10 Best Road Trips in Minnesota: Day & Weekend Trips [4K HD]

----MINNESOTA TRAVEL ESSENTIALS-----

Minnesota is home to lakes, forests, and countless scenic roads. If you're feeling adventurous or looking for a new place to explore, these 10 road trips will keep you entertained for hours on end with scenic byways, excellent small towns, and the great feeling of being "up north."

We'll take you on a tour of what makes Minnesota such a great state for road-tripping, including our favorites, the North Shore, the Great River Road, Brainerd Interstate State Park, and so much more. Beyond these destinations are many fun Minnesota attractions, lake towns, and places to visit.

----MINNESOTA TRAVEL GUIDES-----

What do you love most about a classic Minnesota road trip? Leave a comment below, and let's chat.

Where to reach me

0:00 Introduction
1:16 10 BEST ROAD TRIPS IN MINNESOTA
1:25 TAKE THE NORTH SHORE TOUR
2:33 VISIT NEW ULM FOR OKTOBERFEST
3:39 VISIT LANESBORO
4:50 TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO LAKE MINNETONKA
6:05 TAKE A GREAT RIVER ROAD TRIP
7:47 VISIT MINNESOTA'S BEST STATE PARKS
9:30 VISIT THE CLOSE GEMS TO THE TWIN CITIES
10:53 VISIT FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK
12:06 VISIT ROCHESTER
13:21 GO UP NORTH

#minnesota #roadtrips #twincities

[dar]

I love our State. No matter which direction you choose to travel you can find something beautiful. Thank you for your excellent vid.

[kikiperales]

I was looking for a Minnesota road trip video and this one is it! I'm from Texas and we do road trips every summer, my son who is in the autism spectrum just loves Minnesota and I love nature. This video has given me many new spots to visit this summer! Thank you!

[rnupnorthbrrrsm]

Through this whole video I’m thinking, “what about up north”….then finally you said it 😍
If you want peace and quiet and only hear the call of the loons then up north is your place !!! We have so many lakes that you can have one all to yourself 🥰
The headwaters of the Mississippi is pretty amazing, pack an ice chest with some snacks because we don’t have fast food on every corner but you will find local ma & pa cafes here and there !
I’m not native to Minnesota but have been here 38 years and I’m still in awe of the beauty, my 30 mile trip to town weaves me between and around many lakes and tall pines ❤️

[cassandrafertahi]

My grandma lives in Wabasha. I love going down the great river road to visit her!

[singrdave]

Born and raised in Minnesota. My wife loved Taylors Falls and Stillwater last time we visited. Need to come back and try some more of these trips!

[usa]

On the trip down the Mississippi just South of Lake City you can take about a 35 minute detour at Wabasha County 4.
You drive about 20 miles on 4 toward Plainview, MN.

You'll go along a winding road through the valleys crossing the Zumbro River and a couple of trout streams.

When you get to county road 42 you can then take a right and stay on 42 for about 12 miles on yet another scenic drive back to Hwy 61. Left is Wabasha and right takes you to Winona.

If you go right and into Plainview 1/2 mile after you go through town is Carley State Park with trout fishing, hiking and camping.

If you don't take this detour at Reads Landing you can stop at Reads Landing Brewery. Try the Captain Crunch Beer.

Also if you drive this in the late February to early March time frame that's when there are the most eagles to see. This last year between Reads Landing and Lake City I counted over 100 in trees and perched on the ice near open water.

There are also a lot of frozen waterfalls on the bluffs.

[marios.sanchez]

If I wasn`t a lifelong resident of wisconsin I would live in minnesota. it has alot of benefits to it🌲🙂

[xibrossartxi]

Great video! Keep up the good work and thankyou for being a fantastic citizen in the great state of Minnesota☃️

[Dennisblue]

Great video! I grew up in Hastings and often go back to visit! I also love the North Shore and the River Drive from Hastings to WInona! I almost hopped in my truck and took off! Furthermore, Voyageurs National Park is the best! So beautiful there!

[jeverw]

Great list! After living in Park Rapids for 5 years, I would mention some up North towns that we thought were great to visit ! Along with Park Rapids and the surrounding 500 lakes within 10 miles of the town, Walker, Brainerd/Baxter, Alexandria, and Detroit Lakes are all great areas of the up North areas. I would also mention any town with the chain Zorbaz located nearby (the chain is specifically located around vacation destinations in MN) is a great area with lots of lakes, fishing, and the up North feel you want.

[bemhibbits]

Love you Minnesota!!! So much green in the summer!!

[DS-jhbp]

Appreciate your video! Have so much we need to explore! Thanks for putting this video together.

[margaretmold]

Winona- there is a hotel, Riverboat Inn that has a '57 and '59 Chevy Suite! The first time (husband doesn't like to make reservations) but I had done earlier. We pulled in the parking lot he waited while I went in, came back and said they were full, I said I guess we sleep in the car. I went back in and came out to tell him they a cancelation but they wanted us to look at room. Boy was he surprised, we did sleep in the car! He loved it. Took our daughter and her husband from England, another time our granddaughter. All with the same story, they still talk about the room!

[michaelinminn]

Pretty good vid.
I'm surprised that you did not mention the amazing granite industry here.
Visiting the quarries in Cold Spring. Then, there is the immense excavation
of the granite reserves by Martin Marietta in Waite Park.
It is a stunning vista of colossal earth moving!

...and, in the summer, don't miss watching the Cold Spring Springers play in their iconic stadium.🙂🥎

[matt-yekx]

I'm from the iron range in MN. But now live near the ND border.You have to go up to Giants Ridge. Not only do they have skiing, and miles of cross-country skiing. They have 2 golf courses, a disc golf course that goes up and down the ski hills. They recently put in a Mt bike course, which is very challenging. You can also take the chair lifts up to the top and go basically anywhere you want on bikes.

[mariomoreno]

in 30 days i will visit MN ....exelent Video !!!!

[badguy]

I live in Wisconsin. But I've really enjoyed my trips to New Ulm...the State Parks along the St. Croix, the drive north from Duluth along Lake Superior and the drive along the river from Red Wing to La Crosse.

[cassandrarose]

Love this! I live in MN and often forget how amazing and dynamic it is 💜

[doubleoseven]

Awesome video, thanks for your work on this!

[mnmike]

A North Shore drive starts in Jay Cooke State Park and ends at Grand Portage State Park. It’s not “if you get up that far.” Also try the old Hwy 61 just south of Grand Portage on county road 17 to Mineral Center then the “road not maintained past this point” county road 89 up to the Canadian border on the Pigeon River where the first border crossing bridge used to be.