When to visit Duluth & North Shore without the crowds
Duluth & North Shore (Minnesota, United States) is calmest in February, March, April, May, October and December: fewer people and better prices. It gets busiest in July and August. Below is every month with crowds, temperatures and festivals.
Best months
Jun & late Oct
When everyone heads home
The second half of October.
Tip
Lake Superior cools the shore: bring a sweater for July evenings.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Avg. high | Festivals & holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3/5 · moderate | -6 °C (22 °F) | New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February | 2/5 · calm | -5 °C (24 °F) | Presidents Day |
| March | 1/5 · calm | 1 °C (35 °F) | |
| April | 1/5 · calm | 6 °C (42 °F) | |
| May | 2/5 · calm | 12 °C (54 °F) | Memorial Day |
| June | 3/5 · moderate | 18 °C (65 °F) | Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| July | 4/5 · busy | 22 °C (71 °F) | Independence Day |
| August | 4/5 · busy | 22 °C (72 °F) | |
| September | 3/5 · moderate ✦ | 20 °C (68 °F) | Labour Day |
| October | 2/5 · calm ✦ | 13 °C (55 °F) | North Shore fall colours (late Sep–Oct) |
| November | 3/5 · moderate | 5 °C (41 °F) | Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day |
| December | 2/5 · calm | -2 °C (28 °F) | Christmas Day |
✦ = something special to see.
What to see, and when
- Fall colours (late Sep–Oct).
Crowds are a relative index for each place: 1 is its calmest month and 5 its busiest. Temperatures: Copernicus ERA5, 2016–2025 average. How it works
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Duluth & North Shore without the crowds?
The calmest month is usually March and April (crowds 1/5). In April the average high is 6 °C (42 °F). All the calm months: February, March, April, May, October and December.
When is Duluth & North Shore most crowded?
The busiest season is July and August. The second half of October.
What is the weather like in Duluth & North Shore?
Average highs range from -6 °C (22 °F) in January to 22 °C (72 °F) in August, from Copernicus ERA5 (2016–2025).
What is there to see in Duluth & North Shore by season?
Fall colours (late Sep–Oct).
What festivals are there in Duluth & North Shore?
The main ones: North Shore fall colours (late Sep–Oct) (October).
More places in Minnesota
- Minneapolis calm in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October and December; busiest in August