About Us : Great Lakes Aquarium

## Great Lakes Aquarium (Duluth) Guide: What to Know Before You Go

Great Lakes Aquarium is a freshwater-focused aquarium on Duluth’s Lake Superior waterfront at 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802. Lakes Aquarium
It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and asks visitors to plan so they’re done exploring by closing. Lakes Aquarium

## Quick facts at a glance

– Address: 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802 Lakes Aquarium
– Phone: (218) 740-3474 Lakes Aquarium
– Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Lakes Aquarium
– Standard admission (listed on the aquarium’s site):
– Adults: $20.00
– Seniors 62+: $19.00
– Children (3–17): $16.00
– Children 2 and under: Free Lakes Aquarium
– Child supervision rule: Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Lakes Aquarium

## How to get there (driving, transit, walking, biking)

### Driving directions (from the aquarium’s “Getting Here” page)
If you’re coming via I-35, the aquarium’s directions repeatedly route drivers to Exit 256B (5th Avenue West) and then onto Harbor Drive, with the aquarium parking lot on the right. Lakes Aquarium

### Public transportation
The aquarium states that Duluth Transit Authority Route 24 (and a seasonal trolley) stops across Harbor Drive from the aquarium every hour. Lakes Aquarium

### Walking and cycling access
The aquarium notes access via Duluth’s Lakewalk (from Canal Park), the Cross-City Trail (from Lincoln Park), and the Harbor Drive / 5th Avenue West bridge (from downtown). It also lists a bike rack at the entrance equipped with simple maintenance tools seasonally. Lakes Aquarium

## Parking: what it costs and what’s accessible

The aquarium states parking is available in its lot for a fee, and that prices may change during special events (posted day-of). Lakes Aquarium
The same page lists rates as: up to 5 hours $10, up to 8 hours $15, up to 24 hours $20. Lakes Aquarium
It also notes several accessible parking spaces directly in front of the main entrance. Lakes Aquarium

## What you’ll see inside: exhibit highlights to prioritize

Great Lakes Aquarium’s exhibit list includes (among others) Amazing Amazon, Aquatic Invaders, Baptism River, Freshwater Forest, H2O: Watersheds at Work, Isle Royale, Lava to Lakes, Oceans Alive, Otter Cove, Raptor Ridge, St. Louis River, Unsalted Seas, and Wild Neighbors. Lakes Aquarium

Below are a few exhibits where the aquarium provides clear, specific “what it is” details:

### Isle Royale (two-story Great Lakes habitat)
– The aquarium describes the Isle Royale exhibit as 85,000 gallons, focused on fish found in the Great Lakes. Lakes Aquarium
– It specifically mentions native Lake Superior fish in colder, deeper waters such as trout, lake sturgeon, and burbot. Lakes Aquarium

### Unsalted Seas (large lakes worldwide + touchpool feature)
– The aquarium describes Unsalted Seas as showcasing large lakes of the world, the animals that live in them, and their importance as a global freshwater resource. Lakes Aquarium
– It explicitly states this exhibit features the largest sturgeon touchpool in North America. Lakes Aquarium
– The aquarium also mentions a panoramic exhibit of cichlids tied to Lake Malawi. Lakes Aquarium
– It notes visitors can discover scientific research connected to the Large Lakes Observatory’s R/V Blue Heron. Lakes Aquarium

### H2O: Watersheds at Work (hands-on water learning)
The aquarium describes H2O: Watersheds at Work as an exhibit where visitors can explore:
– Physical properties of water
– Methods to keep water clean
– How water moves through a community
– How water connects people to the wider world Lakes Aquarium

### Otter Cove (named resident river otters)
The aquarium states Otter Cove is home to two North American river otters named Agate and Ore. Lakes Aquarium

## Touch experiences: what the aquarium explicitly says you can touch

The aquarium’s accessibility/tactile-tour page notes that touchpool staff guide touch experiences with:
– Sharks
– Horseshoe crabs
– Sturgeon
– Moon jellies
– Tidepool invertebrates Lakes Aquarium

(That same page also clarifies tactile tours themselves don’t include touchpool stops.) Lakes Aquarium

## Accessibility and sensory-friendly planning

### Tactile tours (for guests who are blind or have vision loss)
The aquarium offers tactile tours designed for guests with vision loss, led by an educator, using detailed descriptions and artifacts/models to touch. Lakes Aquarium
Key logistics the aquarium lists:
– Offered at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Lakes Aquarium
– Must be scheduled at least one week in advance Lakes Aquarium
– No fee for these access tours Lakes Aquarium

### Sensory-friendly resources
The aquarium states it can be an energetic, stimulus-rich environment and lists these supports:
– A sensory break room available by asking staff for access Lakes Aquarium
– Staff can suggest less-busy times to visit Lakes Aquarium
– A “social narrative” guide created with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) to explain what to expect step-by-step Lakes Aquarium

## Cost-access programs (what’s offered, and how it works)

The aquarium lists Limited Income Access discounted admission for adults providing a current EBT card or medical assistance card (including MinnesotaCare and Wisconsin BadgerCare) plus valid photo ID; it also states others in the party visiting that day may receive the same discounted rate. Lakes Aquarium
It lists discounted ticket prices as:
– Adults: $6
– Children: $4
– Children 2 and under: free Lakes Aquarium
The aquarium states these discounted tickets/memberships must be purchased in person. Lakes Aquarium

## What to pair it with nearby (fact-based, no guesswork)

From the aquarium’s “About Us” page: it states the aquarium is within walking distance of Duluth’s iconic lift bridge.
From its “Getting Here” page: it states it’s accessible via the Duluth Lakewalk from Canal Park. Lakes Aquarium

## Outdated-data flags (things that can change)
– Admission prices, discount windows, and parking rates can change; the aquarium explicitly notes parking prices may change for special events. Lakes Aquarium
– The aquarium’s Wonder Wednesday discount is listed as running Nov 5, 2025 through Feb 25, 2026 (so it’s time-bound by definition). Lakes Aquarium

If you want, paste your two target internal URLs (or your Duluth hub + Canal Park page slugs), and I’ll weave them into the post in-line with natural anchor text.