The Ultimate Travel Guide to Grand Marais, MN
If you’ve never been to Grand Marais, MN, you’re in for a treat! Grand Marais (pronounced meh-ray) is proof that Minnesota should be on every traveler’s bucket list. In fact, it has repeatedly been named one of the best small towns in America. It’s an artsy little town in northern Minnesota about four hours from Minneapolis and less than an hour short of the Canadian border. It’s surrounded by the Superior National Forest and situated along the coast of the epic Lake Superior, but you could easily fool someone into thinking it was on the coast of the Atlantic. With gorgeous views, unique foods, hiking trails, and more, it’s truly a gem in the Midwest. As a Minnesota local, I’ve become well-acquainted with Grand Marais, and now I’m sharing all of the details you’ll need for your visit in one ultimate travel guide.
Get ready for the perfect Northwoods adventure with this travel guide to Grand Marais, MN.
Getting to Grand Marais, MN
Grand Marais is the perfect weekend getaway from the Twin Cities. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive, and there are a ton of great places to stop along the way. If you’re flying in from out of state, the closest major airport is MSP in Minneapolis, but there’s also a smaller regional airport in Duluth (about two hours from Grand Marais).
Related Post: The Best Stops Along Minnesota’s North Shore
The Best Time to Visit Grand Marais
Summer! Summer is definitely the best time to visit Grand Marais. The town’s businesses are in full swing from June through September, and temperatures are typically comfortable. It can get a little chilly from the breeze off of Lake Superior, even in the summer, so be sure to pack layers when you visit. Grand Marais is a popular destination for Minnesotans in the summer, so the small town can get crowded – particularly on weekends and holidays. We’ve had good luck with avoiding crowds by visiting mid-week, but keep in mind that many businesses are closed earlier in the week.
Related Post: 7 Tips for Your First Trip to Grand Marais, MN
Fall is a gorgeous time to make the drive up the North Shore to Grand Marais. Colors usually peak toward the end of September, but by October businesses start to close for the winter and temps drop quickly. Autumns are short and hard to predict in Minnesota, so you might end up with summer-like weather in September or winter-like weather in October.
Winter in Minnesota, in general, isn’t fantastic (shocking, I know). It’s also long. November often marks the start of winter weather here, and it typically lasts until about April (we’ve been known to get snow in May as well). Temperatures can be dangerously cold, and many Grand Marais businesses close or have shortened hours in the winter. However, if you’re chasing the northern lights, winter is the time to go. This area is one of the few places in the United States where you have the chance to spot the phenomenon.
Spring is basically non-existent. Much like fall, it usually lasts a couple of weeks and can be difficult to predict. Many businesses remain closed until around Memorial Day, so visiting during the spring isn’t ideal. The upside is there will be fewer crowds and slightly better weather than in winter.
The Coldest of the Lakes
No matter what time of year you visit, don’t expect to go for an enjoyable dip in the lake. The largest of the Great Lakes is also the coldest lake in the United States. On a warm summer day, the water temp might reach the mid-60s if you’re lucky (that’s about 18°C).
Lake Superior is a beauty to behold (it’s the world’s largest freshwater lake and the cleanest and clearest lake in the country), but it’s not great for a swim.
Where to Stay in Grand Marais, MN
Grand Marais books up fast – even in the winter! For the most options, book your stay well in advance.
Hungry Hippie Hostel & Campground
This is the first spot I always recommend to friends headed to Grand Marais. First of all, finding affordable accommodations in Grand Marais can be trickier than you might imagine, and this spot totally fits the bill. Second, this is not your average hostel. I’m not a big fan of hostels myself, but I’ll make an exception for this one. It’s beautifully designed, has five private rooms (or bunks upstairs if that’s more your style), and the bathrooms and showers are single-person, so they’re totally private while you’re using them. The campground has primitive sites, glamping tents, a communal fire ring, and a pretty dang nice shower house. But the best part? The owners live next door, and their adorable farm dog, Charlie, will greet you when you arrive.
Best Western Plus Superior Inn
All of the rooms here are Lakefront, which means you’ll be waking up with a beautiful view! It’s also pet-friendly and allows up to two, 80-pound dogs.
The Life as Art Collection
For beautifully designed spaces unlike anything else in Grand Marais, check out the aptly named Life as Art properties. There are three to choose from – The SkyHouse, The Horizon, and The Aurora. These “Up North Modern” homes have been featured in several magazines and won numerous awards for their unique design.
AirBnB
There are a ton of cool AirBnB options in Grand Marais. From unique spaces like this one modeled after the Grand Marais lighthouse, to cabin stays, to design-centric homes, – there’s plenty to choose from. Many are dog-friendly so just take a look at the home’s pet policies if you’re planning to bring your pup along.
Where to Eat in Grand Marais
BREAKFAST
World’s Best Donuts
It’s in the name. This family-owned bakery specializes in cake donuts, but I’m partial to the frosted raised donut or the maple long john. They’ve also got a donut “kabob” on a stick – Minnesota State Fair style. This is an iconic spot, so be sure to get there early to avoid a long line! Even if there is a line, I’d say it’s worth the wait.
Open Thur-Mon, late-May through mid-Oct
Blue Water Cafe
This cafe serves a full menu as well as an all-day breakfast and homemade pies. In the 1980s, this became such a popular spot for locals that it was dubbed “The Meeting Place” in Grand Marais.
Open Fri-Tue, year-round
LUNCH & DINNER
Hungry Hippie Tacos
This is my absolute favorite spot in Grand Marais! Think Tex-Mex but with a Northern twist. Here you’ll find guac and burritos alongside tots and cheese curds, but the real star is the frybread tacos. If you’ve never had frybread before, you’ve got to try it! Everything is cooked up fresh in their scratch kitchen and meats are smoked in-house. And yes – this spot is run by the same couple that hosts the Hungry Hippie Hostel. You’ll find the same upcycled style that I love about the hostel here at the restaurant as well.
Open Wed-Sat, year-round
Angry Trout Cafe
If fish is your jam, this is the spot for you. Angry Trout is the only restaurant in Grand Marais where you can sit right on the harbor. They serve fresh-caught fish from Lake Superior, as well as locally grown produce and hand-harvested wild rice.
Open daily, year-round
The Crooked Spoon
The Crooked Spoon is back with a food truck while they work to rebuild the restaurant! This beloved spot closed in April 2020 after their building burned down in a fire, but now you’ll find the food truck in the old parking lot serving up sandwiches, soups, and appetizers that rotate daily.
Check their Facebook page for daily hours and menu.
Sven and Ole’s
Your classic pizza joint. This place has somewhat of a cult following in Minnesota, but I think that’s mostly due to nostalgia and marketing. You’ll start seeing billboards for this place well before you reach Grand Marais. In any case, if you’ve got a hankering for some good ole pizza, head here. You can also get it to-go or by the slice and then grab a picnic table by the harbor to enjoy your ‘za with a view!
Open Thur-Sun, year-round
Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza
If you prefer a wood-fired pizza with more inventive toppings – Sydney’s is your place. They also serve up several styles of hot dogs (including Chicago Dogs – my favorite!) and, of course, custard.
Open Tue-Sat, late-May through mid-Oct
The Fisherman’s Daughter
This lunch-only spot serves fish & chips as well as soups. They also sell freshly caught and smoked fish by the pound in their deli alongside cheese, baguettes, and other market items. I haven’t eaten here because I think fish is disgusting, but if you’re less repulsed by it than I am, I’ve been told this is an excellent place to get it.
Open Tue-Sat, year-round
DRINKS
Voyageur Brewing Co
Voyageur Brewing is proud of its Northwoods roots, and it shows. They brew their beer using locally grown ingredients and water straight from Lake Superior. It doesn’t get more Minnesota craft beer than that! Get a seat inside if you want to take advantage of the kitchen’s full menu, or head up to the rooftop for drinks and a limited food menu.
Open daily, year-round
Gunflint Tavern
This place is kind of broken up into three parts. “The Tavern” serves food, wine, and craft beer. “The Raven” is a little pub that serves specialty cocktails and spirits. “The Raven’s Nest” is a full indoor/outdoor bar on the rooftop. It’s this last one – The Raven’s Nest – that I’m going to direct you to. The view from the rooftop is spectacular (better than the rooftop view at Voyageur), and they also host live music almost every night. This is one of the only spots open “late” in Grand Marais, and they serve pizza on the rooftop after 9 pm.
Open daily, year-round
Java Moose
Java Moose is an excellent coffee shop with the friendliest owner! They have two locations – a full building off the highway and a window-service-only location right on the harbor. I always order the maple latte (made with local maple syrup) with oat milk. The Nordic Miel is great as well and is made with Minnesotan honey and cinnamon. There’s nothing like ordering a warm drink and then walking along the harbor on a crisp morning!
Summer: open daily | Winter: open Tue-Sat
Best Things to Do in Grand Marais
Visit the Lighthouse
Seeing the lighthouse from the harbor shore is nice, but the journey out to the lighthouse is even better! It’s an easy walk with a gorgeous view of the town, and the waves that crash into the breakwall are so fun to watch.
Stroll around town
Grand Marais has a super walkable downtown area with tons of fun shops to explore. A few of my favorites are Upstate MN for Northwoods Modern home goods, The Big Lake for gifts, and Gunflint Mercantile for incredible handmade chocolates and other treats. Grand Marais is also an artist colony, so there are constantly new works being shown and sold in the galleries and shops around town.
Artist’s Point
Artist’s Point might just be the crown jewel of Grand Marais. While the lighthouse is also technically part of Artist’s Point, if you head in the opposite direction from the breakwall, you’ll discover the pine tree-covered “island” jutting into Lake Superior. This particular spot is my favorite place in the state of Minnesota! The side facing the lake is lined with stunning basalt formations that have been smoothed out by the crashing waves. A walk through the wooded area to the other side will bring you to a rocky little cliffside with views of Grand Marais and the Pincushion Mountains.
Play Mini Golf at Putt-N-Pets
This isn’t just any mini-golf course. It also has animals! The pets at Putt-n-Pets include goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, and a variety of other birds. You’ll find them around the perimeter of the golf course, so you can visit and feed them as you play.
Skip rocks & enjoy the Lake Superior views
Simply sitting and looking out at the vast, ocean-like Lake Superior is one of my favorite ways to pass the time in Grand Marais. It’s incredibly peaceful. Musicians often set up at the harbor in the summer, so you might get a show while you’re there as well. There are several picnic tables and places to sit along the harbor, or you can head over to the east side of the bay behind World’s Best Donuts for a different view.
When you’re tired of watching the waves and seagulls, it’s time to play with rocks. The Lake Superior shore is lined with smooth, flat rocks, perfect for skipping across the water. If you’re an agate enthusiast, this area is rich with them.
Superior Hiking Trail
Minnesota’s famed, 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail has several trail section entrances in and around Grand Marais. Some sections boast expansive views of Lake Superior or the Pincushion Mountains while others pass through State Parks along rivers and creeks.
Things to Do Beyond Grand Marais
Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway
A short drive out of town via Gunflint Trail will bring you straight into the Superior National Forest wilderness with views of the Sawtooth Mountains. It’s a gorgeous drive, especially in the autumn, and there are several trailheads for all skill levels along the byway. Keep your eye out for bears or moose while you’re here! This is also your gateway into the Boundary Waters, one of the best areas in the country for canoeing.
Paradise Beach
While it’s technically still in Grand Marais, Paradise Beach is about a 15-minute drive outside of the main downtown area. This is another agate beach with gorgeous views. If the harbor in town is a little too busy, try taking a drive out here to enjoy the waterfront.
Cascade River State Park
This state park is where the Cascade River meets Lake Superior. You’ll find lots of trails and waterfalls here to explore! The park is only about 15 minutes south of Grand Marais, so if you’re coming up from the cities, it’s actually on your way.
Devil’s Kettle Waterfall
This unique waterfall has an unusual optical illusion. The river splits at the top of the falls, and half tumbles down the falls like normal while the other half falls into a hole and seems to disappear. Heads up – getting here requires climbing a lot of stairs (my friend did it while pregnant with twins though, so you got this!). You’ll find Devil’s Kettle Waterfall at Judge C.R. Magney State Park about 20 minutes north of Grand Marais.
Whoever says the Midwest is flyover country clearly hasn’t been to Grand Marais, MN. This cool Northwoods town has a lot to offer, and it definitely shouldn’t be missed!
Have any questions about Grand Marais that I didn’t answer here? Let me know in the comments below!
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