I will be heading to the gunflint trail this weekend for our entry on East Bearskin on Monday the 12th. I am bringing two teenage boys with me. We will be leaving Sw Missouri early Saturday morning and hopefully make it to the Duluth area or farther. Looking for a cheap place to sleep between Duluth and grand marais.

This has been recommended if not too far along route: Hungry Hippie

Several state parks.

Must be a Ma & Pa-type motel in Two Harbors. How cheap is your definition of cheap?

Check out Minnesota - Jay Cooke State Park - just south of Duluth Jay Cooke state park - reservations

quote Jackfish: "Must be a Ma & Pa-type motel in Two Harbors. How cheap is your definition of cheap?"

Cheaper the better, would like to stay under 70-80 per night.

Aren't there dispersed camping options available in the NFS? Or even a NFS camp ground is cheap

The USFS campgrounds are all pretty good. $15 if I remember correctly.

quote Grizzlyman: "The USFS campgrounds are all pretty good. $15 if I remember correctly. "

thank you.

quote billconner: "This has been recommended if not too far along route: Hungry Hippie "

Thanks I'll have to check it out!!

quote old_salt: "Several state parks. "

Thank you

quote Grandma L: "Check out Minnesota - Jay Cooke State Park - just south of Duluth Jay Cooke state park - reservations "

Thank you. That looks like about the right area to stop at after 12 hours on the road.

I certainly agree the state parks are both cheap and beautiful. The reservation system is good and you can chose your specific site, sometimes with images of it. But how eager will you be to set up camp after a 12 hour drive? And check the forecast, but I think there is a decent chance of storms this weekend up that way.

If you end up wanting hotel, I think the Viking in Two Harbors often comes up as pretty cheap but I have not stayed there. If you drive further up, consider the Cliff Dweller in Tofte. New owners are working to fix it up, each room looks straight out onto the lake, and its reliably one of the lowest costs hotels on the north shore. Anywhere north of Duluth you will be combating weekend pricing however. Good luck.

You could also check to see if Jay Cooke has a camper cabin available. They are simple but comfortable. Cheaper than most hotels as well.

Not sure if you are interested in roughing it but you are allowed to camp just about anywhere in the National Forest system. It's called Dispersed Camping. You can just pull off the road into a clearing and set up for the night. We have done this a number of times when we wanted to go cheap and be on the water at 0 Dark thirty.

Superior National Forest Dispersed Camping
You might check out this site

quote billconner: "This has been recommended if not too far along route: Hungry Hippie "

Place is cool, but it is in Grand Marais I believe.