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Plus, it circles the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Key Points
- The 1,300-mile Lake Superior Circle Tour winds through three U.S. states and two regions of Ontario with scenic shoreline views and cool summer temperatures.
- Highlights include more than 90 waterfalls, 56 historic lighthouses, national parks, wilderness areas, beaches, and charming lakeside towns.
- Travelers should allow up to 12 days to complete the full route and will need a valid U.S. passport if crossing into Canada.
(Editor’s note: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Isle Royale National Park are being affected by a wildfire at the time of publication. For more information, check each park’s website to learn more before visiting.)
I live along Lake Michigan, but Lake Superior holds a special place in my heart.
Over the last three decades, I’ve visited many of its shoreline communities while backpacking through Isle Royale National Park and cruising along Minnesota’s picturesque North Shore to reach the wild and wonderful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. When I’m driving, I’ll pull over for a pint of beer or a strong cup of coffee, and I’ll always stop at tiny art galleries and boutiques, of which there are plenty in these parts.
For an epic tour of the largest of the five Great Lakes, I recommend taking on the 1,300-mile-long Lake Superior Circle Tour, which spans three states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) and two regions in Ontario, Canada (Algoma Country and Superior Country). Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area and is also one of the world’s deepest. This route circles the entirety of it, while traveling through some of the northernmost parts of the U.S. and the southernmost parts of Canada. Since temperatures here rarely get above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the trip is a bona fide “cool-cation.”
Since it was founded in the 1960s, the Lake Superior Circle Tour has attracted in-the-know road trippers looking for scenic drives with nearly constant views of the water and plenty of small-town detours. Traffic is minimal, and it’s rarely sticky-hot—two conditions that make for a perfect road trip.
Here’s what you need to know before planning a drive along the Lake Superior Circle Tour.
Best Things to Do
Chase Waterfalls
I recently got back from a trip to Upper Michigan, and the first question I was asked when I returned was, “Which waterfalls did you see?” Some of my favorites in the area can be found at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the aptly named Paradise, Michigan. The park spans some 50,000 acres and is home to stunning natural wonders such as the Upper Falls (one of the largest waterfalls in the eastern U.S.) and the smaller but nevertheless charming Lower Falls. However, there are over 90 waterfalls along the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Other favorites include Kakabeka Falls, located in Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, and the High Falls in Minnesota’s Judge C. R. Magney State Park.
Hike, Kayak, or Canoe
The Lake Superior Circle Tour is a great way to check off national parks and more remote wilderness areas. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located near Minnesota’s North Shore, but know that you will likely need to explore with an outfitter or have a decent amount of canoeing or kayaking experience, as this is not an outdoor beginner- or hiker-friendly park. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a collection of islands just off the shore of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Ferries operate to Madeline Island, or you can take a ferry tour of nearly all the islands. Nearby, Frog Bay Tribal National Park, located on the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in Bayfield, is the first tribal national park in the United States. Adventurous travelers will also want to make time to visit Isle Royale National Park—even though it’s a detour from the main route, it’s arguably one of the most beautiful parks in the area (and one of the most underrated in the U.S.).
Visit Historic Lighthouses
There are 56 lighthouses along the Lake Superior Circle Tour, so you likely won’t be able to see them all in one go unless you’re truly in no rush to get home. A few of my favorites include Whitefish Point Light, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior (it dates back to 1861), and the charming white-and-red Thunder Bay Main Lighthouse, which is located in Ontario, Canada, and was built in 1937. Other popular lighthouses include Minnesota’s Split Rock Lighthouse and the Apostle Islands Lighthouses, a collection of nine beautiful lighthouses that line Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Hit the Sand
It’s not a proper coastal road trip (yep, the Great Lakes have coasts) if you don’t visit at least a few beaches. Bayview Beach, north of Washburn, Wisconsin, encompasses four blissful miles of shoreline that, for the most part, remain a local secret. Pack a book, snack, and blanket and cozy up, even if you don’t brave the chilly water temperatures. Another great stretch of sand is Twelvemile Beach, which you’ll find in the photogenic Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (don’t forget your camera).
How to Plan a Trip
The Lake Superior Circle Tour is a whopper of a road trip—some sources recommend taking up to 12 days to cover it all—so you may want to tackle the journey in sections. Taking your time also lets you explore various towns along the way at your leisure and gives you ample opportunities to pull over to admire the Lake Superior shoreline while you’re at it. Before you set off on your journey, make sure you have a rough game plan for where you’d like to stay along the way and how much time you’d like to devote to each place. Although you could blaze through the trip in a day or two, this road trip is best taken at a slow and sweet pace.
Since the Lake Superior Circle Tour is, well, a circle, it’s really up to you where you would like to start your journey. Some travelers opt to begin the drive in Duluth, one of the major cities in the area, while others opt for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan’s oldest city, which is often called the “Gateway to the Great Lakes.”
The trip can be done in a car, RV, or motorcycle; hardy bicyclists even complete the route on two wheels. Most travelers—those in cars, at least—should plan to drive no more than two to five hours a day, depending on where they are on the route.
Perhaps most importantly, keep in mind that if your goal is to complete the Lake Superior Circle Tour in its entirety, you’ll need a valid U.S. passport since Lake Superior encompasses both Canadian and American soil. If you’re interested in just exploring the American portion of the drive, you can begin in Sault Ste. Marie and drive along the lake until you reach the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, located in Minnesota’s remote but scenic Arrowhead region.
When to Go
Any season aside from winter is a good time to drive the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Between May and October, the views of the waterfalls, the lake, and the beaches are stunning. In the spring, you may spot tulips; in the summer, there are berries to pick (and campsites open up). Then, come fall, there are brilliant golden hues until the first snowfall hits.
Unless you are skilled at driving through blizzards and across ice—and have access to an all-wheel-drive vehicle—definitely skip a winter road trip. That said, ice fishing on Lake Superior is a major must-do venture for some, but it’s a more suitable activity for those just driving a section of the route, not the full thing.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink
Minnesota’s North Shore
Kick off the trip in Duluth, Minnesota, with lunch at New Scenic Café, then head about 100 miles north to the artsy town of Grand Marais, home to the North House Folk School, where you can take a weekend or day class in a traditional craft. Booking a room at The Harbors gets you off on the right foot, and it’s also near Voyageur Brewing Company, perfect for a pint and a picnic board featuring smoked herring, a local specialty of Lake Superior.
Bayfield and Washburn
As far as tiny towns go, Bayfield and Washburn pack a lot of punch with independent bookstores, shops, and fine dining options. St. James Social is a newer property in Bayfield, and it has just eight rooms, a rooftop lounge, a farm-to-table restaurant, and a sauna tucked into a refreshed 1884 building. The Deck at The Bayfield Inn is the place to snag a view of the Apostle Islands with dinner. Harbor Table in Washburn is among the area’s best restaurants to sample lake-caught whitefish or a Wisconsin-style fish fry.
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Some of the Upper Peninsula’s most popular hot spots are Marquette and the twin Michigan cities of Hancock and Houghton. In this part of the state, your priority should be to find and eat pasties, savory hand pies that were brought to this part of the country by Cornish miners. Amy J’s Pasty and Bake Shop is a local favorite in Hancock, Michigan, while Jen’s Kitchen in Calumet is also solid. Wind down after a day of driving over drinks and dinner at The Library Restaurant and Brewpub in Houghton. After exploring, head to the seven-key Big Bay Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast, located 25 miles north of Marquette—ask for a room with a Lake Superior view.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie is actually two places: there are two cities of the same name on each side of the U.S.-Canadian border. Both are known for their easy access to the outdoors, maritime history, and lake views—they’re connected by the International Bridge. On the American side, grab breakfast or lunch at Oh Crepe and Coffee. Stay overnight at The Hotel Ojibway, which is conveniently located near both the Soo Locks (a set of locks that allow ships passage between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes) and the Museum Ship Valley Camp, which gives you access to an old freighter.
Algoma Country, Ontario
If you want to check off another Great Lake before beginning Ontario’s spectacular stretch of the Lake Superior Circle Tour, stop at Red Top Motor Inn in Iron Bridge on the shores of Lake Huron, then continue west to Sault Ste. Marie and around Lake Superior. Want to wake up near the water? The four-room Rock Island Lodge—a half-hour drive from Canada’s Lake Superior Provincial Park—has the Adirondack chairs already in position for a perfect view. I also recommend stopping by Northern Superior Brewing Co in Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie (the Ontario side) for delicious lagers and ales.
Superior Country, Ontario
Skip traditional hotels for stylish accommodations built into beachfront barrels at Cypress Sleeper Barrels near Thunder Bay, one of the largest cities along the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Once you’ve emerged from your “cocoon,” head to Ducky’s Diner for a nostalgic, hearty meal before driving south along the Sibley Peninsula to Silver Islet General Store. The 1871 store has all sorts of teas, mugs, and totes, and the cinnamon rolls in its tearoom are worth the trip alone. Back in Thunder Bay, cap off the day at The Foundry in the waterfront district, where you’ll find live music and beer on tap.
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