It’s nice to be at home, but most of us crave a little excitement every once in a while. It’s only natural to want to get out and explore, especially when you live in a state as great as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Lucky for us, there are lots of great day trips in Minnesota – and they can take you to any part of the state. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites here. Each of these will help you get out and explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes! Follow the links in the descriptions for more details about each of these awesome MN day trips.

1. Take a wine trolley tour.
Rochester Trolley & Tour Company/Facebook
This wine trolley tour tour starts out in Rochester and takes guests on an unforgettable tour through Minnesota's Bluff Country. But it's not just a window tour. The wine trolley stops at several wineries along the way, giving you an opportunity to taste some Minnesota-made wine.
2. Explore the ice cream trail.
Ellen Nacik/Google Reviews
For being such a cold place, Minnesota has a lot of great ice cream shops. To help you along the way, we created this ice cream trail. It visits six great ice cream shops over 150 miles of eastern Minnesota. If you're looking for a delicious day trip, this is it.
3. Take a road trip to a hidden restaurant.
9459 Co Hwy 7, Finland, MN 55603, USA
Trestle Inn Food and Saloon/Facebook
Here's another day trip that involves eating. But this one's not a tour. In fact, it's pretty difficult to find. Nestled in a thick northern forest, this restaurant serves up great food - but only to those in the know. Can you find it?
4. Explore one of Minnesota's coolest small towns.
City of Luverne/Facebook
Beyond the Twin CIties, Rochester, and Duluth, Minnesota is dotted with towns waiting to be explored. This day trip takes you to the charming town of Luverne, an historic community complete with a cute downtown and lovely natural surroundings.
5. Visit Minnesota's Statue of Liberty.
746 Fairmount Ave, St Paul, MN 55105, USA
minnemom/Flickr
Here's a quirky day trip that you'll love if you're a sucker for roadside attractions. In the 1930s, a Minnesota man created several interesting sculptures out of local rocks. You can still visit them today, including a 7-foot-tall Statue of Liberty..

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6. Relax at a quiet, out-of-the-way winery.
43150 Blackhawk Rd, Harris, MN 55032, USA
North Folk Winery
Want to get out of the house but still kick back and relax? North Folk Winery will probably do the trick. Sit on the outdoor patio, sip local wine, and take in the sight of a gorgeous vineyard. It's the perfect Minnesota day trip.
7. Take a ride on a mountain coaster.
Spirit Mountain Place, Spirit Mountain Pl, Duluth, MN, USA
Spirit Mountain/Facebook
This day trip is one for those who crave a bit more excitement. Venture up to Spirit Mountain in Duluth for an exhilarating ride on the mountain coaster.. Feel the wind through your hair and take in amazing views. What could be better?
8. Explore a lesser-known animal park.
Hemker Park & Zoo/Facebook
Animal lovers will be happy to know that the Minnesota Zoo and Como Zoo are not the end of wildlife viewing in Minnesota. The Hemker Zoo, near St. Cloud has a surprising variety of animals for being so far from the Cities.
9. Explore a small town with incredible natural scenery.
Pipestone, MN 56164, USA
Brian Jeffery Beggerly/Flickr
If you can't get enough of small town road trips, a visit to Pipestone should definitely be on your bucket list. The town is charming on its own, but when you add in its incredible natural surroundings, it's a real winner. Head downtown for local shops, then venture over to Pipestone National Monument to learn more about the area's fascinating human and natural history.
10. Unleash your appetite for destruction.
Extreme Sandbox - Minnesota, Glendale Road, Hastings, MN, USA
Extreme Sandbox/Facebook
When another day at the lake just won't do, why not try something more extreme? Spend the day at Extreme Sandbox, where you'll learn how to operate heavy machinery, like bulldozers and excavators. You can even challenge a friend to a heavy-duty showdown.
11. Meander along the North Shore.
Split Rock Lighthouse in summer. Lake Superior
Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography/Getty Images
If you've lived in Minnesota for a while, you've probably already been to the North Shore of Lake Superior. But it's a Minnesota classic and there's a lot to discover. And let's face it: Who could get tired of staring at Lake Superior?

Of course you don’t have to limit your Minnesota adventures to single-day trips. There’s so much to explore in Minnesota, you could spend every weekend exploring!

Have you done any of these day trips in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!

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More to Explore

Day Trips in Minnesota Near Me

Tori Jane | September 15, 2021

What are the best day trips in Minnesota to do? 

Minnesota is a truly fun place, and the limit is seriously only your imagination. If you're wondering, "Are there any day trips near me in Minnesota?" - not to worry! You could put together all sorts of Minnesota day trips together: Pay a visit to any of our incredible state parks, spend a day lazing on the beach at any one of our (literally thousands of) lakes, or take a day and explore the Mall of America. If you prefer to explore nature, take a day and do so on the beautiful North Shore. Art and history museums make for wonderful day trips, too! Foodies might enjoy doing an ice cream road trip, or maybe a “who has the best tenderloin” road trip. It really just depends on your own interests – no matter what you’re passionate about, we’re pretty confident you’ll find plenty of it in Minnesota.  

What are some fun, unique attractions in Minnesota? 

Don’t feel like doing the same stuff everyone does? We get you. There are many awesome attractions in Minnesota, and we definitely recommend checking them out when everyone else is doing the more popular things. For example, you could test your own sanity with a visit to the quietest place in the world: the Orfield Labs Quiet Chamber awaits. In Saint Paul, you’ll find the Museum of Quackery and Medical Frauds, which is just as wonderfully weird as it sounds. Plus, you won’t believe what people have tried to get away with. If you like museums, we recommend checking out the Spam Museum, too. Might as well, after you learn about quackery, right?  

Where are the must-visit places in Minnesota? 

There are definitely some places that should be at the top of your to-visit list; some of our favorites include breathtaking Gooseberry Falls, which is a three-tiered waterfall that will take your breath away, and Canal Park is also calling your name... especially at sunset. Voyageurs National Park is a must-do not just for folks in Minnesota but for folks from all over; it’s got a particularly incredible natural beauty about it that you just don’t see every day. For more of our favorites, take a look at this list.  

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