One of the best things about the holiday season is how much effort people put into creating the best holiday displays. Inflatable snowmen, huge, elaborately decorated Christmas trees visible from the street, reindeer staged on the roof - there is no shortage of creative ideas. Even a simple light display can be all it takes to turn a cold winter street into a cheerful winter wonderland. Minnesota at Christmas loves to take part in these cheerful displays, and with this Christmas road trip through Minnesota, you'll be able to experience some of the most magical holiday lights.
This route starts in Duluth and works its way south, then hooks back up toward Sleepy Eye. It's just over 400 miles, so it may take a few nights to see the whole thing. Feel free to do the entire route, or to use it to help you plan your own road trip. Use our map to light the way.
Head over to an amazing light display in Duluth for the perfect way to kick off this road trip adventure. This light display is located on Park Point and is nestled right on the beach. You'll walk through arches of lights before being greeted by the amazing sights and sounds of Lake Superior. Visit the areas website for more information.
Duluth is lovely at any time of year, but there's something about it that makes the holidays particularly special. Perhaps the display most worthy of a road trip is Bentleyville. With thousands upon thousands of glittering lights to walk through, it is a must-see. Free food and beverages add to the atmosphere, as do the thousands of cheery holiday celebrants who pass through this spectacular display of lights each year.
Next up is Plymouth Lights in the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth. This huge display will brighten up even the darkest winter night. Better yet, it's programmed to play along with the radio. The lights are on for the entire month of December, except Christmas Eve.
A bit further south from Plymouth, the Trista Lights offer a trippy show to all who stop to see. It may be a newcomer, but the lights are nothing short of magnificent - definitely worth the stop. Check 'em out starting at 6:00 p.m. throughout the month of December.
Kiwani's Holiday Lights may be a bit more off the beaten track than some of the displays on this trip, but it wouldn't be here if it weren't for good reason. This is one of the largest displays in Minnesota, with the elaborate lights taking over much of Sibley Park. Definitely, one to add to the bucket list.
Celebrate the Light of the World kicks off on Thanksgiving night and runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until January. With more than 800,000 lights, this is one Christmas light display that is not to be missed. In fact, many have declared this light shop to be one of the best in the state! Plus, did we mention this light show is free?!
7. Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion - Sleepy Eye
We end this road trip in a BIG way with a visit to Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion. With over 300,000 lights, guests are able to tune in to 89.1 on the radio and drive through this synchronized light show. The music is also playing throughout the park too if you’d like to get out of your car and walk around!
Do you agree that these are some of the most stunning Christmas lights displays in Minnesota? Is there anything you'd add to the list? Let us know in the comments section! If you're hungry for more Christmas cheer, check out this list of the most charming Christmas towns in Minnesota.
Everyone In Minnesota Should Take This Underappreciated Scenic Drive
The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway offers a picturesque 300-mile journey through western and central Minnesota, featuring beautiful scenery, small towns, and historical sites.
Minnesota is home to many scenic drives, from dirt roads canopied by trees to gorgeous highways overlooking lakes and rivers. And there are more than a few official scenic byways that take travelers on a journey through the most beautiful parts of the Land of 10,000 Lakes. One of the state's best - and most unappreciated - scenic drives is the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway. Take a look at this beautiful Minnesota scenic byway, which is so fabulous that it's earned national status:
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The Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway is a gorgeous, 300-mile journey through western and central Minnesota.
Along the way, you'll pass through some of Minnesota's prettiest and most overlooked scenery, where you'll have countless opportunities to get out and enjoy the beauty up close.
Minnesota's scenic byways are pretty hard to beat, no matter which of the 22 you take! But it's no secret that some routes get a little more attention than others. The Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway is an overlooked scenic drive that is well worth a detour. Visit the official website to get a full list of every park, museum, and waypoint along the way so you can plan your adventure!
How many scenic byways have you checked off your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below!
This byway is a long journey, so along the way, you might need a basecamp. If a unique stay in a brewery sounds like a good time, we have just the place!
If you're looking for some year-round Minnesota road trip ideas, you're in the right place. The North Star State, with its large cities and charming small towns, abundant natural beauty, and several landmarks and sites of national significance - with plenty of room for driving between them all - has got to be one of the best states for road trips in the entire country. In fact, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, a road trip through Minnesota is practically an annual rite of passage! So, be sure to pack all your road trip essentials - and don't forget the snacks - as you navigate through 11 of the best road trips in Minnesota.
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For a Minnesota road trip map that you can use to navigate on your smartphone, just tap the "Route" link at the beginning of any of our 11 Minnesota road trips.
Route: Grand Marais > Five Mile Rock > Kadunce River State Wayside > Naniboujou Lodge and Restaurant > Judge C.R. Magney State Park > Fontainebleau State Park > Grand Portage National Monument > Mt. Josephine Overlook > Grand Portage State Park
Distance: 43 miles
Trip Time: 1 hour driving time
Although this may be the shortest Minnesota road trip itinerary on this list, quick road trips in Minnesota can be breathtaking. This day trip along MN-61 may well be the most scenic one-day road trip in Minnesota you will find. Not only will you experience some of the most dramatic shoreline on the Great Lakes, you’ll have the opportunity to hit some lesser-traveled hiking trails, explore the shore, and delve into some of the state’s most fascinating history at places like Naniboujou Lodge and Grand Portage National Monument. This is definitely one of the weekend trips in Minnesota that should go on your bucket list!
Route: Illgen City > Illgen Falls > Ely > Bear Head Lake State Park > Scenic State Park > Lost 40 SNA > Lady Slipper Scenic Byway > Big Bog State Recreation Area > Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge > Oslo
Distance: 490 miles
Trip Time: 9.5 hours driving time
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You could complete this road trip traversing Minnesota’s longest state highway in as little as three days. However, adding another day or two to this northern Minnesota itinerary would allow you to explore a little longer in places like Big Bog State Recreation Area and Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. As you skirt the southern edge of Red Lake, you’ll pass within about an hour of Itasca State Park, where you’ll find the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It would make an excellent add-on to one of our favorite weekend road trips in Minnesota.
Route: Iowa Minnesota South Dakota Marker > Blue Mounds State Park > Pipestone National Monument > Lac Qui Parle State Park > Kensington Runestone Park > Red River State Recreation Area > John Kurz Memorial Park > Lake Bronson State Park > Warroad
Distance: 575 miles
Trip Time: 10.5 hours driving time
This Minnesota road trip, for the most part, follows Highway 75 King of Trails Scenic Byway will take you from the corner that the Land of 10,000 Lakes shares with Iowa and South Dakota all the way to Lake of the Woods and the Canadian border. Along the way, you'll pass through towns like Luverne, Pipestone, Argyle, and Warroad, visiting fantastic state parks, national monuments, stunning natural areas, and beloved local landmarks. It's an awesome way to see one of the lesser-traveled parts of the state and the Upper Midwest at their most beautiful - the summer.
Route: Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery > Hop and Barrel Brewing > Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery > Karst Brewing > Trout City Brewing > Sylvan Brewing > Union Valley Vineyard and Winery
Distance: 79 miles
Trip Time: 1.75 hours driving time
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Start this road trip along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway just south of Rochester in Spring Valley. Drives through this part of the state - the “driftless” area - offer some of the best road trips to be had in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. This one combines all the quaint charm and rustic beauty of the Bluff Country with visits to several local breweries and wineries along the way. It’s an ideal road trip for a weekend getaway, combined with a stay at a bed-and-breakfast in Lanesboro, Rushford, or Preston.
Route: Minnehaha Falls > Vermillion Falls > Cannon Falls > Nerstrand Big Woods State Park > Minneopa State Park > Ramsey Falls > Pipestone National Monument
Distance: 281 miles
Trip Time: 5.5 hours driving time
Spring is waterfall season, and this drive to the best waterfalls in southern Minnesota is a perfect way to spend a spring weekend. You’ll start in Minneapolis, at the iconic Minnehaha Falls, then visit several of southeastern Minnesota’s lovely cascades. From there, you’ll head west to Minneopa State Park, near Mankato. This is the perfect time for a break or an overnight stop. Since the charming town of New Ulm is directly on the route, it makes a perfect stopping point before you head to far western Minnesota to finish off the road trip.
Route: Rainy Lake Visitor's Center, Voyageurs National Park > International Falls > Franz Jevne State Park > Wheelers Point > Zippel Bay State Park
Distance: 103 miles
Trip Time: 2 hours driving time
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You can make this northern Minnesota road trip along the Rainy River and the Canadian border as long or as short as you like. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore on the drive from Voyageurs National Park on Rainy Lake to International Falls, Franz Jevne State Park - the smallest in the state - and Zippel Bay State Park on the south shore of the gargantuan Lake of the Woods. It’s a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, weekend, or week. Bring your passport for a stretch goal of the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point in the Lower 48 United States - but you have to travel through Canada to get there by land.
Route: St. Croix State Park> Wild River State Park > Interstate State Park > William O'Brien State Park > St. Croix Boom Site State Wayside > Stillwater > Afton State Park
Distance: 118 miles
Trip Time: 2.3 hours driving time
This one or two-day itinerary tracks the St. Croix River through the St. Croix National Scenic River Way, which makes it perfect for fall road trip in Minnesota. The forested river valley explodes with fall colors, and because you can see the bluffs on the Wisconsin side, as well, you get double the foliage. Moreover, you'll visit five state parks and a national park service unit, and you can stop along the way to explore the charming historic towns of Taylors Falls, Marine on St. Croix, Stillwater, Bayport, and Afton.
Route: Grand Marais > Pincushion Mountain Overlook > Bearskin Lodge > White Pine Lodge > Magnetic Rock Trail > Poplar Haus > Gunflint Lodge
Distance: 67 miles
Trip Time: 1.75 hours driving time
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A winter trip up the Gunflint Trail is an ideal way to embrace the long cold season in the Bold North. On this short driving itinerary, you’ll drive through the Superior National Forest, skirting the Boundary Waters, while stopping for views, to cross-country ski, and to enjoy a winter hike or snowshoe. This is also the best time of year for spotting moose along the trail, so be alert as you drive the narrow, winding road. When you hit your final stop for the night, the Gunflint Lodge, be sure to keep an eye on the sky for dancing northern lights.
Route: The Uptowner Cafe > Twin City Model Railroad Museum > Blue Sun Soda Shop > Cedar Park > Lindström Bakery > Franconia Sculpture Park > Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours > The Drive In Restaurant
Distance: 59 miles
Trip Time: 1.5 hours driving time
With less than two hours of driving time and plenty of fun stops, this family-friendly road trip is a great way to spend a weekend day in the Twin Cities area. Better still, this is one of the best Minnesota road trip ideas for offering plenty of stops that adults and kids (of any age!) will both enjoy. Importantly, you'll start with breakfast and find plenty of opportunities for snacks and meals along the way - nobody needs to be hangry!
Road Trip to Minnesota Landmarks & Natural Wonders
Route: Blue Mounds State Park > Minnehaha Falls > Interstate State Park > Jay Cooke State Park > Gooseberry Falls State Park > Tettegouche State Park > Ely > Eagle Mountain > Judge C.R. Magney State Park > Grand Portage State Park
Distance: 688 miles
Trip Time: 13 hours driving time
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This road trip to many of the landmarks and natural wonders of Minnesota will take you from the Sioux quartzite upwellings of southwestern Minnesota, across southern Minnesota to the Twin Cities, then up the St. Croix River valley to Duluth. There, you can stop in Canal Park to see the iconic aerial lift bridge or take some time to explore the splendid Glensheen mansion before heading up Minnesota’s North Shore. In addition to numerous state parks and their natural beauty - including Minnesota’s highest waterfalls - along the way, you’ll pass through charming small towns, like Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, Tofte, Lutsen, and Grand Marais, where you can stop for lunch or ice cream on the shore of Lake Superior. Between Gooseberry Falls and Tettegouche, you’ll see the amazing Split Rock Lighthouse where you can explore the site’s fascinating history and hike or go biking in the park or along the paved Gitchi Gami State Trail.
This marathon of a road trip to some of Minnesota's most charming small towns could easily be broken into segments. For example, you could include Nisswa in an excursion to several small towns in the Brainerd Lakes area. Or you could do a trip along the Great River Road that would include Winona, as well as Wabasha and Red Wing. But you could also, pack the car, hit the road, and see some of the state’s most charming small towns - and some of its most amazing scenery - by following this itinerary over the course of several days.
We certainly hope you'll take us up on at least one of these Minnesota road trip ideas when you're considering your next vacation in the Bold North! What are your thoughts about the best road trips in Minnesota? We'd love to hear about them!
