DLH ↔ VIRGINIA
$45one way
Airport access for the Iron Range.
Request seats DULUTH AIRPORT ↔ ELY, MINNESOTA
Land in Duluth.
Head for
the woods.
Your ride to canoe country. A planned summer airport shuttle to Ely and the Boundary Waters, with room for you and your adventure.
No payment. No obligation. Launch subject to confirmation.
THE NORTHWOODS CONNECTION01 / DLH → ELY
PROPOSED ELY FARE$69PER PERSON · ONE WAY
Vehicle concept · Final fleet and operator to be confirmed
Airport pickup planned Built around outdoor gear Straight to canoe country $0 due with your request
ONE AIRPORT. A WHOLE LOT OF NORTH.
The road to
your next adventure.
Duluth Airport to Ely, with a few useful stops along the Iron Range. A simple shared ride for paddlers, visitors and locals.
PROPOSED SUMMER CORRIDOR N ↗
- DLH
Duluth International Airport
Your connection to the Northwoods. Exact terminal pickup to be confirmed.
- 01
Eveleth / Virginia
Virginia is the main Iron Range stop. Eveleth pickup by request, subject to confirmation.
- 02
Tower / Soudan
For the Lake Vermilion area. Onward resort transfers arranged separately.
- ELY
Ely, Minnesota
Proposed central stop at Adventure Inn. Connect with your hotel or outfitter.
About 2–2½ hours, allowing for stops Final stops and journey times to be confirmed
BOUNDARY WATERS, MINNESOTALESS RENTAL CAR. MORE CANOE.
Leave the car out
of the adventure.
A week on the water should not mean a week paying for a car parked on shore. We are planning a shared airport connection that gets you to Ely, ready for whatever comes next.
Pack for the trip.Large duffels, backpacks and outdoor gear are part of the plan. Tell us what you are bringing.
A connection that makes sense.Your flight details will help shape the schedule. We want departures that work for actual arrivals.
For more than canoe trips.Cabin weekends, family visits, summer jobs, college and the journey home.
SHARED RIDE. SIMPLE PRICING.
A fare worth
leaving the car for.
Proposed fares for Summer 2027. All prices are per person in US dollars. No money is collected when you request seats.
DLH ↔ TOWER / SOUDAN
$55one way
Your connection to the Vermilion area.
Request seats THE CANOE COUNTRY CONNECTION
DLH ↔ ELY
$69one way
Or $119 round trip per person.
Request seats Indicative pricing, subject to confirmation. Standard luggage is intended to be included; size limits and special gear arrangements are being finalized. Eveleth fares to be confirmed.
BUILT AROUND YOUR ARRIVAL
Flights first.
Timetable second.
We are testing one daily round trip from May through September 2027. Extra peak summer departures would depend on demand.
These example times show the idea. Share your flight details so we can build the right schedule.
Check Duluth Airport airlinesMAKE YOUR NEXT TRIP EASIER
Your summer.
Your seat request.
Tell us where you are headed. Your request helps us decide which dates, stops and flight connections to serve.
- 1Share your travel plans.
Dates, passengers, destination and flights if you know them.
- 2We shape the service.
Real demand helps determine the route and departures.
- 3You choose when bookings open.
We will follow up with confirmed options. No automatic charge.
Planning for Summer 2027
This is a soft reservation: an expression of interest, with no reserved inventory, payment or obligation. Launch, fares and availability remain subject to confirmation.
Request your ride
MAY — SEP 2027GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
A few things
you might ask.
Is Boundary Waters Express running yet?+
Not yet. We are gathering interest for a proposed May through September 2027 launch. Daily summer service is the goal, subject to demand, an operating partner and final arrangements. A seat request is not a ticket or a guaranteed place. Please do not rely on it for a confirmed travel connection.
How do I get from Duluth Airport to Ely without a rental car?+
Our planned shared shuttle would connect Duluth International Airport (DLH) with Ely via Virginia and Tower / Soudan. Until launch is confirmed, ask your outfitter about existing private airport transfers. Boundary Waters Express is a proposed additional option.
What will the Duluth to Ely shuttle cost?+
We are testing $69 per person one way and $119 round trip between Duluth Airport and Ely. Proposed one way fares are $55 for Tower / Soudan and $45 for Virginia. Final fares, inclusions and any applicable charges will be provided before you decide whether to book.
Where would the shuttle stop in Ely?+
Adventure Inn is the proposed central Ely pickup and drop location. Exact pickup points for Ely, the airport and intermediate towns will be confirmed before ticket sales. A town stop does not include onward transport to individual resorts or wilderness entry points.
Can I bring backpacks, fishing gear or a cooler?+
That is the plan. We are designing the service for large duffels, backpacks and outdoor gear, with standard luggage intended to be included. Tell us about paddles, fishing rods, coolers and oversized items in your request. Exact baggage limits and any special equipment arrangements are still to be confirmed. Canoes and kayaks are not automatically included.
How will the shuttle connect with flights?+
We intend to plan departures around demand and Duluth flight schedules. Share your flight number and local arrival or departure time, even if tentative. The example timetable is for feedback only. Flight connections, delay handling and missed departure policies will be confirmed before bookings open.
Can students, seasonal workers and local residents ride?+
Yes, the planned service is for everyone needing this airport connection: paddlers, hotel guests, local residents, visiting family, students and summer employees. Tell us your dates and reason for travel so we can plan around real demand.
Does the service include BWCA permits or entry point transfers?+
No. Arrange your wilderness permit and any transfer beyond the town stop separately with your outfitter. Airport transport, overnight accommodation and a canoe trip are separate arrangements.
What about Babbitt, Minneapolis or Grand Marais?+
The first proposed corridor is Duluth Airport to Ely. Babbitt is outside the core route. Minneapolis / St. Paul and a North Shore route through Two Harbors and Silver Bay to Grand Marais would be separate future services, with no launch commitment. Tell us about another destination in the notes field.
Can you accommodate wheelchairs, children or special travel needs?+
Please tell us what you need in your request. The vehicle and operator have not been selected, so accessible transport, child restraints, service animal arrangements and other requirements must be confirmed individually before booking. Do not include medical records or sensitive medical details.
Am I charged when I request seats?+
No. We do not collect card details, take a deposit or charge you automatically. If the service launches, we will contact you about available departures and final pricing. You can then decide whether to make a paid booking.
LET’S MAKE THE LAST LEG EASIER
Outfitters. Lodges.
Good connections.
Help your guests get from the airport to their adventure. We are inviting Ely and Iron Range lodging providers, outfitters, employers, colleges and licensed transport operators to help shape the launch.
Tell us about likely travel dates, group sizes and partnership interest. Booking links and referral arrangements will be developed as the service takes shape.
Explore Adventure Inn, our proposed Ely stopBe part of the route.
PLAN THE REST OF YOUR TRIP
Independent planning resources. Links do not imply endorsement or a confirmed partnership.
Privacy, requests and photo credits
Your information
Boundary Waters Express stores the details you submit to assess demand, plan the Summer 2027 service and respond to your request. We do not collect payment card information. Contact and trip details are not displayed publicly or sold. Only authorized site administrators can access submitted records.
We record campaign and referral tags supplied with the page link to understand how travelers found us. We use your email for your request and service planning updates, not unrelated marketing. This site does not currently use advertising trackers. The embedded OpenStreetMap and externally hosted photo may receive standard browser information, including your IP address, when they load.
Use the form below to ask us to correct, withdraw or delete your request. We may need to verify your email before making changes. Please do not include financial information, passport numbers or medical records.
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Photo credits
Boundary Waters landscape: U.S. Forest Service / Department of the Interior, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Shuttle image: original generated vehicle concept, not a photograph of an operating fleet. Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Last updated September 7, 2026.