Looking for some great Midwest road trips? You’ve found the right place! Living in Minnesota, we love to explore our backyard, so we make a point to get out to our neighboring states as much as possible.
Keep scrolling for our favorite Midwest road trips and links to full posts with all the details about each spot!
Midwest road trips
Minnesota’s North Shore
Drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior to find terrain and views that make it hard to believe you’re in Minnesota. Start in Duluth and drive up to Grand Marais, with beautiful stops along the way like Palisade Head, Black Beach, and many gorgeous hikes and waterfalls!
Related post: Must see stops along Minnesota’s North Shore
Medora, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota is located on the West side of the state. It’s a tiny town in the middle of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and is full of history. If you can, start in Fargo and Moorhead to visit the Vikings museum and enjoy their craft beer scene, then make your way to Medora for the outdoor Medora Musical, steak fondue, and hiking at the state park!
Related post: Why you need to stay in Medora North Dakota
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City, Iowa is an amazing place to visit for music and architecture lovers. It’s the home of Meredith Wilson who wrote the Music Man, so you’ll find his childhood home here along with Music Man Square. Mason City is also the home of the puppets from The Sound of Music – and you can see them in town too! Lastly, make sure to stay in Frank Lloyd Wright’s hotel and take a tour – it’s so amazing.
Related post: Things to do in Mason City Iowa
Vilas County, Wisconsin
Vilas County is located in North Central Wisconsin. Here you’ll find endless hiking, mountain bike paths, and ATV routes. It’s absolutely GORGEOUS in the fall! Make sure to visit a Cranberry Farm and to eat at the Little Bohemia Lodge for a classic Wisconsin supper club meal. It’s the location of John Dillinger’s shoot out with the FBI and there’s still bullet holes ALL OVER the building – so crazy to see!
Related post: Things to do in Northern Wisconsin Vilas County
Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is located in Eastern Wisconsin right on the peninsula into Lake Michigan. This quaint little county feels like you’ve stepped back in time. We love the shopping, wineries, and restaurants here, but the hiking and kayaking in the clear Lake Michigan water is also a great activity!
Related post: Things to do in Door County Wisconsin – Complete weekend guide
I’ll be adding to this list as we visit more Midwest destinations. Enjoy your Midwest road trips no matter the season! Happy exploring!
Your trips look amazing… I live in Minnesota and have not seen many of these places! More travel / day trips are in our plans. Live on the Minnesota, South Dakota border – any suggestions?
My daughter wants to do some hiking – What do you pack in your hiking day (going for a couple hours) pack?
thank you