TRAVEL INFORMATION
Traveling to Outward Bound

Arrival Time and Location

Location: Duluth International Airport

VOBS staff will meet students in the baggage claim area. The Duluth airport is very small, so our staff will be easy to find.

Time: No later than 1:00 PM

*If you're arriving by car, and you can get there early, please try to arrive between 10:30 - 11:30 AM.  This will help us get you checked in and avoid a rush right at 1:00 PM. 

If you cannot find a flight that arrives in Duluth by 1:00 PM on your course start day you will need to arrive the night before and stay in Duluth. Please see the Pre & Post Course Accommodations Tab for information about hotels in Duluth. If you arrive the night before, you will still meet the group at the airport by 1:00 PM on your course start day.  

Please eat lunch and make any final phone calls before arriving at the airport. Expect to be at the airport until your whole group has arrived, at which time we will transport you an additional 2-3 hours to your course-start location.

If you experience delays or cancellations on arrival day, please contact our Travel Coordinator at: 651-728-1143 

With so many people traveling on the same day, we anticipate some hiccups. If your arrival is delayed, don’t worry too much. Contact our Travel Coordinator and we will do our best to coordinate an alternative plan with you.
  • It is important for you to note if a student tests positive for COVID19 on their course an alternate travel plan will need to be made. 

 

 CLOTHING/DRESS ON ARRIVAL DAY – Please arrive at the meeting place already dressed in your expedition clothes. Your boots or tennis shoes, wool socks, quick-dry pants, underwear, t-shirt and warmer long-sleeved layer (accessible) work best on the first day. Please see the provided packing list for further information about appropriate luggage, clothing, and layering principles.

 

Traveling Home

Students will be transported back to Duluth, Minnesota at the end of their course.  If you are picking up your student you can meet them at the Duluth International Airport at 11:00 AM.  

If you are choosing to book a flight home at the end of the course, please do not book any flights departing before 11:00 AM from the Duluth International Airport. If you're having difficulty finding a departing flight after 11 AM, please speak with your course advisor and we'll work to accommodate your request.

  • It is important for you to note if a student tests positive for COVID-19 on their course, an alternate travel plan will need to be made.

 

Additional Information for Parents

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Unaccompanied Minor Service is often available and sometimes required when you purchase a plane ticket for a child traveling without an adult. Each airline has its own age restrictions and policies. You will need to be in touch with the airline directly to learn more about their policies and to determine if you are required to enroll your child in their Unaccompanied Minor Service. If your child is 14 or younger and traveling without an adult companion, you may be required to purchase this additional service.  If your child is 15 or older, most airlines will not require you to use this service, but you can sometimes still elect to purchase this additional service if you have any concerns about your child traveling alone.  

Unaccompanied Minor service does cost an additional fee.  Please be sure to complete payment for both your child's arrival and departure flights.  You will be required to provide the airline with additional information about the representative of our school who will pick the child up upon arrival.  Please contact your Outward Bound course advisor to receive this information.

Please note that if you have neither paid an additional fee nor been required to provide the airline with our representative information, then your child is not flying as an unaccompanied minor and an Outward Bound staff will meet them in the baggage claim area.

IMPORTANT: Parents, if you purchase the Unaccompanied Minor Service, please contact your course advisor to receive the required additional information about the OB representative picking up your teen. Your course advisor needs to know your teen is arriving as a registered unaccompanied minor with the airline.

Important Note for Arrival: Students flying as unaccompanied minors are required to have someone at the arrival airport to pick them up.  Because of this, students flying as unaccompanied minors cannot arrive the day prior to the course-start unless you have a family member or friend who is able to meet them and pick them up. Outward Bound staff will not be at the airport to receive students until the course-start date.

Important Notes for Departure: Parents/Guardians, you must check in your child for their return flight the night before their departure to return home.  You must pre-pay their baggage fee. This is very important. Please remember to check them in for their flight and pre-pay their baggage fee the day before they fly home. 

Also note, students flying as unaccompanied minors are not allowed by the airline to take the last departure flight of the day. Please ensure that your child is not on the last departure of the day or they will not be allowed to leave our company and board the plane.  

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR STUDENT ON ARRIVAL DAY – It’s a good idea to send a phone with your student for use during travel days (don’t forget to include a charge cord). All electronics are stored in a secure location during the expedition and will be returned to your student on departure day.

Please remind your student to call/text you when they’ve arrived and met the Outward Bound representative. There will be time for this communication. If there are any problems or your student doesn’t arrive as scheduled, we will contact you right away. Otherwise, no news is good news! Your student’s course director will accompany their group to the start of their wilderness expedition and will contact you within 2-3 days to introduce themselves and share an update.

Pre & Post-Course Accommodations

If you are unable to arrive by 1:00 PM on the first day of the course, we advise that you arrive a day early. There are multiple hotel options in Duluth near the airport. Hotels may or may not offer a shuttle to the airport. If not, students can take an Uber between the airport and the hotel. 

Days Inn and Suites. Can accommodate 18+ students, no minors. Students must have credit card in hand when they arrive to complete the payment. 

909 Cottonwood Ave. Duluth, MN

218-727-3110 - Call this direct line to make reservations. If you are staying between November and May they will offer a special VOBS rate. 

 

AmericInn by Wyndam Duluth. Can accommodate minors with parents' authorization. 

901 Joshua Ave. Duluth, MN

218-723-8607 - Call to make reservations. A VOBS discount may be available depending on the time of year. 

 

If you are over 21 years old there are many other hotels near the Duluth airport that are available to you.