Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) | Hancock, MI | Fly or boat in | 60 | Regional |
| Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport (MQT) | Gwinn, MI | Fly or boat in | 133 | Regional |
| Ford Airport (IMT) | Kingsford, MI | Fly or boat in | 155 | Regional |
| Minneapolis, Saint Paul International Airport / Wold, Chamberlain Field (MSP) | Minneapolis, MN | Fly or boat in | 301 | Large hub |
There is no road to the park, so plan a flight or boat from the town in the table.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
Isle Royale National Park headquarters is located in Houghton, MI. Visit the Houghton page on the Isle Royale National Park website for additional information and a map on how to access the visitor center.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. Isle Royale National Park is open annually from April 16 to October 31. Transportation services are offered from May to September. The island and its surrounding islands are closed to all visitors from November 1 to April 15 due to extreme winter weather conditions and for the safety and protection of visitors. This closure extends 4.5 miles out into Lake Superior from the island. Park headquarters during the winter is in Houghton, Michigan. Summer headquarters is located at Mott Island on Isle Royale.
Visitor centers
- Houghton Visitor Center: Mon 8:00AM - 5:00PM; Tue 8:00AM - 5:00PM; Wed 8:00AM - 5:00PM; Thu 8:00AM - 5:00PM; Fri 8:00AM - 5:00PM; Sat 10:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun Closed. April 15 - May 24: Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 4:00pm May 26 - September 20: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT, Saturday 10 am - 5 pm EDT September 21 - October 31: Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 4:00pm, Closed Federal Holidays November 1 - April 14: Closed
- Rock Harbor Visitor Center: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Rock Harbor Visitor Center is open daily during July and August. For visiting during May, June, and September, contact the park for updated hours at (906) 482-0984. Rock Harbor's annual winter closure is from mid-September through early June
- Windigo Visitor Center: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Windigo Visitor Center is open daily during July and August. For visiting during May, June, and September, contact the park for updated hours at (906) 482-0984. Windigo's annual winter closure is from mid-September through early June
Gas, groceries and charging
There is no road into Isle Royale; you arrive by plane or boat. Buy food, fuel and supplies in the town you leave from, and pack everything you need for the trip.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.