Camping in Duluth, Minnesota
A complete guide to camping in Duluth
Photo Credit: C Peters
Overview
Duluth sits at the western tip of Lake Superior where the St. Louis River meets the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world. The city climbs steeply from the harbor up a hillside that gains 800 feet in a mile, creating a dramatic backdrop for camping at the edge of the North Shore. Lake Superior's presence dominates everything about camping here, from the cold water (rarely above 55 degrees) to the fog, the rocky shoreline, and the boreal forest that begins at the city's northern edge.
Indian Point Campground and Buffalo Valley Campground provide developed camping within Duluth city limits along the St. Louis River. Fond du Lac Campground sits at the head of the river estuary. For a more natural setting, Jay Cooke State Park in nearby Carlton (20 minutes south) offers camping in the St. Louis River gorge among tilted slate rock formations and old-growth forest. The park's swinging bridge over the rapids is one of the most photographed spots in the state.
North of Duluth, the North Shore Drive (Highway 61) begins its 150-mile run to Grand Portage along Lake Superior. State parks at Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Tettegouche line this corridor and are accessible as day trips from Duluth-area campgrounds.
Weather & Best Seasons
Best months: June through September
Duluth's Lake Superior climate keeps summers cool. July averages 63 degrees, 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the Twin Cities. Fog rolls in off the lake unpredictably. Fall color peaks in late September along the North Shore. Winter is severe, with January averaging 7 degrees and the harbor freezing. The camping season runs roughly May through October, compressed by the northern climate.
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