Is parking available at the property?

Yes, free self parking is available on-site.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request, but additional charges may apply.

Where is the hotel located in relation to key landmarks?

The hotel is located on a lake, just steps from Lake Superior and Superior National Forest. It is 0.1 mi from Sivertson Gallery and 0.2 mi from Grand Marais Art Colony.

What are the hotel's policies for guests staying with children?

Children are allowed at the property, but specific age policies for staying free are not provided.

The Harbor Inn in Grand Marais

Average nightly price at The Harbor Inn by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
May	US$181
June	US$198
July	US$221
August	US$224
September	US$225
October	US$221

What guests think

At Harbor Inn Self Check-in Hotel, travelers consistently praise the waterfront, walkable location and many updated, comfortable rooms, while noting that some rooms face maintenance issues, thin noise insulation, and small or dated bathrooms.

Guests find the self check-in convenient with responsive text support, though several report confusing instructions, difficulty with lockboxes, or concerns about security and the lack of on-site staff. Interiors are often clean and recently refreshed with comfortable beds and harbor views, but exterior corridors, stairs, and parking areas can appear shabby or poorly lit. Common tradeoffs include limited amenities (no ice machine, microwaves are not standard), occasional weak water pressure or slow-to-hot showers, and stair-only access to upper floors. Expect a basic, no-frills stay anchored by a prime location and views.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Free parking is convenient, but exterior corridors, stairs, and back areas can feel worn and dimly lit. Facilities are limited: no ice machine, no elevator to upper floors.

Related guest reviews

8

Rebekah

10 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location was great. Outside of building very rundown. hall way dirty and railing unsafe. no Staff on site. I did leave a message on answering phone and my request was taken care of. the inside of room was very clean. no odors. Glass in window as broken. Needs updating.

8

Julianne

3 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We loved being right across the street from the lake and beach! Also, we were able to easily walk anywhere from the Harbor Inn (including to buy ice since there none on the premises). The room was very clean and pleasant, with an updated bathroom. There is a small refrigerator but no microwave. Overall, great value for the price!

8

Carla

27 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very convenient location and pretty setting on the water. No ice machine. Landscaping could be improved. No personnel on property.

10

Kenneth

30 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We really liked the interior decor and cleanliness. We liked the ease of self check-in We liked the convenient location. The exterior of the building needed paint, the door screen to our unit was broken, and the exterior parking area as a little rough.

10

Susan

11 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean. Easy check in. Maybe better lighting in back parking lot. Room 19 needs light fixed above door.

2

Sarah

31 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hard stairs only to 2nd floor.

2

Karen

8 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Pros: good view of harbor. Cons: way too expensive for this run down sketchy hotel, poor parking, trashy outside, no front desk or staff, open door so anyone can go up to 2nd floor, key in room door so anyone could open room before I arrived, hallway/stairs dark and sketchy, no elevator, no microwave, chain on room door broken, no deadbolt. Highly recommend to avoid.

10

Mandie

5 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed at Harbor Inn on July 4, 2024. The room was clean and modern. We had easy access to all of the amenities of Grand Marais during the celebrations in the city, on foot. There is parking behind the hotel, but we were actually able to get a parking spot on the street right in front of our room, after the parking restrictions were off. We had a front row seat to the firework display for the celebrations. It was easy to access our room for self check in, and check out. We will definitely come back and stay again!

10

Kevin

26 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great room. Nicely updated and very clean. The view was spectacular! I would definitely stay here again. Outside of building could use some updating. Back yard parking area could use clean up. It’s self check in so no service or staff. There’s a number to text if you have any issues. Which we didn’t.

8

Michael

23 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel delivered exactly what we need. Clean room and beds and right downtown Grand Marais. You can park the car and walk wherever you need to go. We are familiar with the remote check in hotel so it was easy for use. This is a basic hotel. No frills. No ice. It provided a very serviceble room that was clean. If you need more, it's probably not for you.

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Cleanliness

Many guests report clean or newly refreshed rooms with comfortable bedding. Others mention musty or chemical odors, stained carpets or linens, and neglected hallways or stairs.

Related guest reviews

6

Amanda

24 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location and nice view of the lake from the room. Easy contacless check-in. However, our room smelled very musty. There was a loud dehumidifier running in our room the entire time, which was necessary fue to the high humidity in the room. The kids found empty Fireball bottles under their bed.

10

Stephen

2 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Don't let the looks of this eclectic place fool you. Our room was very clean, very comfortable beds, nicely renovated. Its in a great location and is close to everything. Self check-in is so much faster and quicker than the other method.

10

Jennifer

16 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location was amazing and convenient to stores and restaurants. The room was updated and very clean.

10

Jeff

14 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean. Easy check in. A bit pricey.

10

Michelle

25 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

There were some stains on the bedding and pullow cases and stains on walls which is why the low score on cleanliness. Other than that, it was really nice and quiet and convenient to everything.

4

Samuel

2 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

0400 people above were stomping. Splattered blood/bugs on the walls.

6

Stephen

17 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Room had terrible smell that did not go away

8

Otto

21 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent cleanliness!!

6

Cynthia

2 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was not as clean as we would have liked. Corners did not look like they had been vacuumed in some time. Property around hotel was not very well kept up.

4

Anna

17 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

There was an over powering smell when we walked in. They had an air purifier to try and cover up whatever the smell was coming from. We had the window open to let fresh air in but it was still really strong. I would have tried to stay elsewhere but there was no availability and I already paid $250 for one night. I'm usually not picky but it just seemed really rundown especially for what we paid.

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Rooms

Rooms range from basic to newly updated, with comfortable beds and excellent harbor views available. Recurring issues include small bathrooms, noise transfer, maintenance problems, and inconsistent hot water or pressure; microwaves are not standard.

Related guest reviews

10

Ryan

10 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The self check in was so easy and convenient. Many places to eat right within the surrounding couple blocks, and could listen to some live music from a neighboring establishment while sitting outside the room reading a book and enjoying the harbor view. I travel a lot and that was one of the better mattress and pillow combos I’ve had this year; tip of the cap!

6

Yvonne

17 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Liked proximity to the town. Getting hot or warm water was very limited

6

Georgia

15 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Older and smaller rooms but very clean with some renovation. I didn’t like the self check in. It was my first time doing that, I had trouble getting the key so I had to call. She was very helpful. Then I couldn’t get the lockbox closed.

4

Patrick

8 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Could hear everything from the people upstairs. Every footstep and every word. They went to bed at 12:30 and woke up at 4:30. They walked back and forth over my head until 6:30. I couldn’t sleep at all. Plus, the door and lock are so flimsy. I felt like someone could knock on the door and it’d open. Finally, there was no lightning in the bathroom. It just didn’t even work. Putting contact lenses in your eyes in the dark is not easy. I paid over $200 for this? Stay away.

8

Katie

10 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location right downtown. Walking distance from restaurants, bars, and shops. The room was a little older but that’s to be expected for an older building. The beds were comfy and there was a fridge to keep food and drinks cold.

10

Steve

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very central location right across from the water. Plenty of parking. The room was very comfortable, clean and well-appointed. The owners were very nice and helpful. They seem to be updating everything. Bathroom was all brand new. They upgraded us to a two king suite so we could be close to our friends. The room was extremely nice! I would suggest requesting a room on the water side though. The rooms in the back off of the parking lot or less appealing while they still looked extremely updated and clean the entrance is not as nice.

4

Teresa

15 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very noisy next to the bar that blared music all night. I understand you have no control over that but We shouldn’t have had to pay the price we did.

8

Ken

16 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The inside of the room was excellent. We wish there had been a microwave. The outside needs work.

4

Darrel

14 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was clean however no hot water. The exterior of the building is in rough shape.

6

Ken

12 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Room was nicely updated, and very clean! The bed and bedding was very comfortable! Flush button on toilet was broke. A couple tiles on the wall had fallen off. We were not told our room was the only one with entry at the back of the hotel and there was no outdoor lighting there.

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Service

Self check-in is frequently described as quick and easy, and staff often respond helpfully by text or phone. Some guests struggled with unclear instructions or lockboxes, had trouble reaching someone, or felt uneasy about security and the lack of on-site staff.

Related guest reviews

4

Joy

3 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a self check in hotel. There are key boxes on the doors and the access code is the room number. How easy is that for anyone to guess? Apparently they aren't changed between guests either. We really had to wonder if people had accessed the room after the hotel staff had cleaned and we certainly never left anything in the room when we went out to dinner.

10

Stephen

2 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Don't let the looks of this eclectic place fool you. Our room was very clean, very comfortable beds, nicely renovated. Its in a great location and is close to everything. Self check-in is so much faster and quicker than the other method.

6

Gerald

30 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in communication was difficult!

6

Dana

23 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Just so weird not having a front desk. I like seeing a friendly face when I check in.

10

Patricia

9 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The staff solved a problem with great care and service! Thank you! We loved looking over the bay & and all the convenience of staying right in town!

10

Carolyn

31 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice, comfortable stay with a lovely view of Lake Superior and walking distance to everything in Grand Marais. The self check-in directions were very straightforward as was checkout. It was really nice to have someone send me a text message thanking me for my stay and reminding me of the checkout time and directions. Will absolutely be back!

8

Kathy

11 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel itself is a little run down, but the room was clean, quiet and the bed was very comfortable. The check-in process was unfortunately a bit stressful because the Hotels.com site said we'd receive a text with info 24 hrs prior to check-in, which is untrue. According to the Harbor Inn website the text will not arrive until the day of check-in. We did indeed receive our text at 10:30 that day. In addition it is difficult to reach anyone at the Harbor Inn by phone. Aside from that we had a very comfortable stay and a very quick reply to an email question that I sent after we were in the room. I'm wondering if the owners are slowly renovating and super busy? It would be helpful if they could figure out a way to send the check-in text at least 24 hrs ahead and also to figure out how to manage their phone/answering machine. The free parking lot was great, and the view of the lake from our window was beautiful. You will need to share the outside balcony with your neighbors which we chose not to do only because they were smoking.

10

Elizabeth

29 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location. I’ve stayed here a few times and they have updated the rooms. The self check in worked fine.

4

Brian

10 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lock box difficult to use. Torn screen door. Sidewalk outside room covered in seagull droppings. Ceiling fan had no blades. Thin blankets. No ice machine or on site office. Dreary feel.

10

Steven

14 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff member Damari helped us make this a great visit. She helped us with check-in and was very pleasant and did everything right when it comes to customer service. 5 Star!

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Location

Waterfront, central, and very walkable; most attractions, shops, and dining are steps away, with sunrise and sunset views from harbor-facing rooms. Some street or bar noise affects a few rooms.

Related guest reviews

10

Molly

23 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

You can walk everywhere! The view is amazing!

8

Lori

29 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location.

10

Bruce

28 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great central location in Grand Marais

10

Greg

6 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location in downtown Grand Marais

10

Marcy

20 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location for sunrise and sunset over the harbor. Walking distance to everything. Clean.

8

Mark

18 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Location could not be better.

8

Tom

23 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Location was great. Right across the street from Grand Marais harbor. Surrounded by shops and restaurants and a brewery. Room was clean and the self check-in was easy. Very reasonable price compared to many of the other nearby choices.

10

Mandie

5 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed at Harbor Inn on July 4, 2024. The room was clean and modern. We had easy access to all of the amenities of Grand Marais during the celebrations in the city, on foot. There is parking behind the hotel, but we were actually able to get a parking spot on the street right in front of our room, after the parking restrictions were off. We had a front row seat to the firework display for the celebrations. It was easy to access our room for self check in, and check out. We will definitely come back and stay again!

10

Steve

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very central location right across from the water. Plenty of parking. The room was very comfortable, clean and well-appointed. The owners were very nice and helpful. They seem to be updating everything. Bathroom was all brand new. They upgraded us to a two king suite so we could be close to our friends. The room was extremely nice! I would suggest requesting a room on the water side though. The rooms in the back off of the parking lot or less appealing while they still looked extremely updated and clean the entrance is not as nice.

10

Sandra

19 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great view. Quiet Room. Walking distance to everything! Loved it!

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Dining

Not enough information in reviews.

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Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11 $230	12	13 $255	14 $255	15	16	17
18 $229	19 $212	20 $212	21 $195	22 $195	23	24
25 $218	26 $218	27 $195	28 $206	29 $206	30	31 $206

The Harbor Inn

Prices for The Harbor Inn

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

Standard Room

Premium Room

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Premium Studio Suite, Harbor View, Lakeside

Premium Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

Executive Room, 1 King Bed, Harbor View

Guest reviews of The Harbor Inn

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about The Harbor Inn

Prices for upcoming dates