Minnesota travel, Ely, Lake Itaska,What to see and do?

You are already on your way, but I have to agree with previous posters about the North Shore. It's the gem of Minnesota. Unfortunately, there are only 3 state parks north of Duluth that have electric (Tettegouche, Cascade and Temperance) and they are pretty busy this time of year. I'd still check on line.

In Grand Marais there is a city campground that almost always has openings. The sites themselves aren't so great (pretty close together), but you are right on Lake Superior and can walk into town. Make sure to try the Best Donuts place (they really are yummy). Another of our favorites is Sven and Oles pizza.

You can also drive the Gunflint trail where you may see a moose, do some hiking or just stop along highway 61 to check out the waterfalls and scenic views. Make sure to stop at a visitors information center for a north shore map. It lists all the top destinations in order of driving north along the shore.

Even if you don't stay overnight, Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse are worth stops for the falls (tons of info on the north shore as well) and the lighthouse (you can do a tour or just get a great view of the lake and lighthouse if you head to the camping area and walk out to the lake).

Also, along the Minnesota/Canada border on highway 61 is Grand Portage State Park. They have a wonderful boardwalk that takes you to the highest falls in Minnesota as well as an old fort that you can tour as well as a visitor center. The fort is open until the middle of October and there are people dressed up from the fur trading days and they tell you lots of information and sometimes they are even cooking and you can try some of the food they are making.

Itasca is our favorite state park in Minnesota. You should be able to find openings there and there is alot to do in the park. You can do a Coborn's boat tour, rent a boat, walk across the Mississippi, check out the visitors centers (there are 2), bike (they have 15 miles of bike trails) drive the wilderness trail and eat at the historic Douglas Lodge.

Ely is a cool little town where most people stay either before or after entering the Boundary Waters Canoe area. There is a very nice COE park (Fall Lake) just outside of town. There is also the international wolf center where you can see live wolves and learn more about them. There are lots of unique fun places to eat in town.

SUGGESTIONS: ELY - International Wolf Center, SOUDAN - Underground Mine Tour, TOWER - Fortune Bay Casino RV Park, GRAND RAPIDS - Forest History Museum & Judy Garland Museum, BENA - Big Fish Supper Club & Big Winnie Store designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, WALKER - Northern Lights Casino RV Parking & Leech Lake, HACKENSACK - Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart Lucette, CASS LAKE - Palace Casino RV Parking, BEMIDJI - Paul Bunyan & Babe.

The North Shore is usually crowded with campers and sightseers. You are going at a good time to miss the crowds, I think. I definitely recommend it. Plenty of nice waterfalls, good hiking trails (both short and long), nice views of the big lake, and pleasant campgrounds. Some folks like to drive the Gunflint Trail through the north woods and camp in one of the NF CGs. In Grand Marais, get a pizza at Sven and Ole's, and take the short walk out to Artist's Point. Walk around and into the picturesque Split Rock Lighthouse. A few miles south of the lighthouse, unhook and drive to Palisade Head for a spectacular view of the lake far below.

X2 for North Shore. Lakehead boat basin has an RV park on a pier overlooking the harbor. Great entry point to north shore from Duluth just across the canal park. Don't want to take away from Ely, but unless you are going to fish, canoe, back country stuff, north shore is a must.

sdianel wrote:
Itasca State Park is awesome. Don't miss it. Grand Casino Hinckley has a beautiful RV Park. Along Lake Superior: Burlington Bay Campground City Park, Two Harbors MN. Get a site in the upper level overlooking the lake. Betty's Pies is a great place for burger and pie! Grand Marais MN along the lake. Grand Marais RV Park and Marina. Dockside Fish Market has great food! We drove up Hwy 61 to the Canadian border. Tettegouche State Park has a waterfall. Also Splitrock State Park Lighthouse is beautiful! If you have time when you head back, Pipestone National Monument in SW Minnesota is interesting.

Good advise but OP was not even thinking about the area along lake superior I would by pass Ely and do the above

Note the parks in Grand Marais and Two Harbors are city parks and have full hookups - no State Park in Minnesota has full hookups.

The Casino in Hinckley is a good sam 10 10 we paid 27.89 per night up there this summer

Itasca State Park is awesome. Don't miss it. Grand Casino Hinckley has a beautiful RV Park. Along Lake Superior: Burlington Bay Campground City Park, Two Harbors MN. Get a site in the upper level overlooking the lake. Betty's Pies is a great place for burger and pie! Grand Marais MN along the lake. Grand Marais RV Park and Marina. Dockside Fish Market has great food! We drove up Hwy 61 to the Canadian border. Tettegouche State Park has a waterfall. Also Splitrock State Park Lighthouse is beautiful! If you have time when you head back, Pipestone National Monument in SW Minnesota is interesting.

STANG23L wrote:
Make sure you hit up the North shore on Lake Superior on your way to or from Ely. Many great places to stop in at.

Tettegouche State Park has some nice hiking to the lake and to a couple waterfalls. And can't miss Betty's pies near Two Harbors.

Ditto on the State Parks. All of them along Highway 61 are spectacular.

Make sure you hit up the North shore on Lake Superior on your way to or from Ely. Many great places to stop in at.

Tettegouche State Park has some nice hiking to the lake and to a couple waterfalls. And can't miss Betty's pies near Two Harbors.

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Casinojunkie wrote:
We plan to head from Cedar Rapids, IA to northern MN, such as Ely, Grand Rapids, Lake Itasca then back home. Would love to hear from folks as to what is a must see, do, great restaurants, good campgrounds etc.
Plan leave Sat. Sept. 17 and be on the road for about 2 weeks.
Thank you for your input.

Check out the state parks! They usually are the best accommodations around, with a couple of disclaimers:
Not all have electric sites, and very few have full hook-ups. All sites at all parks are now reservable - meaning even if you pull up to the gate looking for a spot, you have to go online (or have the ranger do it) to "reserve" your site. Electric can be hard to get, but since you are going in the late season, the odds of finding one are pretty good. Jay Cooke near Duluth and Bear Head Lake on the way to Ely are two great ones - but popular, so get online quick. Most are tight for "big rigs", but with your size 5th, you shouldn't have issues, just note the length of the site when reserving - what is reported is the total length available for trailer and tow.