12 Inexpensive Road Trip Destinations In Minnesota That Won’t Break The Bank
Most of us would love to travel more. But with high gas prices and sky-high airfare – not to mention hotels, food, and attractions, it’s hard to justify spending thousands on a trip every time we feel like getting out into the world. Well, who says you have to spend your life savings to have a good time? Minnesota is home to more than a few road trip destinations that are as fun as they are affordable. Here are 12 of the best road trips in Minnesota, which are still just the start.
Mystery Cave State Park is about two hours south of the Twin Cities, making it an ideal distance for a day trip if you live in the area. The drive itself is scenic, especially the winding, farm-lined country roads that lead to the park. And when you get there, trails crisscross the park, including a lovely bridge over the Root River. The cave itself is truly beautiful. The basic scenic tour ends at a stunning turquoise pool.
Cost: A vehicle permit is $7, and entry to the scenic tour is $10 ages 5-12, $15 ages 13 and up.
You can save even more money by buying a state parks permit. They cost $35 per year, and they get you into any Minnesota state park. The permit pays for itself in just seven visits. Definitely worth it if you plan on visiting lots of parks this year. Learn more about the tour here.
Mystery Cave State Park, Spring Valley, MN 55975, USA
Taylors Falls is already lovely, but when you add a boat tour? That just takes it over the edge of awesome! About 50 miles north of the Twin Cities, this cute town is full of charming shops and restaurants. It's also surrounded by scenic beauty, which you can experience firsthand on a Taylors Falls boat tour. These riverboats pass alongside gorgeous bluffs on the St. Croix River, making for a spectacular tour that you won't soon forget.
Cost: $22.99 for adults and $11.99 for kids for the 80-minute Daily Excursion, but you can save $2 on adult tickets by reserving your tour online.
About 140 miles south of the Twin Cities, Jeffers Petroglyphs is a fascinating road trip destination. It may look like nothing but an endless prairie, but follow the trails and you'll soon find something spectacular. A huge sheet of Sioux quartzite is in the field, and it's full of over 7,000 years of human history. You can see ancient carvings and even old wagon tracks at this historic site. When it comes to road trips in Minnesota, it doesn't get a lot more intriguing than this.
Lake Itasca State Park is a classic Minnesotan road trip destination. Here, the Mississippi River starts its journey south. Park visitors can explore several miles of hiking trails, each lined with lakes and thick forest.
But the main draw is the headwaters, where people have been walking across the river for generations.
As a Minnesotan, you've probably been to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden a time or two. You may have even visited Franconia Sculpture Park. But you may not have been to Nyberg Sculpture Park. Located 160 miles northwest of the Twin Cities, this little-known park is full of whimsical sculptures created by a man named Ken Nyberg. The sculptures are actually found throughout Vining and Otter Tail County. With the low cost, you could make an entire day of finding the sculptures.
Sure, there are many breweries in the Twin Cities and throughout the rest of Minnesota. But Schell's is the oldest. In fact, it's the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the entire country. For just $10, visitors can take a tour of the facility, which does include tasting opportunities. As an added bonus, the tour leaves from an interesting - and free - on-site museum.
Did you know Minnesota was once home to a lucrative fur trade? A fur post was built on the Snake River in Pine City, where voyageurs traded the hides of beaver, deer, muskrat, and more. The site was operated and later abandoned some time in the 1800s. It was rediscovered in the 1930s and, in the following decades, made into a museum. Today, it is an interpretive site made to look like the early 1800s. Costumed guides offer a history of the area to visitors, and the Fur Post holds many events throughout the year. It's about 70 miles north of the Twin Cities.
As one of Minnesota's most popular parks, it should come as no surprise that it's a great road trip destination. This gorgeous waterfall on the North Shore is worth the trip no matter how many times you've already seen it. It's a truly spectacular sight, and one of Minnesota's greatest treasures. This one is DEFINITELY one of the best road trips in Minnesota!
This day trip is both educational and scenic. You'll ride an 80-year-old elevator 2,341 feet underground to learn about the history of Minnesota's oldest iron mine. If that's not enough, the area surrounding the mine - with Lake Vermilion close by - is truly gorgeous.
Cost:A vehicle permit is $7, and entry to the tour is $10 for kids, $15 for adults. Learn more here.
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, 1302 McKinley Park Rd, Soudan, MN 55782, USA
Here's another historic site that is more than worth the cost of admission. Located in Grand Rapids, it's about 180 miles north of the Twin Cities. A visit will put the logging history of Minnesota in the 1900s at your fingertips. Visitors can board a floating cook shack and explore a 1930s Forest Service cabin, and watch lumberjack demonstrations. Don't forget to climb the 100-foot-tall fire tower for a bird's-eye view of the forest.
Deep in the Chippewa National Forest, there's a special section of forest like no other in the world. In 1882, a surveying mistake caused loggers to overlook a 144-acre section of forest, leaving the red and white pines to grow. Today, the area is known as The Lost 40. It's full of impressive old-growth trees, many of which are 4 feet in diameter. The area is managed by the National Forest Service, and there are hiking trails for guests to enjoy.
Cost: Free.
Lost Forty Road, Lost Forty Rd, Grattan Township, MN 56661, USA
About 200 miles from the Twin Cities, a trip to Blue Mounds may be a bit rough as a day trip for most Minnesotans. Luckily, lodging is only $15 per night. And with the tall pink quartzite cliffs that are found in this park, it's more than worth it. Guests have access to several miles of hiking trails, which wind through tall prairie grasses, alongside creeks, and down rugged stone trails. It's an area unlike any other in Minnesota, and it's definitely worth the trip.
Blue Mounds State Park, 1410 161st St, Luverne, MN 56156, USA
Would you ever do any of these road trips? What are some of your picks for the best road trips in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments! If you’re looking for even cheaper options for the best road trips in Minnesota, check out this list of 10 legitimately fun things you can do in Minnesota for free.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Road Trips In Minnesota
September 24, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some of the best budget-friendly attractions in Minnesota?
Minnesota is a state with plenty to do no matter what your budget might be. The majority of our breathtaking state parks are either free or super-inexpensive to enter, and all of our amazing scenic byways are free to drive and explore – and you could make a whole day trip out of either! You could also visit some interesting places around the state like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Loring Park, the Nicolette Mall, or even the world-famous Mall of America. Check out Como Park, in St. Paul, which has its own zoo, and the Cathedral of St. Paul is a stunning architectural dream that is sure to impress both religious and non-secular visitors with its ethereal beauty. For more awesome and interesting ideas about which budget-friendly attractions in Minnesota you’d like to add to your bucket list, take a look at this article.
What are the best day trips in Minnesota to do?
Minnesota is a day-trippers' paradise, with so many things to do and see that it’s pretty hard to narrow things down to just ONE day. First and foremost, if you’ve never driven the incredible North Shore, you need to – like, right now. Put down everything you’re doing and go; it’s one of the most breathtaking scenic drives in the country and it’s right here in our backyard. Make a day out of exploring one or more of Minnesota’s awesome small towns, like Hopkins, Buffalo, or Jordan. Spend an afternoon marveling at the wonders of ancient history at the Jeffers Petroglyphs, or kill a whole day at any one of our incredible state parks – there are 66 of them, to be exact, and therefore there are 66 possible day trips right there. Fans of waterfalls will love a visit to Mankato, which is just a little over an hour outside of Minneapolis. The possibilities are quite plentiful, so start planning – you have a lot of adventure ahead of you.
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Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
