Isle Royale National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula includes the island of Isle Royale, as well as more than 400 smaller nearby islands and the Lake Superior waters that surround them. A 45-mile-long and 9-mile-wide island, Isle Royale is the fourth-largest lake island in the world, with an area of 206.73 square miles. Aside from its size in Lake Superior, it’s also the second-largest island in the Great Lakes, the third-largest island in the contiguous United States, and the 33rd largest island in the country. It’s also the second-largest natural island in the lake.
Explore a craggy, secluded island that is completely cut off from the rest of the world’s noises and sights. Isle Royale, which is surrounded by Lake Superior, is a popular destination for travelers, hikers, canoeists, kayakers, and scuba divers. In the midst of breathtaking scenery, you’ll be able to reflect and discover new things and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Entrances and how to reach Isle Royale National Park
Making travel arrangements to Isle Royale might be a hassle. Getting to the island is simple, there are only three steps involved.
Take a trip to either Michigan or Minnesota
- Lake Superior’s Isle Royale is a solitary piece of land.
- People are the only ones who can benefit from transportation options.
- There is no need to worry about your car being stranded on the island.
Plan Your Island Transportation Options
- Traveling via ferry, seaplane, or private boat is all viable options.
- Grand Marais is a two-hour drive from the cities of Houghton, Copper Harbor, Grand Portage
To which island will you arrive?
- The easternmost point of the peninsula: Rock Harbor
- The easternmost point of the peninsula: Windigo
Leaving from Michigan
After leaving Houghton, Michigan The Ranger III Seaplane or Isle Royale Seaplanes
Step 1: Make your way to Houghton, Michigan.
Vehicle: Located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Houghton is a city. It’s about 250 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, about 200 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and about 400 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. Located at the foot of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Houghton may be reached via US-41.
Airplane: US-41, north of Houghton, connects the Houghton County Memorial Airport with United Airlines, which flies daily to the airport.
Bus: In Houghton, Michigan, Indian Trails provides daily bus service to and from the city.
Step 2: Head to Houghton. Transportation
Ferry: The place where you’ll be departing. Mainland Headquarters at 800 E. Lakeshore Dr., Houghton is where the park’s ferries are serviced.
Seaplane: At the Hancock Portage Canal Seaplane Base, 47150 US Highway 41, Houghton, Michigan 49931, Isle Royale Seaplanes flies.
Step 3: Take the ferry to Isle Royale National Park.
- Fly into Rock Harbor on a Ranger III or a seaplane, depending on your preference.
- Travel time for Ranger III is six hours.
- An outbound flight will depart at 9:00 am EDT, or 8:15 am CST.
- 2:00 pm Central time is the time to arrive at Rock Harbor at 3:00 pm Eastern
- It takes roughly 40 minutes to fly by seaplane
- From Rock Harbor, take the Voyageur II or a seaplane to Windigo.
Aboard the Isle Royale Queen IV, departing from Copper Harbor, Michigan
Step 1: Make your way to Copper Harbor, MI.
Vehicle: Copper Harbor can be found on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on the point of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Near Houghton, Michigan, US-41 leads to this small community.
Airplane: For those traveling by plane, there are daily United Airlines flights to Houghton County Memorial Airport (about 44 miles south of Copper Harbor on US-41).
Bus: There isn’t a bus.
Step 2: Transportation to Copper Harbor is the next step.
Ferry: This is the place where you’ll be departing. At 14 Waterfront Landing in Copper Harbor, Michigan 49918, Isle Royale Line operates the Isle Royale Queen IV ferry service.
Seaplane: Transport by seaplane is not an option at this time.
Step 3: Take the ferry to Isle Royale National Park.
- The Isle Royale Queen IV will bring you to Rock Harbor.
- 3.5 hours of driving time
- At 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, the outbound flight will depart.
- Arrive at Rock Harbor at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
- From Rock Harbor, take the Voyageur II or a seaplane to Windigo.
Leaving from Minnesota
Taking off from Grand Portage, MN. Sea Hunter III or the Voyageur II
Step 1: Get away from it all at Grand Portage, MN.
Vehicle: 150 miles north of Duluth, Grand Portage is a city in the northeastern part of Minnesota. It may be found 50 miles south of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, off of US Route 61.
Airplane: Thunder Bay International Airport, the nearest airport, is around 50 miles away from Grand Portage. Grand Portage is 150 miles south of Duluth International Airport.
Bus: In Duluth, Arrowhead Transit provides bus service on Tuesdays between Duluth and Grand Marais. Grand Marais and Grand Portage are serviced by shuttles on a daily basis.
Step 2: Go to Grand Portage in the second step. The departure point of transportation.
Ferry: Grand Portage Marina, located at 402 Upper Rd, Grand Portage, Minnesota 55605, serves as the departure point for Voyageur II and Sea Hunter III ferries.
Seaplane: No access by seaplane.
Step 3: Take the ferry to Isle Royale National Park.
- Voyageur II or Sea Hunter III can bring you to Windigo.
- The voyage by Voyageur II takes two hours.
- Outbound At 8:30 a.m. EDT/7:30 a.m. CST, the flight departs.
- Take the train to Windigo at 10:30 am EDT/9:30 am CST.
- The Sea Hunter III takes 1.5 hours to get there.
- Outbound At 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time/8:30 a.m. Central Time, we’ll take off for Philadelphia.
- To be here on time, you need arrive to Windigo at 11:00 am EDT/10:00 am CST
- From Windigo, take the Voyageur II or a seaplane to Rock Harbor.
- Travel time on the Voyageur II is 5 hours.
- At 3:00 p.m. Central time, the Voyageur II will arrive at Rock Harbor at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
Isle Royale Seaplanes depart Grand Marais, Minnesota, for the destination.
Step 1: The first step is to go to Grand Marais, MN.
Vehicle: It takes 110 miles to travel from Duluth, Minnesota, to Grand Marais, Minnesota, located in the state’s northeastern region. In Canada, it is located 80 miles southwest of Thunder Bay on US-61 off of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Airplane: Thunder Bay International Airport, the nearest airport, is 80 miles away from Grand Marais. Grand Marais is 110 miles south of Duluth International Airport.
Bus: Arrowhead Transit operates bus service on Tuesdays between Duluth and Grand Marais, Minnesota, making stops along the way.
Step 2: Visiting Grand Marais is the next step. Arrival at the Point of Departure
Ferry: There is no ferry service to or from this location at this time.
Seaplane: The Cook County Airport in Grand Marais, Minnesota, serves as the departure point for Isle Royale Seaplanes Minnesota.
Step 3: Take the ferry to Isle Royale National Park.
- Rock Harbor may be accessed via seaplane.
- About 45 minutes of driving time is required.
- Take a seaplane to Windigo.
- About 30 minutes of driving time is needed.