11 Best Minnesota Road Trips to Take
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Written by Kyle Kroeger
With its abundance of lakes, rivers, and wild forests, Minnesota is famous for its natural beauty and rich history. Minnesota is the 12th largest state in the United States. To the north lies the Canadian border, Wisconsin and Lake Superior to the east, and the Dakotas to the west.
The state is full of unique attractions, historic towns, untouched forests, rolling hills, prairies, and countless freshwater lakes. People make road trips in Minnesota to indulge in excellent hiking, mountain biking, or camping in a terrific state or national park.
People come for good food, small-town living, and to explore the state’s natural wonders and historical or art centers.
I recently spent some time in Minnesota, driving through the state’s incredible scenic byways and checking out some of the best attractions. I had a great time and wanted to share the best Minnesota road trips.
Best Road Trips in Minnesota to Take
1. North Shore Scenic Drive
Minnesota’s North Shore is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. This All-American Road runs along the Lake Superior shoreline from Duluth, up to Grand Portage. Along this 145-mile scenic route on Highway 61 are acres upon acres of untouched forest, charming small towns, and breathtaking parks.
This road trip will start in the underrated city of Duluth in Northern Minnesota. Duluth is one of Minnesota’s largest cities, home to a bustling downtown and port, quiet lakeside neighborhoods, shops, bars, pubs, breweries, and some of the best restaurants in Minnesota.
Here, you can check out Lake Superior fish and wildlife at the Great Lakes Aquarium or the Lake Superior Zoo or take a dinner cruise on the lake.
Plus, plenty of parks and hiking trails are scattered throughout the city to enjoy. Once you’ve filled Duluth, hop in the car and head north on the North Shore Scenic Drive.
This route will take you along the craggy beaches of Lake Superior, through Lutsen, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage. These towns are known for their access to outdoor adventures, from mountain biking and fishing in the summer to skiing and snowmobiling in the wintertime.
Stop at Grand Marais to experience and explore the cliffs, lakes, and wilderness of the beautiful Superior National Forest. This magical woodland area has several waterfalls, smaller inland lakes, and some breathtaking vistas, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is year-round and open to campers, ice fishing, and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Grand Marais is also a hotspot of artists, galleries, and workshops. Unique restaurants and coffee shops offer a variety of tasty cuisine and live entertainment, and plays can be seen at the Grand Marais Playhouse.
At the end of the North Shore Scenic Drive sits Grand Portage, 35 miles north of Grand Marais. Grand Portage is home to the largest waterfall in Minnesota, Pigeon River High Falls.
This glorious waterfall is 120 feet tall and is managed by the state and the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe. To get the most out of this magnificent drive, I recommend taking this road trip between mid-September and the end of October to enjoy the fall colors.
See Related: Fun Things to do in Cottage Grove
2. The Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway
Just off the North Shore Scenic Drive is the Gunflint Trail, a 63-mile long, two-lane highway that cuts through the Superior National Forest. It has been in operation since 1884 and has a fascinating history.
To access the Gunflint Trail or County Road 12, hop on Highway 61 in Grand Marais and head northwest. You’ll drive through rolling hills and catch glimpses of untouched deciduous forests through your car windows.
Although there aren’t any towns or cities along the Gunflint Trail, there are numerous campgrounds, boat ramps, and hiking trails for exploring and wildlife watching.
The trip will take you to the Canadian border at Saganaga Landing. The Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. I loved this museum.
Here, you can view a variety of interactive and interpretive displays, including canoe-making demonstrations, lectures, foraging courses, and learn about the history of the land.
See Related: Things to Do in Bemidji
3. Minnesota Waterfalls
Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world can be found along the shoreline of Minnesota. Luckily, a straight-shot road trip can take you to many of them in only 3 hours, with plenty of hiking trails and camping spots.
This road trip kicks off in Two Harbors at Gooseberry Falls State Park. Here, an easy 3-mile looping hiking trail will take you to three wide falls on the Gooseberry River. A lovely footbridge hangs over the Gooseberry River and offers lovely views of the water, the falls, and the forest.
From here, take MN-61 North and drive along the shoreline towards Silver Bay and Tettegouche State Park. On the way, stop at Split Rock Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse built in 1910.
At Tettegouche State Park, there are four glorious waterfalls to view. High Falls is the most popular available fall, accessible at the end of an easy 2-mile hike. It is the tallest fall in the state and empties into the Baptism River.
Cascade Falls is located closest to the mouth of the river and requires a state park pass to access. Two-Step Falls and Illgen Falls can be accessed via short trails. Both are such fantastic places, and I cannot recommend them enough. In the warm summer months, swimmers swing into the river’s flat part on ropes or jump off rocky ledges.
Once you’ve had your fill of the sights at Tettegouche State Park, head inland to the George Crosby Manitou State Park. In addition to back-country camping and large, old-growth forests, the falls here empty into the Manitou River.
Next is the Temperance River Falls, a wide-rushing fall that courses through rocky terrain and high drop-offs. A little farther north is the Cascades in Cascade River State Park. These falls are some of the most beautiful in the state and should not be skipped.
Towards the end of this waterfall tour, you’ll want to check out The Devil’s Kettle and Upper Falls in Judge C.R. Magney State Park. Here, the water disappears into rock, begging the question where does the water go?
The road trip ends at the Grand Portage State Park. Here, waterfalls called the High Falls thunderously empty hundreds of thousands of gallons along the US-Canada border.
See Related: Best Things to Do in Delano, Minnesota
4. Great River Road Scenic Byway
One of the best Minnesota road trips is the Great River Road scenic byway, which cuts through 10 states along the mighty Mississippi River.
The portion of this All-American Road that sits in Minnesota stretches 565 miles from the old-growth pine forests of Itasca State Park to St. Paul and Minneapolis in Southern Minnesota.
Most of the road trip runs through beautiful backcountry roads with views of hayfields, forests, and tree farms. After exploring Itasca State Park head south toward Grand Rapids. Follow the road down to the Twin Cities.
Along this road trip are must-see stops, like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Judy Garland Museum, home to the largest collection of Judy Garland memorabilia. You also should stop by the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji.
See Related: Best Things to Do in Delano
5. Lake Mille Lacs Scenic Byway
Another spectacular fall-color road trip is the Lake Mille Lacs Scenic Byway, a 68-mile loop that has long been known as one of the best scenic drives in the state. It is roughly 90 miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
This road trip will start on MN 169 and take you around Lake Mille Lacs, a 200-square-mile lake with depths of up to 38 feet and over 80 miles of shoreline. There are plenty of local and historical attractions on this scenic byway, including the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
In addition to the camping, outdoor sports, and nature programs available here, this state park is home to a 100-foot-tall observation tower. Climb this tower to take in the glorious views of nature.
A little farther north is the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, a wonderful spot to learn about the region’s original owners, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Here, you can learn about their agricultural and hunting practices and shop for indigenous arts and crafts.
The most beautiful part of this scenic road trip is the northern rim of the lake. This 18-mile stretch of road on MN 18 will take you around the beautiful lakeshore before taking you back south through dense forest.
The last stops on this road trip will be Isle and Wahkon, small towns with plenty of places to eat and relax. From here, you’ll also be able to access Father Hennepin State Park, a lovely forested area with a public swimming beach and beautiful sandy shores.
See Related: How to Go on a Roadtrip With Kids
6. Haunted Minnesota Road Trip
For those with brave hearts and a penchant for the creepy or macabre, Minnesota offers a haunted road trip with plenty of spooky places to stop and explore. This 350-mile journey lasts just under seven hours.
Most travelers start this spooky trip at the Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing. Here, windows and doors are said to open and shut by themselves, as though ghosts of travelers past are still making their way to their next destination.
From there, take MN 65 S to the Palmer House and Restaurant, a historical hotel in Sauk Center. Rooms 11 and 17 are said to be particularly haunted, with ghosts running through the halls, moving objects, and shadowy figures hovering over the beds.
I-94 E will take you a little farther south to Fountain Lake. Here, there are legends of Native American spirits who haunt the area’s lake. There are frequent reports of a woman screaming as she drowns.
Hop back onto I-94 E to check out the last stop on this haunted road trip.
First Avenue, a music and live entertainment venue in Minneapolis, is said to have the ghost of a woman who can occasionally be seen hanging from a noose in the women’s bathroom.
See Related: Most Haunted Hotels in Minnesota
7. Bluff Country Byway
Travel through Amish country and check out an array of beautiful scenery and other attractions on the Bluff Country Byway. The Bluff Country Byway is an 88-mile stretch of highway from Dexter, Minnesota to La Crescent on the Mississippi River.
The road will take you through Historic Bluff Country, a charming spot full of lovely small towns, quaint stops, and three state parks. On your way down the Bluff Country Byway, you can expect to see three state parks: the Beaver Creek Valley State Park, the Mystery Caves State Park, and the Root River State Trail.
If you happen to be traveling near Beaver Creek Valley State Park in the spring, you can witness a blinding array of colorful wildflowers that attract songbirds and campers alike. If you are adventurous, Mystery Caves State Park can deliver.
It is the longest cave network in Minnesota, with over 13 miles of passages and a dazzling array of stalagmites, stalactites, and breathtaking underground pools. They offer a variety of different tours, such as the Wild Caving Tour of the Lantern Tour, which brings people through the caves by lantern light.
The Root River State Trail is a great stop-off. It is 42 miles long and runs from Fountain to Houston, MN. The trail was built over an abandoned railroad and is handicap-accessible.
The trail is bracketed by towering limestone bluffs and winds through varied terrain, from farmland to pastoral hillsides. There are several historical buildings along the way, as well as restaurants and museums.
Along this drive, you can experience many outdoor recreational activities, including mountain bike trails, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and canoeing. The Root River Trail and Rushford Sand Barrens are great spots for these activities.
During your road trip along the Bluff Country Byway, you will encounter many educational opportunities and historical spots, such as the Houston County Historical Society Museum or Schech’s Mill.
My favorite, the Houston County Historical Society Museum, showcases both the history of the land and the Native Americans who once lived there. Schech’s Mill is one of the final remaining water-powered mills in the state, and during one of their weekend tours, you can grind a sack of cornmeal.
There are plenty of camping spots and B&Bs to stop at along this road trip. However, the best time to experience it is in the fall. It is a picturesque drive that is enjoyable any time of year, but the fall colors elevate the experience tenfold.
See Related: Things to Do in Minneapolis
8. Christmas Towns in Minnesota
Christmas is a magical time. From the festive, twinkling lights that adorn every lamppost and storefront to the general cheer the season generates, it is a special time that Christians look forward to all year long.
Luckily, many Christmas-themed towns in Minnesota are accessible in a 275-mile-long road trip along US Highway 63 South. The people in these towns go all out for the Christmas season. The route cuts through the southwestern chunk of the state along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
The road trip through Minnesota Christmas towns starts in Stillwater, Minnesota. Stillwater has a charming downtown area with a wide variety of unique shops, allowing you to do a good chunk of your Christmas shopping. Carolers dress up in Victorian garb and traverse the streets singing classic carols. There are also horse-drawn carriage rides.
Just a touch south of Stillwater is the town of Red Wing. The citizens of Red Wing take Christmas seriously. From a special brunch with Santa at the St. James Hotel to various holiday concerts and boutique shopping, the whole family will enjoy plenty of Christmas-themed activities.
Winona, Minnesota, features a gorgeous downtown full of historic brick buildings with a ton of character. The town starts the Christmas holiday with a huge parade, with activities like Christmas trolley rides and holiday shopping galore.
After Winona, the route veers east toward Owatonna. You’ll want to spend more than a couple of hours in Owatonna due to the sheer volume of Christmas-related activities.
On the past holiday, I went there with my family and watched the parade that starts the day after Thanksgiving and ends with the lights being turned on in the main park. You surely don’t want to miss that one. There are also historic holiday home tours and a special stop by the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.
Mankato is next on the list of Christmas towns to check out on this road trip. Here, you can check out the Kiwanis Christmas Light Display, a dazzling array of Christmas lights in Sibley Park that stay up every year until the end of December. From there, keep heading east until you hit New Ulm, the final destination on this Christmas-themed road trip.
The entire town is adorned with Christmas greenery and twinkling lights. In addition to their nighttime holiday parade, Schell’s Brewery lights luminaries and lets the public meander through them every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Realistically, this road trip could be done on a weekend, although there are plenty of places to stay should you wish to extend your road trip for a full holiday vacation.
See Related: Best Place to Travel in December
9. Minnesota State Parks
Minnesota has 75 state parks. While traveling to all of these state parks would be worthwhile, it would be quite a feat.
If you don’t have an entire summer to visit all of the state parks, there are plenty of day and weekend trips to try.
-Minneopa State Park
Minneopa State Park is Minnesota’s third oldest state park, best enjoyed during the summertime. Here, there are plenty of natural attractions to take in, from wildflower fields to a double waterfall. The main attraction is the American Bison herd, which was recently reintroduced to the area.
Sibley, Monsoon, and Lac qui State Parks
Along the state’s western border sits three beautiful state parks: Sibley State Park, Monsoon Lake State Park, and Lac Qui State Park. These parks are great for water sports and enjoying time by the lake. Campgrounds are available at most parks.
Itasca State Park
Exploring the state parks of Minnesota is just as memorable in the wintertime. At Itasca State Park, you can go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing along the Mississippi River State Water Trail. Here, you can get a glimpse of the start of the Mississippi River.
Wild River State Park
At Wild River State Park, visitors can enjoy on-site camping, canoeing, hiking trails of varying difficulty, and abundant wildlife, birds, and wildflowers. Nevers Dam Overlook can also be found here, a lovely historic overlook that allows for river views.
See Related: Top-Rated Hotels in Minneapolis
10. Sunflower Farms
Minnesota sunflowers bloom from late July through August, and there are plenty of fields to explore. A road trip throughout Minnesota, hopping from sunflower field to sunflower field, is a lovely way to end the summer.
Kick off the road trip on Highway 169 to North Brooklyn Park and check out the Twin Cities Maze. They have a large field of sunflowers to wander through, as well as an on-site corn maze and pumpkin patch. If you miss the sunflowers, you can always check out the other fall-related activities until November.
Treasured Haven Farm is located on the St. Croix Riverway in Rush City. This working farm has an elongated growing season from July through mid-September, so there is plenty of time to get in a good photo opportunity. These are also some of the most beautiful prairies and stretches of forest I saw in the whole state.
One of the longest-operating sunflower fields in Minnesota is located in Isanti off Highway 65 NE. The Green Barn Garden Center grows black oil sunflower seeds, and throughout the fields are antique tractors, an old piano, wagons, and other props that are perfect for those Pinterest-perfect fall photos you crave.
You’ll also want to check out Waldoch Farm in Lino Lakes. This farm has six acres of sunflowers with over 150,000 blooms. Guests can wander through the towering flowers, take photos, or pick a few special flowers to bring home.
You can also spend time at the Joyer Adventure Farm, where farm animals, wagon rides, and other family-friendly activities abound.
See Related: Best Things to Do in Southern Minnesota
11. Wine Trails
Minnesota has many vineyards and wineries that only a full road trip can do justice to.
-Grand River Road Wine Trail
The most popular are located on the Great River Road Wine Trail, a chain of 11 different wineries that spans Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Four of the 11 wineries are located within Minnesota state lines and span the southern part of the state.
Start the trip at the Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, a small town in the Sogn Valley outside Minneapolis. The winery offers an extensive menu of wines grown on over 40 acres of land, award-winning wines to sample, and food options.
Next up is the Falconer Vineyards & Winery, a beautiful spot in Red Wing with wine tastings, wood-fired pizza, and a “Music in the Vines” concert series.
Take Highway 61 south to Winona, a town on the Mississippi River, to visit Garvin Heights Vineyards. This winery has been in business since 2006 and prides itself on being a place for gatherings and social events.
The last stop on the Grand River Road Wine Trail is the Riverview Vineyard & Winery in La Crescent. The winery has a selection of 10 different wines and has breathtaking views of the Mississippi River.
-Upper St. Croix Wine Trail
Another popular wine trail that would make a great road trip for a girl’s weekend or bachelorette party is the Upper St. Croix Wine Trail. This self-guided trail contains four wineries, 3 of which reside in Minnesota.
This wine trail road trip will start at the North Folk Winery in Harris. This award-winning winery has weekly gourmet pizza nights from May through October, where delicious pizzas are made with locally sourced ingredients.
They also host live music every Friday night. Then, head down to Wild Mountain Winery in Taylor Falls. This environmentally friendly winery provides organic food, composting, and waste reduction.
Enjoy incredible St. Croix River Valley views, winery tours, and grape stomps. Wine tastings are only $5 per person. The Upper St. Croix Wine Trail ends at the James Perry Vineyards in Rush City. Their vineyard is located in the middle of rolling hills dotted with trees.
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