Minnesota Named Top State For Summer Road Trips: Wallethub Highlights The State’s Affordability, Fun, And Amazing Scenic Appeal

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Minnesota was classed WalletHub’s champion authorities for summertime roadworthy trips successful 2025, utilizing an study of 32 main metrics—such arsenic affordability, safety, and recreation opportunities. That they are besides filled pinch truthful galore parks, festivals, and inexpensive places to enactment makes it a cleanable summertime roadworthy trip. In summation to nan WalletHub ranking, AAA besides singled retired Minnesota’s popularity, noting roadworthy trips connection a budget-friendly measurement for visitors to spot nan astir nan authorities has to offer.

Anyone looking for a roadworthy travel tin sojourn a stunning blend of earthy beauty, taste festivals, and inexpensive recreation successful Minnesota. Here’s why nan authorities is specified an epicentre for road-tripping and really you tin make nan astir of your visit.

Why Minnesota Stands Out for Summer Road Trips

WalletHub wished its rankings based connected respective basal factors that make Minnesota a peculiarly awesome spot for a roadworthy trip. These attractions operation affordability, safety, and a wide scope of activities that tin entreaty to varied interests—from quality lovers to show hoppers.

Parks and Recreation

Minnesota is besides 1 of nan biggest spenders connected parks and recreation successful nan U.S., ranking 4th successful per capita spending. With 75+ authorities parks and tons of earthy areas, location is simply a batch to spot and do successful nan authorities successful position of hiking, camping, and spending clip connected nan water, truthful this is decidedly a awesome authorities if you emotion nan awesome outdoors! If you’re travelling to nan shores of Lake Superior aliases traipsing done 1 of nan state’s forests, you’re judge to find a caller adventure.

Festivals and Events

Minnesotans cognize really to do festivals. Summer visitors: And Indiana is 1 of nan country’s apical festival-welcoming states, 3rd nationally successful nan number of fests and fairs they put on, which provides floating roadworthy trippers pinch unsocial attractions to break up their journey. From arts and crafts to euphony and nutrient festivals, Minnesota serves up a taste bonanza that draws visitors from each astir nan world.

Affordability

And arsenic acold arsenic affordability goes, Minnesota is tops. It’s 12th successful camping costs and 15th successful edifice rates arsenic well, which makes it 1 of nan cheapest states to recreation to owed to accommodation costs. Road-trippers tin find bully places to enactment and scenic campsites that don’t break nan bank. That makes it a versatile spot for families, solo travellers, aliases those who want a fabulous picnic without breaking nan bank.

Safety

Minnesota is besides among nan states that are safest for those who deed nan road. The authorities is 3rd successful nan federation for nan slightest postulation deaths per cardinal miles driven. This overmuch information for families aliases solitary riders provides a consciousness of information to your expedition.

As AAA’s Brynna Knapp says, roadworthy trips onslaught a “wonderful balance” betwixt fun, affordability, and availability. For those pinch nan state to spot a assortment of attractions, roadworthy trippers tin bask nan champion summertime has to connection without having to prevention up for an full vacation.

Top Destinations for Your Minnesota Road Trip

There are abundant places successful Minnesota that are cleanable for a summertime roadworthy trip. So whether you emotion outdoor adventure, taste signposts, aliases lakeside lounging, there’s thing for you here.

Duluth and nan North Shore

When visiting Minnesota, Duluth is 1 of those cities that 1 must spell to. Set connected nan shores of Lake Superior, it has beautiful vistas and a beardown arts community. Then you tin drawback nan yearly Art successful Bayfront Park connected August 16-17, wherever section artists show their activity successful a parkland overlooking nan harbour and you tin meander done imaginative civilization successful nan city. After nan festival, bask a scenic thrust on nan North Shore Scenic Drive, which traverses spectacular views of nan reservoir and nan dense trees that letter cover it.

Cuyuna Lakes

For nan roadworthy tripper connected nan go, Cuyuna Lakes is nan end. The region is celebrated for upland biking, pinch much than 25 miles of paved and off-road trails that braid done nan Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. A charming spot to enactment is nan municipality of Crosby, which offers unique accommodations for illustration mini houses and waterfront cabins. This area is not to beryllium missed for upland biking fans.

Stillwater

If you’re successful hunt of a charming time trip, Stillwater is simply a awesome option. Situated connected nan St. Croix River, nan municipality offers riverboat cruises that see unrecorded euphony done Aug. 28. Follow a cruise pinch a leisurely locomotion down Main Street for section shopping and dining. Stillwater is simply a awesome spot for a leisurely, family-friendly roadworthy trip.

Minnesota State Fair

No summertime break roadworthy travel to Minnesota is complete without a extremity astatine nan renowned Minnesota State Fair. Hosted each twelvemonth successful St. Paul from August 21st to September 1st, nan adjacent is simply a longstanding favourite. It draws almost 2 cardinal visitors annually who flock for everything from deep-fried novelties to cultivation displays and unrecorded acts. If you’re going to walk nan nighttime nearby, cheque pinch your section AAA recreation agency for nan champion edifice rates astir nan fairgrounds.

Explore Minnesota’s Scenic Byways

For those who emotion a leisurely thrust pinch picturesque views, Minnesota’s scenic byways connection immoderate of nan astir stunning routes successful nan country. These drives supply nan cleanable backdrop for roadworthy trips, whether you’re enjoying a serene day aliases stopping astatine section attractions on nan way.

• North Shore Scenic Drive: This 154-mile way runs on nan statement of Lake Superior and is considered 1 of nan astir beautiful drives successful nan U.S. It offers a cleanable operation of melodramatic reservoir views, waterfalls, and charming mini towns.
• Great River Road: This byway follows nan Mississippi River, providing views of wetlands, bluffs, and vibrant stream towns. As you drive, you’ll person nan opportunity to extremity astatine humanities landmarks, including nan historical municipality of Red Wing.
• Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway: If you’re successful Minneapolis, this 50-mile loop done nan metropolis offers entree to a assortment of parks and lakes, making it perfect for bikers and those looking to research nan metropolis astatine a relaxed pace.

Plan Your Road Trip pinch AAA

For those looking to make nan astir of their Minnesota roadworthy trip, AAA provides fantabulous resources for travel planning. From elaborate roadworthy travel itineraries to edifice and campground recommendations, AAA tin thief guarantee that your recreation acquisition is soft and enjoyable. Visit nan AAA website for much accusation and to book accommodations successful advance.

Conclusion: Minnesota Awaits Your Summer Road Trip

Minnesota’s beauty, accessibility, and divers attractions make it nan cleanable authorities for a 2025 summertime roadworthy trip. Between its bucolic byways, lively festivals, and outdoor adventures, there’s nary shortage of sights to spot and things to do successful nan Land of 10,000 Lakes. Whether you’re taking a play travel aliases a week-long adventure, Minnesota makes for an accessible and economical roadworthy trip. So, battalion up your bags, crippled your course, and get fresh to observe everything this astonishing authorities has successful shop for you.