Will be flying into Minneapolis St.Paul and looks like I’ll be renting a car to reach Grand Marais. Hate to spend the money on the car to have it sit for 8 days, so I’m looking for more options. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I have tried to figure similar and in the end nothing less expensive than shopping rental car deals, not to mention faster and convenient. Outside if dense areas this country dies not have useful public transit.

You could ask an outfitter but pretty sure two shuttles is much more than car rental.

If you have the time I'm sure driving up from Tennessee would be your cheapest route.

I always rent a car. Shop around. The closest you can get to a 7-day rental the better because you get a weekly rate. Any days over 7 are charged at a daily rate. I have seen where the two extra days cost as much or more than a weekly rate. There are two terminals at MSP so be sure that you reserve it at the correct terminal. If you don't rent cars often, one day is equal to 24 hours and starts from the time that you pick the car up. Figure 5 hours from MSP to Grand Marais without any stops. I always try to get out of the Twin Cities as quickly as possible because of traffic and stop north of the Twin Cities to grab a bite to eat.

You don’t want to plan the North Shore in only 5 hours. Too many good places to stop and enjoy the sights. Plus road construction is practically a guarantee. Slow tourist traffic. It’s not the place to be in a race.

If you travel on Tuesday it is possible to take the bus, Greyhound, couple of departures a day. You would have to go Minneapolis to Duluth and then Arrowhead Transit . Haven't looked at where the Greyhound leaves and drops off but might be possible to take the light rail (train) from the airport to Mpls.. Cost would be about $50 each way. Depending on how much gear you have and when you need to travel might be an option. Not what I would call "convenient" but possible.

Professional shuttle service based in Grand Marais:

Harriet Quarles Transportation

Professional shuttle service based in Duluth (would probably reduce your cost for Twin Cities > Duluth > Twin Cities):

Groome Transportation

Simple answer, rent the car. So you got to find over 20 hours of transport
on your schedule? Nobody works for free, if they do, send them to my place

BuckSgt2034: "Will be flying into Minneapolis St.Paul and looks like I’ll be renting a car to reach Grand Marais. Hate to spend the money on the car to have it sit for 8 days, so I’m looking for more options. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!"

I suppose one option is to pair with someone that already lives in the twin cities, and make it a 4 some, or whatever.

There are lots of people on this site. I think there is a trip partner thread. You could post your plan and see if another 2-some wants to join you.

It's a bit of a stretch, and some work trying to make it happen, but not out of the realm of possibility.

You'd probably have more success flying into Duluth, and catching a shuttle from there, but the extra leg, and shuttle wouldn't be any cheaper than renting a car.

Don't think of it as renting a car. Consider it the cost of admission to seeing the Lake Superior North Shore. Plan your trip so you can enjoy Duluth to Grand Marais during daylight hours.

I'd schedule and hour each for Gooseberry Falls State Park and Tettegouche State Park. If you have time, include Temperance River State Park and both the Light houses; Two Harbors and Split Rock.

Consider dining on the deck at Grandma's in Duluth. It is quite a sight to watch the lift bridge work as ships come into port. It also seems their beer is colder.

Done right, the North Shore will make the cost of your rental seem well worth the investment.

Good Luck

OCDave: "Don't think of it as renting a car. Consider it the cost of admission to seeing the Lake Superior North Shore. Plan your trip so you can enjoy Duluth to Grand Marais during daylight hours.


I'd schedule and hour each for Gooseberry Falls State Park and Tettegouche State Park. If you have time, include Temperance River State Park and both the Light houses; Two Harbors and Split Rock.


Consider dining on the deck at Grandma's in Duluth. It is quite a sight to watch the lift bridge work as ships come into port. It also seems their beer is colder.


Done right, the North Shore will make the cost of your rental seem well worth the investment.


Good Luck"

+1 to all of the above. We've spend a little extra time each of the last 3 years enjoying different parts of the North Shore. Spent a night in Duluth, the area immediately north of the lift bridge is pretty cool in summer, restaurants, shops and a Duluth Pack store, all in walking distance.

We've done the Split Rock lighthouse tour, well worth it, and seen Gooseberry Falls also. I'd do them both again. Haven't seen Two Harbors lighthouse, maybe next trip.

Also very easy to spend a full day/night in Grand Marais. Cool little town.

So, you're trying to arrange to get from MSP to Duluth, then to Grand Marais, and finally to the end of the Gunflint Trail without renting a car. That's probably going to get complicated as well as expensive.

I'm a KISS kind of guy; I'd just rent the car and simply be done with it.

I live a 1200-mile drive from there (WV) and choose to drive. I have time, my own equipment, and it's a nice drive with great scenery. I live in WV and drive up through MI and across the U.P. Plus my schedule is my own.

johndku: "...

.... Haven't seen Two Harbors lighthouse, maybe next trip.

... "

Two harbors Light house is actually a Bed and Breakfast if you want to try something different. We stayed there 15 years ago and were very pleased.

OCDave: "
Consider dining on the deck at Grandma's in Duluth. It is quite a sight to watch the lift bridge work as ships come into port. It also seems their beer is colder.


"

You can pick up your permit at the Duluth Pak, a block from Grandma's, but then I imagine you're going thru an outfitter, so that's probably not an issue anyway.

Look at it this way: If you have to exit a day early (weather, sprained ankle, etc.) you'll be so glad to have the rental car sitting at the exit point.
Compare prices. Budget, Thrifty, Enterprise & Dollar have always treated me fair & square. Others, no so much. If you've not made this drive before you are for a scenic treat with several luring stops/ scenic views along the MN-61 route. There are two ranger stations along that drive: Tofte & Gunflint--both with signage and close to the highway 61.
Good options

If you belong to costco, try their prices on rental cars.

I have never tried or researched your travel problem, so can't speak with any authority. There is a municipal airport just outside of Grand Marais, at Devils Track Lake. You could surely arrange to be picked up there by an outfitter.

There is a guy who lived at Seagull Lake. It used to be operated as the Sea Island Lodge. He has float plane and lands on the Lake. I don't know that he offers to transport customers. His name escapes me, but I will think of it as soon as I send this mail. Are there any wilderness pilots that operate out of Duluth? It seems very likely to me that some fly from Duluth to Grand Marais, but does this solve your problem. Just thought I would pass along my experiences of over 60 years travelling to the BWCA.

You might want to try Cory Christenson. He is a writer and BWCA guide who has lived in the area for many years. He and his wife operate a restaurant at the Grand Marais Airport. He has a website Christenson Guiding Service . Back in the 50's there was a doctor that owned a fishing camp on Brule Lake, who flew his own plane from Illinois to Brule, before it was incorporated in the BWCA. I am amazed at how things have changed over the last 60 years, or more.

I’d look into prices flying into Duluth or Hibbing. I used to fly out of Duluth a lot. And it was then (90’s) about the same as driving and flying out of Mpls. Hibbing has a Delta flight every day I think. When ya thinking?

A friend of mine who has lived in Grand Marais all of his life used to fly all the way into GM airport from across the country. I'm not sure if flights are still running up there but you could look into it. It may be less expensive than other options and less of a hassle.

Team member I was with last year for the Kruger Challenge from FL (Deke) used Harriet to get from Grand Portage to MSP. Don't know the cost but it has to be cheaper than a rental.

WhiteWolf: "Team member I was with last year for the Kruger Challenge from FL (Deke) used Harriet to get from Grand Portage to MSP. Don't know the cost but it has to be cheaper than a rental."

Yup, Harriet is or at least was dependable. give her a call.