6 of the Best Road Trips From Minneapolis-St. Paul

Shafer & Taylors Falls

Round-trip drive time: ~2 hours

Head northeast from the Twin Cities for a couple of hours and you’ll find yourself at Franconia Sculpture Park, a 50-acre outdoor museum, active artist residency, and community arts hub all in one that’s been going strong since 1996. Franconia features more than 100 contemporary sculptures on grounds open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year. 

Be sure to check out their events calendar to see if they’re offering anything (think stained glass, wooden spoon carving, papermaking, and Hmong-inspired jewelry workshops, among many others) while you’re there.

From Franconia, you’ll get back in the car for a short five-minute drive up the St. Croix River to Taylors Falls. Continue onto Interstate State Park, a hiking and rock climbing mecca for Minnesotans. While the park’s office and visitor center close, the park itself is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

In the warmer months, bring the park’s wildflower checklist with you to see how many species you can identify and enjoy along the way. One of the best parts of the park is the potholes, but not the kind you’re thinking of; Interstate is home to more than 200 Glacial Potholes etched into the land by the Glacial St. Croix River some 10,000 years ago. The deepest pothole in the world is here — the 60-foot Bottomless Pit pothole!

Find more things to do in the St. Croix River Valley and Taylors Falls.

 

Red Wing & Stillwater

Round-trip drive time: ~2.5 hours

Head an hour southeast to Red Wing and go straight for the famous flagship shoe store of the same name. There’s a giant boot and a company museum inside, but the best part is the lower level, an entire floor of discounted Red Wing shoes and boots. 

Once you’ve got a new pair of excellent leather footwear, make your way to the Pottery Museum, where you can peruse more than 6,000 pieces of vintage and artisan pottery alongside dinnerware and folk art offerings, too.

Then, hop back in your car and head an hour north to Stillwater, a beloved riverside town that draws locals and visitors from around the world any time of the year. The drive is a destination in and of itself — the first stretch, especially. 

Highway 61 is Minnesota’s section of the Great River Road, which stretches for 3,000 miles along the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico. It also winds through Minnesota’s Bluff Country region, a scenic parkway-style drive that offers views of jagged cliffs that are extra special when they’re lit up by fall foliage.

Once in Stillwater, wander its adorable downtown and the many local shops that comprise it. Check out Black Letter Books for everything from kids’ books to rare first editions, gently-used paperbacks and much in between. Shops like All Things Sheared, with its cute and crafty Alpaca-inspired and Alpaca fleece-based wares, and Art N Soul’s many beads, rocks, fossils, and precious stones make great trip souvenirs.

Don't leave Stillwater without having dinner at Xelas. Before opening El Sazon in Minneapolis, chef Cristian De Leon was whipping up tacos in a suburban gas station so good that they led to a restaurant. Xelas is his latest offering, serving up not just any Mexican food; it’s rarely seen Mayan cuisine with cocktails created to match.

Find more things to do in Stillwater and Red Wing.

 

Rochester

Round-trip drive time: ~2.5 hours

Rochester may be well known for being home to the Mayo Clinic, but there’s so much more to the city than world-renowned healthcare. Make your way to the Rochester Art Center overlooking the Zumbro River. This contemporary art museum prides itself on world-class exhibitions and programs that welcome all and offer diverse experiences that prompt visitors to ask questions and think critically about what they encounter.

Forager Brewery is a local staple that offers much more than beer (think coffee, wine, and cocktails, too!), so there’s something for everyone regardless of their affinity for beer. There’s a sprawling food menu, so stop in for lunch and a beverage before continuing your day at Rochester’s Quarry Hill Nature Center. This 329-acre gem offers more than 8 miles of relaxed, paved hiking trails, a serene pond and a sandstone cave carved in 1882.

Find more things to do in Rochester and check out its top restaurants, bars and breweries.

 

Northfield, Faribault & Owatonna

Round-trip drive time: ~2.5 hours

The real question is what isn’t there to do in Northfield, Faribault, and Owatonna? This cluster of three small towns is home to plenty of outdoor beauty and a number of local artistic adventures.

Northfield is home to Fireside Orchard and Gardens, which is a must-visit during the fall season. It even has a relaxing koi fish pond and a gazebo. Try Lorence’s Berry Farm for a similar experience during the summer. 

There’s also the organic spirits outpost Loon Liquors Distillery, and the Northfield Arts Guild, which is home to two on-site galleries, live music performances, annual theater productions, classes, a shop, and other special events. 

For a more outdoorsy experience, take a serene stroll through the 400-acre Cowling Arboretum at Northfield’s Carleton College. It's open daily and free to the public. Don’t leave campus without swinging by the school’s Garden of Quiet Listening, a small Japanese garden hanging out behind Watson Hall.

Faribault is a short half-hour drive south. It boasts 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers, Paradise Center for the Arts, River Bend Nature Center and several waterfalls. Nearby Owatonna is home to its namesake arts center and the Little Theater of Owatonna.

Find more things to do in Northfield and other parts of Minnesota's South Lakes region.

 

New Ulm & Mankato

Round-trip drive time: ~2.5 hours

Ever had a Schell’s? New Ulm is where the influential brewery was founded way back in 1860! Tours of its scenic campus are $10 a person, and free for anyone under 12. 

This town is all about its German heritage, so ham it up while you’re there at places like Kaiserhoff or Turner Hall. Work off that heavy German food by scaling the 99 stairs to the Hermann Monument, a 102-foot statue of Hermann the Cheruscan, who rose to military fame in 9 A.D.

From New Ulm, drive just over half an hour southeast to Mankato for outdoor adventures. The greater Mankato area is home to Minneopa State Park, which gets its name from the Dakota language thanks to its waterfalls. 

It’s also home to a 20-bison herd that can be witnessed on driving tours. Other forms of outdoor recreation include the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, which runs for 39 multi-use miles, and the 5-mile Red Jacket Trail, which covers three converted railroad trestles.

Find more things to do in New Ulm and Minnesota's River Valley.

 

Austin

Round-trip drive time: ~3 hours

Whether you’re a fan of cured meat or just enjoy quirky reasons to take a road trip, Austin is the place to go in Minnesota. This small town, home to just over 26,000 people, is home to a SPAM Museum dedicated entirely to Hormel’s precooked canned meat.

The fairly dog-friendly museum is kid-friendly, too, free, and open seven days a week. It offers guided tours, a play area, interactive exhibits designed to keep little ones busy, samples of SPAM and SPAM-bassadors to answer any questions you might have, and plenty of information on all things SPAM.

Processed meat perfection isn’t the only reason to visit Austin, though. If you want to stay longer than a day to hit the waters of the Cedar River Water Trail or experience the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, consider spending two nights (that’s the minimum) at The Elam House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it’s one of his largest Usonian homes, complete with floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, more than 100 windows, and all-around striking mid-century modern architecture.

Where else can you stay in a Frank Lloyd Wright home besides Minnesota?! It’s special here.

Find more #OnlyinMN road trips and itineraries.