I am driving out from Ohio, and spending a longer vacation in Minnesota before our BWCA permit. My trip companion is flying to Duluth and I will pick them up. Just in case, I thought I would ask if there are any quirks about picking up an arrival at the airport? I am assuming I will be able to drive into a short-term parking area and meet them at baggage claim. Is there a cell phone waiting area so they can call me when they’re ready and I can just drive up to the curb?

Yes, this is “slightly” easier than O’Hare. The waiting area is about a hundred yards from the terminal. Two runways and you’ll probably see the approach for the landing.

Don’t pay for parking - use the waiting area.

The Duluth Airport is like going to Target, but half the size and a lot less people. I haven't flown in out of there for a long time but I would doubt there are more than a couple flights a day in and out. It's up on the hill not too far off Hwy 53.

It's pretty quiet, but don't cut our little airport short - 9 arrivals and 8 departures tomorrow.

No issues - just drive up to the drop off pick up area and you're good. Duluth is fairly quiet.

We have a cool airport. There are four gates, not four concourses. Four gates.
Cell phone pull off is just before the airport. Nice spot to pick people up. It takes two minutes to get from the gate to outside.

+1 on cell phone spot that is what we did

The airport. Yet another reason to love Duluth.

Thanks for asking this question - my son will also fly into to Duluth so this is great info!

Was driving home last June. All of a sudden I got buzzed by a F22 Rapture... pulled over in a used car lot and got a great show.
Gonna miss it this year.
Not til July.

yogi59weedr: "Was driving home last June. All of a sudden I got buzzed by a F22 Rapture... pulled over in a used car lot and got a great show.
Gonna miss it this year.
Not til July.
"

You could rent space on our deck. The Raptors are nearly daily visitors, along with occasional visits from a C-130 or two.

I agree! I’ve never once had a bad experience at the Duluth airport. Been a passenger many times and it is very easy to pick up/drop off people for trips.

Am I the only one that ever got put on a bus in MSP and driven from MSP to DLH (with an airline ticket)? When I lived in Duluth I worked in Ohio for the last several months that I lived there. I would fly to Ohio on Sunday night or Monday morning and then fly home to Duluth on Friday evening. Twice when I landed in MSP Northwest put us on a bus and sent us to DLH for the final leg of the flight. This was back in the early 90's. At least they got us all to Duluth instead of stranding us in MSP for the night.

Never been bussed between MSP airport and Duluth, but I did get delayed by bad weather (summer thunderstorms) in the Twin Cities that caused my flight, bound for MSP, to circle in a holding pattern for a while and eventually land at the Duluth airport. It would have been faster for them to put us on a bus, but they never let us off the plane, just parked for 4 hours along with about a dozen other flights, until the weather improved enough for us to make the 15-minute jump down to MSP.

tumblehome: "We have a cool airport. There are four gates, not four concourses. Four gates.
Cell phone pull off is just before the airport. Nice spot to pick people up. It takes two minutes to get from the gate to outside. "

That sounds absolutely great!
Wish car rentals weren’t so high out of DLH, comp to other airports. I’d prob sneak in an extra short trip or two a year.

Hockhocking: "I am driving out from Ohio, and spending a longer vacation in Minnesota before our BWCA permit. My trip companion is flying to Duluth and I will pick them up. Just in case, I thought I would ask if there are any quirks about picking up an arrival at the airport? I am assuming I will be able to drive into a short-term parking area and meet them at baggage claim. Is there a cell phone waiting area so they can call me when they’re ready and I can just drive up to the curb?"

In Ohio too. When you headed up?

PeaceFrog: In Ohio too. When you headed up?"

My vacation is mid-July to mid-August. First Isle Royale backpacking, then a couple transition days before picking up my friend at airport first week of August.

I was just there last week. No problem at all. Park in the Cell phone lot which is literally 50 yards from the front door. You could yell to each other if your cell phone battery is dead.

PeaceFrog: "

Hockhocking: "I am driving out from Ohio, and spending a longer vacation in Minnesota before our BWCA permit. My trip companion is flying to Duluth and I will pick them up. Just in case, I thought I would ask if there are any quirks about picking up an arrival at the airport? I am assuming I will be able to drive into a short-term parking area and meet them at baggage claim. Is there a cell phone waiting area so they can call me when they’re ready and I can just drive up to the curb?"

In Ohio too. When you headed up?"

Cincinnati area here

Hockhocking: "

PeaceFrog: In Ohio too. When you headed up?"

My vacation is mid-July to mid-August. First Isle Royale backpacking, then a couple transition days before picking up my friend at airport first week of August.
"

Nice. Hope your summer is full of adventure. Sounds like you are going to the right places.

BuckeyeVol: "

PeaceFrog: "

Hockhocking: "I am driving out from Ohio, and spending a longer vacation in Minnesota before our BWCA permit. My trip companion is flying to Duluth and I will pick them up. Just in case, I thought I would ask if there are any quirks about picking up an arrival at the airport? I am assuming I will be able to drive into a short-term parking area and meet them at baggage claim. Is there a cell phone waiting area so they can call me when they’re ready and I can just drive up to the curb?"

In Ohio too. When you headed up?"

Cincinnati area here"

South of Columbus Here

Northwoodsman: "Am I the only one that ever got put on a bus in MSP and driven from MSP to DLH (with an airline ticket)? When I lived in Duluth I worked in Ohio for the last several months that I lived there. I would fly to Ohio on Sunday night or Monday morning and then fly home to Duluth on Friday evening. Twice when I landed in MSP Northwest put us on a bus and sent us to DLH for the final leg of the flight. This was back in the early 90's. At least they got us all to Duluth instead of stranding us in MSP for the night."

Ha! Yes! Just once for me. At first they thought the plane was frozen to the ground. Then they thought the brakes were frozen. Then we got on a bus. Needless to say I had long since missed my connecting flight and ended up staying the night at MSP. I remember it took me 24 hours door to door that trip when it should have taken 7. Generally though it's a great little airport!