Minnesota Road Trips Ultimate Guide

The Best Minnesota Road Trips are located all throughout the state and can be done in any season. Whether you’re going for a day trip, weekend trip, or longer, this ultimate Minnesota Road Trips guide gives you tons of ideas based on what you’re interested in! 

Each destination links out to a full guide on the area, so if you see a spot that intrigues you, make sure to read the full post to get itinerary ideas. Happy exploring!

North of Twin Cities

North Shore

Best for: Hiking, gorgeous views

Start in Duluth and make your way up the North Shore of Lake Superior for the most iconic Minnesota road trip. Black sand beaches, waterfalls, and hiking (like Bean and Bear lake in the feature image of this post above!) make this a must visit spot. See full post here.

Otter Tail County

Best for: Fishing and state parks

Otter Tail County is home to more than 1,000 lakes. Located in North West Minnesota, the lakes are the main attraction, but so are the beautiful state parks, one with lots of water sport rentals! See full post here.

Lake Vermillion

Best for: Fishing and sailing

We stayed at Pehrson’s Lodge Resort on Lake Vermillion which offers fishing boats, water toys, sailing lessons, you name it! It’s a great family resort on a beautiful lake. See full post here.

Duluth

Best for: Sightseeing

Duluth is an iconic Minnesota town with some great sights to see. The liftbridge, canal park, museums, and aquariums, plus lots of fun restaurants, shops, and more! See full post here.

Grand Rapids

Best for: Lake town

Grand Rapids offers cute shops with Up North charm all surrounded by some great MN lakes. We stayed at the Green Heron B&B while here and loved it! See full post here.

Cuyuna

Best for: Mountain biking and hiking

Mountain biking on the red dirt trails is what this area is famous for. If that’s not your thing, kayak the mining lakes, hike the many trails, or snowshoe/ski if you’re there in the winter! We stayed at Cuyuna Cove – one of our favorite spots in Minnesota! See full post here.

Nisswa

Best for: Cute shops and lakes

Nisswa offers the cutest candy shop, boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, and breweries all on one spot! The surrounding lakes make this a great destination for the summer. But it’s great in the winter, too (we stayed at Grand View Lodge in the winter – so fun!) See full post here.

Walker

Best for: Lake town and shopping

Walker is a great Northern Minnesota lake town with cute shops and close-by wineries! We stayed at Trappers Landing and loved this resort! See full post here.

Moorhead/Fargo

Best for: Vikings and breweries

Moorhead and Fargo are the twin cities of the north and offer a great food and drink scene. We love the Viking museum in Moorhead with a Viking church and ship to tour! See full post here.

Stillwater

Best for: River town and restaurants

Stillwater might be the most popular day/weekend trip in Minnesota. Stay at our favorite Lora Hotel, shop the day away, sip a drink, and eat at some of the best restaurants in Minnesota! See full post here.

Taylors Falls

Best for: Hiking

One of our favorite hiking or snowshoeing destination close to the Twin Cities is Taylors Falls. There’s also a ski hill nearby! Hike the bluffs, see glacial potholes, and take a cruise on the river! See full post here.

Alexandria

Best for: History and lake town

Alexandria is full of Viking history. Make sure to visit the museum to see the Runestone, enjoy the lakes, shopping, wineries, and breweries! See full post here.

St. Cloud

Best for: Brews and hiking

We love St. Cloud for the Quarry which is great for hiking and swimming in the summer! It’s such a unique spot. We also love the breweries in the area! See full post here.

Minnesota Road Trips

South of Twin Cities

Montgomery

Best for: Unique eats and drinks

Montgomery is my favorite spot to visit in the fall to experience apple picking, a cidery, a great local pizza joint, brewery, and winery. So much in one small town! See full post here.

Albert Lea

Best for: Lake town

Not all the great lake towns are in Northern Minnesota. Albert Lea has beautiful lakes, a great winery, and paddle sharing. Also stop by next-door Austin Minnesota to visit the SPAM museum! See full post here.

Lanesboro

Best for: Bike paths

The Root River Trail runs through Lanesboro and is popular for biking. Lanesboro offers a fun stop along the route with ice cream, restaurants, and even a community theater! See full post here.

Winona

Best for: Hiking and wineries

Winona is one of our favorite Minnesota road trip destinations. Hiking on the bluffs, walking around the lake, eating amazing donuts, and visiting the many nearby wineries is the best! See full post here.

Red Wing

Best for: Hiking and brews

Another great spot for bluff hiking is Red Wing, but not as far south as Winona. Also make sure to stop at the Red Wing Brewery and the Red Wing Shoes store with the world’s largest boot! See full post here.

Faribault

Best for: History and small town charm

Faribault is home to the famous Faribault Woolen Mill which you can take tours of and purchase a blanket in their shop. It’s also where the tilt-a-whirl was invented so you can see a few of those downtown. We stayed at The Inn at Shattuck-St. Mary’s – another historic gem! See full post here.

Prior Lake

Best for: Farmers market and lake town

One of the best farmers markets in the state is located in Prior Lake during the summer. There’s also great food and drink options in town to try before you head out on the lake! See full post here.

Rochester

Best for: Good food and drinks

Rochester is such an underrated city for foodies. Some of the best restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries occupy this medical town! See full post here.

New Ulm

Best for: History and beer

New Ulm’s German heritage is alive everywhere you go. From the Glockenspiel to the shops and restaurants around town. Be sure to tour Schell’s brewery – the second oldest brewery in the country! See full post here.

Excelsior

Best for: Lake town and shopping

Excelsior is located on Lake Minnetonka and is great for shopping. The restaurants have a laid back vibe due to its proximity to the lake. Get out on the water with a boat tour too! See full post here.

Northfield

Best for: Shopping and drinks

If you want some great small town shopping and boutiques, head to Northfield. We love the fun shops! After you’re done, grab a drink at one of the many breweries, distilleries, or bars in the area! See full post here.

There’s so many more great Minnesota road trips to take, this just scratches the surface! Happy traveling!