Considering flying to Ely instead of driving, it's a 22 hour drive, what are the options for airports?

Delta flies to Hibbing from MSP, I think. Otherwise Duluth as far as I know.

If you are going in the eastern portion of the BWCA or maybe Quetico Thunder Bay is a good option. Its only about 30 miles from the US border and offers a variety of options.

1916,

I would have about 22 hours of windshield time to get to Ely as well, from the DC area. I have been flying out there since 2007. It really comes down to a choice of Minneapolis or Duluth - unless you are flying into Canada, and even then, it's about 2.5 hours from Thunder Bay to Atikokan. And then you're dealing with international flights. MUCH easier to drive across the border if you insist on a northern entry.

MSP or DLH for me comes down to flight and rental car costs or if someone is picking me up, which airport is easier for them. DLH is a two-hour drive north of MSP and a flight into DLH usually has a layover in MSP (depending on your airline choice) and gets you there in another 2 hours, so from a timing standpoint it's pretty much a wash. It's about 4 hours driving to Ely from MSP and 2 from DLH. I like the drive from DLH better, but again, it's the cost. If renting a car, sometimes it's cheaper in DLH and balances out cheaper airfare to MSP. All things being equal, I'd fly to DLH over MSP.

DLH is a MUCH smaller and more convenient airport, but it also limits the number of flights available to 2-4 each for United and Delta in a day. I will fly out of IAD on the 6AM first flight, get to MSP around 8AM and can be in DLH around 10A. In either case, I'm in Ely by about 1:00 PM with a lunch stop.

I have done one Wabakimi trip where we've flown into MSP, rented a car and driven up the North Shore and into Canada. All of the research I did for that trip led to the cost of NOT flying into Thunder Bay and renting a car being much cheaper and the logistics less complicated and not having to go through customs at the airport. Flights were better, more to pick from and figuring out what we could take for gear/food on a plane and through customs was way easier by driving. I suspect there would have been more scrutiny at the airport than the land border.

Throw on top of that, after 22 hours of road time - everyone in the car is beat - and then do that on your way home too, after paddling for a week. By flying, I can leave my house early, arrive in canoe country well rested and be ready AND capable of hitting the water the next morning. Bonus - I can add two more days of paddling to my trip that would otherwise be spent on the highways - such a no-brainer!

YMMV,
pd

Portagedog, what rental company do you use? I've looked in the past and enterprise wanted almost 1000$ for a week. I just feel that's a little steep considering I'm going to have it parked for a full week.

Some outfitters will shuttle from Duluth to Ely, I think for less than $1000. Here's from Canoe Country Outfitters in Ely:

AIRPORT SERVICES: Our shuttle service between the Duluth Airport and Ely is $220 for a van holding 1-3 people, $245 for 4-6, $265 for 7-9. Hibbing Airport is $200 for 1-3 people, $225 for 4-6, $245 for 7-9. These are all “one-way” quotes. Minneapolis Airport to Ely van shuttles also available.
(Got to wonder if the MSP shuttle waiting for you isn't the best )

And not sure how seasonal it is or what kind of car you'd require but saw lower rates ($600-700) for a 8 days out of Duluth on my Budget app.

When I do rent, I usually book through Costco's Travel program. They usually have the best deals and you get prices for all the big rental companies - Budget, Avis, Dollar, etc. , plus you can add a second driver at no additional cost. That said, most often I end up with either Budget or Dollar. You have to pay attention to pricing and may need to reserve a long way out to get the best deal. One nice thing about Costco is that you can make a reservation and lock in a price, then keep price shopping and simply make a new reservation at the lower price and just cancel the old one with no penalty and no fuss. Renting a car isn't cheap and the days of super deals seem to over, unless you hit the timing just right. And the rental companies don't care how long you let the car sit! I usually travel with a couple of buds and sharing the cost helps make it a bit more affordable. If you or someone in your group can get a rental through a company rate program, that may be the cheapest option. My buddy gets us a minivan for 2 weeks at $750 through his company program for employees.

I've done the Ely shuttle thing in the past and that worked out ok, but it depends on what your plans are. I like to have the flexibility and freedom of driving my crew to come and go as we please. We often come in a day or two early and bum around town, do some local stuff. Yeah, it sucks paying for a rental only to have it sit around for a week or more, but when I weigh my options, preferences and plans, it makes the most sense for me. It's just part of the cost of doing a trip and at the end of the day, we can do a two-week trip with 11-12 days on the water for less than $1800 per person (Quetico) all in, including airfare. That's far cheaper than just about any in-town/city/hotel-based vacation you can put together. AND in sticking with 1916's original question - it all beats the heck out of a 22 hour drive - and that's before you figure in meal/bathroom/gas stops!

pd

International Falls is also an option via MSP.