Lonely PlanetSep 20, 2026
The 6 Best Road Trips in Minnesota
See cozy small towns, waterfalls, wonderful areas of wilderness and the mighty Mississippi on these road trips in Minnesota.
17 things in this story
- National Eagle CenterMuseumshowcasing impressive birds of prey
- Elsewhere
- Split Rock LighthouseSightTwo Harbors, United StatesThe structure was designed by lighthouse engineer Ralph Russell Tinkham and was completed in 1910 by the United States…
- Lutsen MountainsSightLutsen, United Statesski resort with scenic gondola and alpine slide
- Duluth Coffee CompanyRestaurantDuluth, United Statesserves house-roasted coffee and salted chocolate chip cookies
- Cedar and Stone floating saunaSightDuluth, United Statesrelaxing soak
- Russ Kendall’s SmokehouseRestaurantKnife River, United Stateslunch stop in Knife River
- Rustic Inn CafeRestaurantKnife River, United Statesgrab pie just down the road from smokehouse
- Itasca State ParkSightItasca, United Statesoldest state park, headwaters of Mississippi River
- Itasca SportsPlaceItasca, United Statesrents bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, and pontoon boats
- Brainerd Lakes AreaNeighborhoodBrainerd, United Statesarea the Mississippi River grows in size
- Twin CitiesNeighborhoodMinneapolis, United Stateslinked hubs of Minneapolis and St Paul
- Lake PepinSightPepin, United Statesoffers four-season recreation
- Bluff CountryNeighborhoodLa Crescent, United Statessmall towns make tempting detours
- Sugar Loaf BluffSightWinona, United Stateshike for sweeping views of the Mississippi
- Lake SuperiorSightDuluth, United States
- Mississippi RiverSightLa Crescent, United States
- Tettegouche State ParkSightTwo Harbors, United States