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3-star hotel Check-in 16:00 · Check-out 11:00

South Pier Inn

Stay at South Pier Inn in Duluth, MN. Enjoy airy rooms with balconies, free Wi-Fi & breakfast, close to Canal Park and Great Lakes Aquarium.

701 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802, United States View on map
9.4/10
Exceptional Based on 753 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Free breakfast Free parking Accessible Air-conditioned
What recent guests emphasize

Comfort, thoughtful touches, and unbeatable waterfront views

Visitors consistently highlight the hotel's excellent location near the Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal Park, along with clean, well-equipped rooms. The friendly service and special amenities create a welcoming and convenient stay, particularly for those interested in harbor views and local attractions.

Guests often praise

  • Spectacular waterfront views of passing ships and the Aerial Lift Bridge
  • Clean, spacious rooms with thoughtful extras like binoculars, umbrellas, and cozy robes
  • Friendly, helpful staff providing personalized touches such as wake-up calls for ship watching
  • Convenient amenities including free Wi-Fi, complimentary continental breakfast, and in-room microwaves and refrigerators
  • Quiet, comfortable atmosphere with touches like fireplaces and hot tubs in select suites

Worth knowing

  • The hotel does not have an on-site restaurant, fitness center, or pool
  • Pet-friendly accommodations are not available
  • Parking is free and the property is fully smoke-free and accessible
  • Breakfast offerings are continental and light, suitable for quick bites rather than full meals
  • No airport shuttle service is provided, so transportation arrangements may be needed

Best for

  • Travelers seeking a quiet, scenic waterfront stay with great harbor views
  • Guests who appreciate personalized service and thoughtful room amenities
  • Visitors interested in exploring Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge, and local attractions on foot
  • Couples and families looking for a cozy, casual lodging experience with easy access to nearby sights
  • Anyone wanting a convenient base for watching ship traffic and enjoying the Duluth waterfront
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About this property

Welcome to South Pier Inn

South Pier Inn is a casual, family-owned hotel located on the waterfront at 701 S Lake Ave in Duluth, MN. It offers airy rooms and suites, many featuring balconies with views of the harbor and the nearby Aerial Lift Bridge. The inn operates a straightforward check-in time of 4 PM and check-out at 11 AM, catering to visitors seeking convenient scheduling.

Guests can enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi throughout the property, along with free parking and accessible facilities. The rooms are air-conditioned and thoughtfully equipped with amenities such as microwaves, refrigerators, and small comforts including binoculars to watch ships pass through the harbor. The hotel maintains a smoke-free environment but does not allow pets, and it does not feature a restaurant, pool, or fitness center.

Situated adjacent to the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge and within a short walk of Canal Park and the Great Lakes Aquarium, the location appeals particularly to travelers interested in exploring Duluth’s waterfront and attractions. Nearby options for sightseeing include the Glensheen Mansion and various other well-reviewed hotels within close distance, offering additional lodging choices for visitors.

Guest reviews highlight the clean, comfortable rooms and the hotel’s personal touches, such as timely ship notifications and attentive staff who go beyond standard services. This setting suits leisure travelers, couples, and families looking for a relaxed stay with easy access to local landmarks and waterside views, without the trappings of a large resort.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Free parking
Accessible
Air-conditioned
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Pool
Pet-friendly
Restaurant
Airport shuttle
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

LK
Leslie Koehnen Apr 07, 2026
10

My boyfriend and I recently stayed in the executive suite here and it was great! Very clean, great view, and great location. They had many small touches in our room I was impressed by. The umbrella, extra pillows and blankets, books to read, and my favorite was the binoculars. They even supplied a shoe horn which just shows the thought they put into the place.The breakfast had many great options for a quick bite as well. Watching the ships was really neat to see, they even had an option to get a call from the hotel when a ship was going to be coming through. I cant say enough good things about this hotel. We will definitely be back!

SW
Scott Weber Mar 20, 2026
8.0

Fantastic location to watch the boats, they’ll even call you if you desire with a notice. We really appreciated the option of daily maid service and their system of magnetized notices if you wish early, late or no service, brilliant system, why doesn’t everyone do this? Continental breakfast was good light breakfast, room had microwave, frig and a sink, so easy to bring breakfast fixings back. Nice extra touches like binoculars and a fascinating book about the huge ships plying their trade on the Great Lakrs. Very friendly and helpful staff. Really one of the most enjoyable and memorable places my wife and I have ever stayed.

MH
Mark Hobson Mar 06, 2026
10

Second time staying at the South Pier Inn. This time to see the Bentleyville Xmas Lights Tour (an easy walk from the hotel). The Inn is simply great. Lovely room (with hot tub and fireplace!). Very friendly folks at the counter. Free cookies, fruit and hot chocolate. How could it be any better? Well, how about the spectacular vertically rising bridge and giant ships passing by? And on the other side of the bridge, all sorts of restaurants, etc. We will be back! Soon!

SM
Sue Milligan Feb 27, 2026
10

The rooms are clean and thoughtfully appointed. The touches like the robes, umbrella, roll of paper towels, and binoculars made it easy to see they want their guests to have a pleasant stay. The workers at the desk are both friendly and knowledgeable. We asked for and got a 2 am wake up call so we could go out and watch a late night ship come through the harbor. 5 out of 5 stars, definitely recommend.

MM
Mia Miller Feb 08, 2026
10

Stayed here for my husband's 50th. It was so cute. Definitely will be back. Beautiful right on the water. Can't wait to come back in the summer.

RL
Rebekah Lynch Feb 05, 2026
10

This place has it all! So wonderful I dont want others to know about it! Hahah! We came up for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We stayed in the Executive Suite and the view was perfection of the harbor and Bentleyville when it was lit up! This room was so clean, I didnt use 1 Lysol wipe(which i bring to all hotels just in case)! The woman working the nightshift, Marjorie, made the cutest prepped hot cocoa cups with extras on the side ready to add! The best touch on a cold day! She also looked up and called around, to see what restaurants may be open Christmas for us! So above and beyond. The guy in the day shift was also super nice! The hotel is so cute, awesome location, and wonderful all around! It was a perfect Christmas getaway for our family of 3!

MK
Mike Kohles Feb 01, 2026
10

The room was fantastic! Our room faced the canal, which I would highly recommend. We were able to see one ship coming into the harbor. Watching it pass by our window was so awesome, even though it was 5am! Breakfast was very good & the perfect way to start our day. I highly recommend this place!! Location is fantastic, especially if you are interested in harbor traffic.

DB
Dan Borkenhagen Dec 23, 2025
10

Beautiful hotel with the perfect location. The views over the bay were wonderful, even in the winter! Close to all the fun at Canal Park. Wonderful amenities - a nice breakfast with fresh baked good, high ceilings in the rooms, great spa tub, and more! Service was excellent. I highly recommend it!

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find South Pier Inn

Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Adjacent to the Aerial Lift Bridge, this casual, family-owned waterfront hotel is a 5-minute walk from Canal Park and 0.8 miles from the Great Lakes Aquarium.

  • Lake Ave S & 08 St 2 min Walk
  • Lake Ave & 10 St 5 min Walk
  • Lake Ave & Morse St 4 min Walk
  • Duluth International Airport 19 min Car · 51 min Transit
  • Range Regional Airport 1 hr 20 Car
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Minnesota. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Aerial Lift Bridge 3,120 reviews

Aerial Lift Bridge

601 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

4.8 · Bridge
Great Lakes Aquarium 4,683 reviews

Great Lakes Aquarium

353 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

4.5 · Aquarium
Glensheen Mansion 4,226 reviews

Glensheen Mansion

3300 London Rd, Duluth, MN 55804, United States

4.7 · Museum
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