Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary For Duluth, Minnesota, This Year

Duluth, Minnesota, is one of the most popular cities for a quick weekend getaway. Located only about 2 hours from the Twin Cities and conveniently sitting on the shores of Lake Superior - the views of the lake are truly incredible. Plus, Duluth has a great local shopping scene, incredible places to eat, and an incredible amount of things to do - making it the perfect weekend destination! And to make things even easier for your next trip, we've created the perfect weekend itinerary for you below!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies, but these are our favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Car rentals are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you!

We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for comparing hotels.

To keep cell service while traveling, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the America's and Europe, and Klook for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is what we use for travel insurance.

Lastly, our packing list for any international or domestic travels.

Planning a Trip to Duluth & What to Expect

Duluth is an incredible place for a quick weekend getaway, whether in the winter or summer months. With plenty of things to do and many local places to eat, there's also an incredible amount of places to stay. On our most recent visit we stayed at Enger Lofts, and loved that it was in the heart of Lincoln Park - an area filled with local eateries and boutique stores. Not to mention the room and property itself was stunning. We've visited Duluth a countless number of times over the years, and to make your trip the best it can be there's a few things to keep in mind before you head to Duluth this winter!

• Dress Warm - Duluth is located right on the shores of Lake Superior, so the wind and lake effect can make everything feel a bit chillier - meaning make sure to remember your layers!
• Driving - Duluth is a very hilly city, so if you're visiting in the winter then it's important to keep some space between you and the car in front of you - if you're not used to driving in winter conditions then make sure to use common sense and not drive too fast or too close
• Safety - generally speaking, Duluth is a very safe city to visit, however it's worth noting that just like any city it's important to use common sense - don't leave valuables in your car, try to avoid the downtown area late at night, and never jump into Lake Superior in the winter or try walking on the ice unless you're sure of the thickness

Book your stay at Enger Lofts here!

Our Favorite Tours on the North Shore : 
- Two Harbors Kayaking Tour
- North Shore Helicopter Ride
- Paddleboard Day Rental

Our 3 Day Duluth Itinerary

Day One :

• Head to Duluth - from the Twin Cities it is about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive, we assume that most people head up for a weekend getaway on Friday after work, so we didn't plan too much for your first day!
• Check into Enger Lofts - a unique property located in the heart of the Lincoln Park neighborhood (watch our full tour in the video below!)
• Grab Dinner - there are plenty of places to eat in Lincoln Park, we would recommend trying out Corktown Deli & Brews, which has an excellent walleye fish and chips meal, we've also heard great reviews about the OMC Smokehouse, if you're looking for dessert try Love Creamery - they were voted the #1 ice cream parlor in the midwest in 2022!
• Late Night - if you're interested in heading out afterwards, there's plenty of local craft breweries in the Lincoln Park neighborhood that are within walking distance of Enger Lofts - try Bent Paddle Taproom which is literally just across the street or a few of the other breweries just down the street like Ursa Minor Brewing or Wild State Cider

Day Two :

• Grab Breakfast - my favorite place to grab breakfast in Duluth if you're looking for something healthy is the Juice Pharm, but if you're looking for something a little heavier then we recommend the Duluth Grill, which also serves up meals made from fresh, local ingredients
• Head Outdoors - one of the reasons we love Duluth so much is the amount of state and local parks in the area! One of the most popular is of course Gooseberry Falls, which is stunning in the winter and summer months, however a personal favorite of ours that is much closer and quite a bit less crowded is Jay Cooke State Park - there's even a fun swing bridge for visitors!
• Explore Canal Park - an iconic stop for anyone heading to Duluth is Canal Park, and fun fact this is even the spot Tyler and I got engaged! If you're planning to stop in Canal Park to explore for a bit, we highly recommend walking to the lighthouse (quickly in the winter so you don't get too cold), grabbing dinner at Grandma's, dessert at Love Creamery, and of course checking out the many local boutiques - if you're looking for something unique try stopping by Lake Superior Art Glass!
• Late Night - like night one, if you're looking to have some drinks or stay out late, there's two breweries in Canal Park (Hoops Brewing and Canal Park Brewing Company) serving up some local, award winning craft beers

Day Three :

• Grab Breakfast - located on the first floor of Enger Lofts is the 190 Coffee and Tea House, they have an incredible blueberry danish and great matcha tea!
• Cedar and Stone Sauna - hands down our new favorite activity in Duluth, and a perfect activity for the winter months! You can either book a private or public sauna session, but we highly recommend trying to get in a session on their new floating sauna and cold plunge combo! It was truly an incredible 90 minute guided sauna experience, and if there's one thing you shouldn't miss on your winter trip to Duluth then this is it!
• Grab Lunch - before you head home, we highly recommend exploring the Lincoln Park neighborhood - there are plenty of adorable boutique shops and yummy places to eat like Hungry Hippie Tacos and the Dovetail Cafe
• Head Home - hopefully, you enjoyed your winter trip to Duluth and are already planning your next trip back! ;)

Want to add more to your itinerary? Check out our list of the 9 best winter things to do in Duluth!

Watch our adventures in Duluth here!

Other Minnesota Blog Posts :

• Alexandria - Best Things to Do
• ​Bentleyville - Our Honest Review
• ​A Guide to Crosby-Ironton
• Cuyuna Cove, A Review
• Duluth, Minnesota - 9 Best Winter Activities
• 3 Day Weekend Itinerary in Duluth, Minnesota
• A Minnesota DIY Winery Tour 
• A Guide to Grand Marais​
• Complete Guide to the Gunflint Trail
• Fergus Falls - Best Things to Do
• Morris - BEST Things to Do
• ​Taylors Falls-St. Croix Falls
• Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, A Review

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