour! You will literally feel like you are stepping back in time, in the best way. My husband and I were just talking on our last trip about how excited we are to start taking our kids here one day (they are still a bit young to appreciate the beauty and also not break priceless items!!).
Glensheen can get a bit pricey to tour, but you can visit the grounds for FREE during the Concerts on Pier events happening this summer. Every Wednesday in July and August from 5-8pm, a different band will play alongside local food trucks. I haven’t personally been to this, but it’s on my bucket list! They encourage people to walk, kayak, boat, etc. in. Lots of people listen to the music from the shore and the water- how fun!
3300 London Rd
5-8pm every Wednesday in July and August
Hartley Nature Center
My kids and I just visited Hartley Nature Center and wow- it’s a hidden gem in Duluth! Up the hill a bit, you will find a small, but super fun visitor center with gorgeous trails to explore. It’s built on 660 acres- so there’s literally endless exploration opportunities!
We spent the morning at Hartley visiting the animals in the visitor center- like turtles, salamanders, snakes and more! We took a hike through some gorgeous forest trails and had a picnic lunch. We appreciated the AC in the visitors center as well as the clean restrooms, it’s funny how much I think of those things now as a mom with young kids! And it’s free to visit, although they do appreciate donations.
3001 Woodland Ave
9 am – 4pm Monday – Saturday, closed Sundays
Enger Tower
What is a trip to Duluth without a stop at Enger Tower? You can see the most breathtaking views of Duluth after climbing up the 5 story structure. Just make sure your little ones are up for the climb as there are no elevators! The 130 acre space Enger Tower is built on also has many beautiful trails and a peaceful Japanese Garden. You can read more about Enger Tower on our blog post, Exploring Enger Tower.
1601 Enger Tower Drive
7am – 10pm every day
Duluth Passport
Are you looking to do some touristy attractions on your trip? Get the Duluth Passport and you can explore 3 area attractions for the price of 2! We have a blog post all about the Duluth Passport and how much we love it! The Duluth Passport includes The North Shore Scenic Railroad, The Great Lakes Aquarium and the William A. Irvin.
Do you have other fun ideas of things to do in Duluth and how to save some $? Share your ideas below- we would love to hear them!
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Hannah is a married mom of 3 kiddos in the Twin Cities. Born and raised here in MN, she loves finding deals and special events to share with others.
Hannah enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading books, going on road trips up north, singing along with the radio and finding new thrift stores to shop! Hannah is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and is always on the lookout for more sensory friendly opportunities in the Twin Cities.
Peggy Ann Kohl says
My favorite place in Duluth is along the 7 Bridges Road. The bridges were built during the CCC camps times and they follow Amity Creek. It is 4 miles on the east side of Duluth along the Skyline Parkway. There is an unofficial place that you can park and climb on rocks and see the little falls. This is where we like to swim, it usually isn’t very deep, just a rocky bottom. You can also walk a path and swim at a little deeper hole in the river. It is beautiful and my kids and grandkids still love climbing on the rocks and swimming. This is FREE!!
If you like hiking, you can park at the end of Park Point near the airport and hike to the Superior Entry. The path is well marked and it is another scenic spot. You just have to watch out for the Poison Ivy!! Also FREE