The Lake Superior Circle Tour is 1,300 miles (2,902 km). These distances are based off the official route; however, some may alter off the course to visit other surrounding attractions and activities.

You can travel the Lake Superior Circle Tour either clockwise or counterclockwise! There is no set direction for completing the tour. The route you decide to travel can be based on your own timeline and what you would like to see first.

Clockwise

Many state that traveling clockwise allows for safer exiting to lake side attractions as you do not have to cut across the highway. This can be especially true for motorcyclists and can make merging and exiting a lot easier for large RV and campers.

Counterclockwise

Others prefer counterclockwise as they claim you have a better view of the Lake. It is also said that traveling counterclockwise on the Canadian side of the lake will allow you to travel through poor weather faster as poor weather conditions often travel from the west to the east. By traveling against bad weather you will likely pass through it quicker than if you were to travel with it.

Looking for more information on determining how you will travel the Lake? Visit our Clockwise or Counterclockwise page!

A valid passport if often needed to complete the Lake Superior Circle Tour. However, alternative details and information can be found below. We also recommend visiting our Border Crossing Information Page.

US Citizens

US citizens aged 16 and older, entering Canada by air, land or water, must present one of the following documents:

A passport or passport card

An Enhanced Driver’s License

Or a Trusted Traveler Program Card (SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST Card)

US Travelers aged 15 and under require a birth certificate for land or sea and a passport for air travel.

Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. by land or sea are required to present one of the travel documents listed below, and may generally visit the U.S. for up to six months.

Canadian passport

Enhanced Driver’s License/Enhanced Identification Card

NEXUS, FAST/EXPRES and SENTRI enrollment cards

There is cell phone service on the Lake Superior Circle Tour. However, there are some areas along the route where service will not be available. This is especially true for sections of the Canadian side. Also, it is important to check with your cell phone carrier to see if they have coverage along the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Some networks will often have more or less coverage than others. It is also important to look into your roaming overages as you will be visiting another country for a portion of the Circle Tour. For more information visit our Cell Service Information page.

The best time to do the Lake Superior Circle Tour is anytime! It all depends on what you would like to do and see on your Tour. Many travelers prefer the summer months for its warmer weather and access to campgrounds and outdoor activities. Some prefer the Spring as it is less busy than the Summer months and not quite as warm. Others want nothing more than to travel the Circle during the Fall as it offers a great opportunity to see the autumnal colors of the changing leaves. For the truly adventurous a Winter tour is an opportunity to capture brilliant photos and videos that only the snow and ice can offer – not to mention the raw power of the Lake during early winter. For more information on completing the Tour during the different seasons, and determining which is best for you, visit our Seasons Page.

No, the weather can be quite different around the Lake Superior Circle Tour. It is best to prepare for all weather conditions especially according to the season you are travelling in. It is recommended to look at the weather forecasts for your travelling dates before you start your journey around the lake and to frequently check them as you travel. For more information visit our Weather Page!

The Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide, often called the Lake Superior Circle Tour Magazine or the Lake Superior Circle Tour Book, can be ordered from our website for a small shipping and handling fee by clicking here. It is also available, FREE, along the Lake Superior Circle Tour within travel, welcome, and information centers. You can also find it in magazine racks all along the route at different businesses and accommodations. If you do not require a printed copy you can download the guide as well.

For detailed instructions on how to use our online Lake Superior Circle Tour Trip Planner visit our How to Use Trip Planner page.

A Lake Superior Circle Tour Map can be found in the Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide. The map is in the middle of the guide and can easily be removed. You can also download a map of the Lake Superior Circle Tour from our downloads page.

There is a Lake Superior Circle Tour Campground list within the Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide. You can also download the campground list from our downloads page. Happy camping!

To earn your Lake Superior Circle Tour Certificate you must collect stamps all around the lake, submit your collection, and a certificate will be emailed to you. For more detailed information on the Lake Superior Circle Tour Certificate, and how to receive yours, click here.

The Lake Superior Circle Tour is a self guided 1,300 mile (2,902 km) tour that brings you through two countries (Canada and USA) three states (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) and one province which contains two tourism regions (Ontario’s Superior Country and Ontario’s Algoma Country).

Planning your own self guided tour around Lake Superior can be intimidating. However, the Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide has everything you need to get started!

You can build your own trip utilizing our trip planning map. If you are looking for a starting point you can also visit our Lake Superior Circle Tour suggested itineraries page which contains several different itineraries to help you get started. To learn how to use the online trip planner visit our “How to Use Trip Planner” page.

For those who prefer paper we recommend utilizing the Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide.

It is recommended that you make bookings in advance to make sure that you have somewhere to stay in the location of your choosing. This is especially true during the summer months which can become quite busy.

It is recommended to bring both Canadian and American currency while traveling the Lake Superior Circle Tour. However, you do not necessarily always have to carry cash. You shouldn’t have any problems while traveling with a credit card. Although, it is always smart to have a small amount of the local currency on you while traveling in case you visit somewhere that does not take credit cards.

For tips and information on traveling the Lake Superior Circle Tour by Motorcycle we recommend visiting our Lake Superior Circle Tour Motorcycle page.

While riding in Ontario you must wear a helmet. You only need to wear a helmet in Michigan if you are under the age of 21 and in Wisconsin and Minnesota if you are under the age of 18. For more information on traveling the Lake Superior Circle Tour by motorcycle we recommend visiting our Lake Superior Circle Tour Motorcycle page.

Yes! Traveling the Lake Superior Circle Tour in an RV/motorhome is an excellent way to explore Lake Superior. The route is full of provincial, state, and national parks. For more information, and tips, visit our Lake Superior Circle Tour RV page. Also, for a list of campgrounds download out Lake Superior Circle Tour Campground List.

Yes you can complete the Lake Superior Circle Tour by bicycle. However, your route may have to differ from the original Circle Tour due to some restrictions. It is advisable that you research bicycle laws for each state and the province of Ontario prior to beginning your journey.  We also recommend seeking out others who have completed the tour by bicycle already. A good way to do this is to join the Lake Superior Circle Tour Group on Facebook and asking for advice.

Yes you can complete the Lake Superior Circle Tour by foot. However, your route may have to differ from the original Circle Tour due to some restrictions. It is advisable that you research the laws of each state and province of the tour prior to beginning your journey. We also recommend seeking out others who have completed the tour by foot already. A good way to do this is to join the Lake Superior Circle Tour Group on Facebook and asking for advice.

Yes you can do the Lake Superior Circle Tour by boat. However, this mode of transportation is much more advance and requires an abundance of knowledge. For more information we recommend visiting our Lake Superior Circle Tour Boating page.

You can find all the waterfalls along the Lake Superior Circle Tour by visiting our Map Page and selecting “waterfalls” under the Attraction filter. You can also read up on many of the waterfalls by visiting our Lake Superior Circle Tour Waterfalls blog entry.

Yes there is a list of Lake Superior Circle Tour hiking trails. If you visit our online Map you will be able to select hiking trails to view all of the trails along the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Remember that not all trail are maintained at the same level. It is important that you research trail before visiting to ensure its difficulty level and condition.

Yes there is a list of Lake Superior Circle Tour attractions. If you visit our online Map you will be able to select attractions to view all of the attractions along the Lake Superior Circle Tour. For additional recommendations on must see attractions we recommend visiting our Blog and joining the Lake Superior Circle Tour Group on Facebook to ask for other traveler recommendations.

Yes there is a list of Lake Superior Circle Tour Tourist Information Centers. It can be found by visiting our Welcome and Information Centers page. You can also view them by visiting on our Map page and by selecting the Tourist Information Center filter option.