Lake County expands transit options with Arrowhead Dial-A-Ride service

Lake County residents who need to get to a clinic, grocery store, or another town without driving now have a clearer mix of options through Arrowhead Transit, county routes, and volunteer drivers. The county’s transportation page says Dial-A-Ride runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with riders called in and picked up as soon as possible based on availability.

That same county page says many scheduled routes connect Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, Tofte, Silver Bay, Little Marais and Duluth. For a county stretched along the North Shore and inland roads, that split between scheduled service and on-demand rides matters. Residents can plan around a fixed route when the timing works, or use Dial-A-Ride for short-notice trips.

Lake County also notes that Arrowhead Transit has seasonal service from Thursday through Sunday, operating from May through October. The county says that service is meant for residents, tourists and riders of the North Shore Scenic Railroad, and Arrowhead Transit’s page says riders can use an app for real-time information. Arrowhead Transit, which says it was established in 1974, describes itself as the largest rural public transportation system in Minnesota.

The county’s volunteer-driver network fills another gap, especially for people heading to medical care. Lake County says Community Partners provides assisted transportation to and from medical, dental, eye and other appointments in Two Harbors and Duluth, and lists the Two Harbors phone number as 218-834-8024. The county also says North Shore Area Partners serves the Silver Bay area with volunteer drivers for seniors age 60 and older, helping with medical transportation and rides to NSAP events.

Minnesota.gov lists the same Community Partners program for appointments in Two Harbors and Duluth, while its North Shore Area Partners listing says volunteer drivers handle local and regional medical appointments and NSAP events. Lake County’s Adults and Aging page ties that work to the Lake County Age Friendly Coalition, which is highlighting existing activities for older adults in Two Harbors and Silver Bay.

Arrowhead Transit also expanded service in Two Harbors last year. On April 28, 2025, the agency announced a new weekend bus route that was set to start Thursday, May 29, 2025, with seasonal service running Thursday through Sunday. That change added another layer to a system already built around local trips, medical appointments and North Shore travel.

For people using state health coverage, the transportation network connects to medical benefits as well. Arrowhead Transit says it provides non-emergency medical transportation for customers in Northeast Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services says Minnesota Health Care Programs cover nonemergency and emergency medical transportation services.