These 13 Road Trips In Minnesota Will Lead You To Places You’ll Never Forget

If you're ready to pack up the car and hit the road for a while, Minnesota is definitely the place to do it. These awe-inspiring places and the roads leading to them are stunningly beautiful and worth every minute behind the wheel. Whether you take them one at a time or loop them all together into one long adventure, you should absolutely make sure they are all on your to-do list. These are some of our favorite day trips in Minnesota:

1. If you don't live in the Twin Cities, it's one of the most logical, not to mention most fun, road trips to take. Enjoy the history of St. Paul and all the art and culture of Minneapolis.

Make sure to hit the Walker Sculpture Garden, Nicollet Island, The Chain of Lakes, and the Capitol. Click here for plenty of ideas about what to do and where to start.

2. Once you're in the cities, hop on the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway in Minneapolis for a truly memorable drive.

Read more about Grand Rounds Scenic Byway here.

3. Northeast of the Twin Cities, a road trip along the St. Croix River will bring you past a half a dozen amazing towns like Stillwater and Taylors Falls.

Learn more about this lovely drive here.

4. Duluth is another popular road trip destination and for good reason too, the roads and city are so beautiful you might just stay forever. Trust us.

Make sure to get out and enjoy the Lakewalk. Read more about this snowy city here.

5. A drive from Duluth up the North Shore is the quintessential Minnesota outdoor experience with stunning views of Superior not to mention stops for amazing waterfalls along the way.

If you go all the way up to the Canadian border, you will be rewarded with some of the most stunning waterfalls you will ever see. Oh, and along the way there's also this incredible beach.

6. Wind your way through the Superior National Forest and up through Voyageurs National Park. You'll be rewarded with wonderful mountain vistas and sprawling lakes.

Read more about Voyageurs National Park here - it's incredible!

7. If you're up by the BWCA, remember you don't have to switch to a canoe - you can also hike and fish in this north woods paradise.

Read more about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area here.

8. In Bemidji and the surrounding area, you'll find yourself winding around the best lakes for vacationing. It's the "up at the lake" experience everyone in MN loves.

It also doesn't hurt to take the scenic drive to the Mississippi headwaters at Itasca State Park. Hiking near Bemidji is also pretty awesome.

9. Driving down the western side of MN is much more scenic than most realize and you'll be rewarded at the end with magnificent prairie views like those at Touch the Sky Prairie.

Make sure you go through Detroit Lakes and Alexandria! There's also a waterfall at Touch the Sky.

10. Pipestone in southwest MN is another great stop. It's a beautiful town and you'll pass fields like this that will definitely make you pull over for unexpected photoshoots.

Pipestone National Monument is worthy of a trip all its own.

11. On your way to Eastern Minnesota, you'll hit Rochester and find there's more to do here than you ever knew.

Make sure to visit the Plummer House and walk along the shore of Silver Lake! Rochester, Minnesota, has actually been named the best place to live in America!

12. Going northeast from Rochester, pick up the Cannon River in Cannon Falls and enjoy the adorable small towns in both directions along its banks.

Cannon Falls is incredibly charming.

13. Finally south of the Twin Cities, enjoy the Mississippi shore towns of Red Wing and Hastings and the scenic drives by the bluffs.

Hastings is a truly unique and interesting place.

Pack up and experience an adventure like you never have before! These day trips in Minnesota are sure to relax your soul and cleanse your headspace.

Which day trips in Minnesota are your favorites? Tell us about them in the comments - we love to hear from you!