Minnesota Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
Trent Jonas
Author
If you’re looking for some year-round Minnesota road trip ideas, you’re in the right place. The North Star State, with its large cities and charming small towns, abundant natural beauty, and several landmarks and sites of national significance – with plenty of room for driving between them all – has got to be one of the best states for road trips in the entire country. In fact, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, a road trip through Minnesota is practically an annual rite of passage! So, be sure to pack all your road trip essentials – and don’t forget the snacks – as you navigate through these 11 Minnesota road trip ideas.
For a Minnesota road trip map that you can use to navigate on your smartphone, just tap the “Route” link at the beginning of any of our 11 Minnesota road trip ideas.
Table of Contents
1-Day Road Trip In Minnesota
- Route: Grand Marais > Five Mile Rock > Kadunce River State Wayside > Naniboujou Lodge and Restaurant > Judge C.R. Magney State Park > Fontainebleau State Park > Grand Portage National Monument > Mt. Josephine Overlook > Grand Portage State Park
- Distance: 43 miles
- Trip Time: 1 hour driving time
Although this may be the shortest Minnesota road trip itinerary on this list, this day trip along MN-61 may well be the most scenic one-day road trip in Minnesota. Not only will you experience some of the most dramatic shoreline on the Great Lakes, you’ll have the opportunity to hit some lesser-traveled hiking trails, explore the shore, and delve into some of the state’s most fascinating history at places like Naniboujou Lodge and Grand Portage National Monument. This is definitely one of the weekend trips in Minnesota that should go on your bucket list!
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Minnesota
- Route: Illgen City > Illgen Falls > Ely > Bear Head Lake State Park > Scenic State Park > Lost 40 SNA > Lady Slipper Scenic Byway > Big Bog State Recreation Area > Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge > Oslo
- Distance: 490 miles
- Trip Time: 9.5 hours driving time
You could complete this road trip traversing Minnesota’s longest state highway in as little as three days. However, adding another day or two to this northern Minnesota itinerary would allow you to explore a little longer in places like Big Bog State Recreation Area and Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. As you skirt the southern edge of Red Lake, you’ll pass within about an hour of Itasca State Park, where you’ll find the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It would make an excellent add-on to this already epic road trip.
Western Minnesota Road Trip
- Route: Iowa Minnesota South Dakota Marker > Blue Mounds State Park > Pipestone National Monument > Lac Qui Parle State Park > Kensington Runestone Park > Red River State Recreation Area > John Kurz Memorial Park > Lake Bronson State Park > Warroad
- Distance: 575 miles
- Trip Time: 10.5 hours driving time
This Minnesota road trip, for the most part, follows Highway 75 King of Trails Scenic Byway will take you from the corner that the Land of 10,000 Lakes shares with Iowa and South Dakota all the way to Lake of the Woods and the Canadian border. Along the way, you'll pass through towns like Luverne, Pipestone, Argyle, and Warroad, visiting fantastic state parks, national monuments, stunning natural areas, and beloved local landmarks. It's an awesome way to see one of the lesser-traveled parts of the state and the Upper Midwest when they’re at their most beautiful - the summer.
Minnesota Bluff Country Road Trip
- Route: Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery > Hop and Barrel Brewing > Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery > Karst Brewing > Trout City Brewing > Sylvan Brewing > Union Valley Vineyard and Winery
- Distance: 79 miles
- Trip Time: 1.75 hours driving time
Start this road trip along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway just south of Rochester in Spring Valley. Drives through this part of the state - the “driftless” area - offer some of the best road trips to be had in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. This one combines all the quaint charm and rustic beauty of the Bluff Country with visits to several local breweries and wineries along the way. It’s an ideal road trip for a weekend getaway, combined with a stay at a bed-and-breakfast in Lanesboro, Rushford, or Preston.
Best Minnesota Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Minnehaha Falls > Vermillion Falls > Cannon Falls > Nerstrand Big Woods State Park > Minneopa State Park > Ramsey Falls > Pipestone National Monument
- Distance: 281 miles
- Trip Time: 5.5 hours driving time
Spring is waterfall season, and this drive to the best waterfalls in southern Minnesota is a perfect way to spend a spring weekend. You’ll start in Minneapolis, at the iconic Minnehaha Falls, then visit several of southeastern Minnesota’s lovely cascades. From there, you’ll head west to Minneopa State Park, near Mankato. This is the perfect time for a break or an overnight stop. Since the charming town of New Ulm is directly on the route, it makes a perfect stopping point before you head to far western Minnesota to finish off the road trip.
Best Summer Road Trip In Minnesota
- Route: Rainy Lake Visitor's Center, Voyageurs National Park > International Falls > Franz Jevne State Park > Wheelers Point > Zippel Bay State Park
- Distance: 103 miles
- Trip Time: 2 hours driving time
You can make this northern Minnesota road trip along the Rainy River and the Canadian border as long or as short as you like. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore on the drive from Voyageurs National Park on Rainy Lake to International Falls, Franz Jevne State Park - the smallest in the state - and Zippel Bay State Park on the south shore of the gargantuan Lake of the Woods. It’s a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, weekend, or week. Bring your passport for a stretch goal of the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point in the Lower 48 United States - but you have to travel through Canada to get there by land.
Best Minnesota Road Trip For Fall
- Route: St. Croix State Park> Wild River State Park > Interstate State Park > William O'Brien State Park > St. Croix Boom Site State Wayside > Stillwater > Afton State Park
- Distance: 118 miles
- Trip Time: 2.3 hours driving time
This one or two-day itinerary tracks the St. Croix River through the St. Croix National Scenic River Way, which makes it perfect for fall road trip in Minnesota. The forested river valley explodes with fall colors, and because you can see the bluffs on the Wisconsin side, as well, you get double the foliage. Moreover, you'll visit five state parks, a national park service unit, and you can stop along the way to explore the charming historic towns of Taylors Falls, Marine on St. Croix, Stillwater, Bayport, and Afton.
Best Winter Road Trip In Minnesota
- Route: Grand Marais > Pincushion Mountain Overlook > Bearskin Lodge > White Pine Lodge > Magnetic Rock Trail > Poplar Haus > Gunflint Lodge
- Distance: 67 miles
- Trip Time: 1.75 hours driving time
A winter trip up the Gunflint Trail is an ideal way to embrace the long cold season in the Bold North. On this short driving itinerary, you’ll drive through the Superior National Forest, skirting the Boundary Waters, while stopping for views, to cross country ski, and to enjoy a winter hike or snowshoe. This is also the best time of year for spotting moose along the trail, so be alert as you drive the narrow, winding road. When you hit your final stop for the night, the Gunflint Lodge, be sure to keep an eye on the sky for dancing northern lights.
Family Friendly Minnesota Road Trip
- Route: The Uptowner Cafe > Twin City Model Railroad Museum > Blue Sun Soda Shop > Cedar Park > Lindström Bakery > Franconia Sculpture Park > Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours > The Drive In Restaurant
- Distance: 59 miles
- Trip Time: 1.5 hours driving time
With less than two hours of driving time and plenty of fun stops, this family friendly road trip is a great way to spend a weekend day in the Twin Cities area. Better still, this is one of the best Minnesota road trip ideas for offering plenty of stops that adults and kids (of any age!) will both enjoy. Importantly, you'll start with breakfast and find plenty of opportunities for snacks and meals along the way - nobody needs to be hangry!
Road Trip to Minnesota Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Blue Mounds State Park > Minnehaha Falls > Interstate State Park > Jay Cooke State Park > Gooseberry Falls State Park > Tettegouche State Park > Ely > Eagle Mountain > Judge C.R. Magney State Park > Grand Portage State Park
- Distance: 688 miles
- Trip Time: 13 hours driving time
This road trip to many of the landmarks and natural wonders of Minnesota will take you from the Sioux quartzite upwellings of southwestern Minnesota, across southern Minnesota to the Twin Cities, then up the St. Croix River valley to Duluth. There, you can stop in Canal Park to see the iconic aerial lift bridge or takes some time to explore the splendid Glensheen mansion before heading up Minnesota’s North Shore. In addition to numerous state parks and their natural beauty - including Minnesota’s highest waterfalls - along the way, you’ll pass through charming small towns, like Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, Tofte, Lutsen, and Grand Marais, where you can stop for lunch or ice cream on the shore of Lake Superior. Between Gooseberry Falls and Tettegouche, you’ll see the amazing Split Rock Lighthouse where you can explore the site’s fascinating history and hike or go biking in the park or along the paved Gitchi Gami State Trail.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Minnesota
- Route: Ely > Nisswa > Fergus Falls > Pipestone > Saint Peter > Winona > Stillwater > Taylors Falls > Cambridge > Avon
- Distance: 980 miles
- Trip Time: 18 hours driving time
This marathon of a road trip to some of Minnesota's most charming small towns could easily be broken into segments. For example, you could include Nisswa among an excursion to several small towns in the Brainerd Lakes area. Or you could do a trip along the Great River Road that would include Winona, as well as Wabasha and Red Wing. But you could also, pack the car, hit the road, and see some of the state’s most charming small towns - and some of its most amazing scenery - by following this itinerary over the course of several days.
We certainly hope you’ll take us up on at least one of these Minnesota road trip ideas when you’re considering your next vacation in the Bold North! What are your thoughts about the best Minnesota road trips? We’d love to hear about them!
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More to Explore
Road Trips In Minnesota
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Minnesota?
There are many amazing sites in the North Star State to visit, as well as renowned landmarks, both natural and man-made. Some of the most popular landmarks to visit in Minnesota include:
- Fort Snelling
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Minnesota State Capitol
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- The headwaters of the Mississippi River
- Pipestone National Monument
- Canal Park and the aerial lift bridge in Duluth
- Two Harbors breakwater and lighthouse
- Split Rock Lighthouse
- Grand Portage National Monument
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Minnesota?
Of the more than 70 units in the system, the five most popular state parks to visit in Minnesota, all of which receive in excess of half a million visitors per year, are:
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Fort Snelling State Park
- Itasca State Park
- Tettegouche State Park
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
What are the major highways in Minnesota?
There are several major highways in Minnesota, including Interstates 35, 90, and 94. Other federal highways include Routes 2, 10, 12, 14, 52, 53, 63, 75, and 169. Routes 75 and 169 traverse the state, north to south. Route 75 makes it from Iowa the Iowa border all the way to Canada; 169 emerges from Iowa but ends just short of the Canadian border in Virginia, Minnesota. Routes 2 and 169 pass through some of the most scenic areas in the state. The major highway best known for its scenery in Minnesota is U.S. Route 61, which enters the state just north of the Iowa border and tracks the Mississippi as the Great River Road. Although U.S. 61 now ends just north of the Twin Cities, thanks to I-35, it continues as county a county road and then a state highway bearing the same number, along the north shore of Lake Superior, all the way to the Canadian border.