Minnesota
Small-Town Weekend Getaways from Minneapolis
Bluff-country river towns, glacier-carved gorges, and a historic lift-bridge main street, all within two hours of the Twin Cities.
The short version
Small towns near Minneapolis worth a 48-hour trip
Minneapolis weekend trips run along the St. Croix and Mississippi river valleys and into the bluff country of southeast Minnesota. Within two hours you reach a river town with a brick main street, a historic biking and theater village, and a glacial river-gorge town. These are weekend trips from Minneapolis built on rivers, bluffs, and Minnesota small towns.
Stillwater (40 minutes east) is the closest escape, a St. Croix river town with a brick main street climbing the bluff and a lift bridge. Lanesboro (2 hours southeast) is the bluff-country biking and arts town, with the Root River State Trail and a historic theater. Taylors Falls (1 hour northeast) is the glacial river-gorge town on the St. Croix, with pothole rock formations and interstate state park.
All Minneapolis escapes
3 weekend trip ideas from Minneapolis, sorted by how far you have to drive. Vibes covered: river, food, nature, mountains.
Under 1 hour
2 escapes from Minneapolis
1 to 2 hours
1 escape from Minneapolis
Questions & Answers
Minneapolis weekend FAQ
Stillwater (40 minutes), Taylors Falls (1 hour), and Lanesboro (2 hours) are the strongest small-town escapes from Minneapolis, covering a St. Croix river town, a glacial gorge, and a bluff-country biking village.
Stillwater, about 40 minutes east of Minneapolis, is the closest escape, a St. Croix river town with a brick main street climbing the bluff and a historic lift bridge.
Lanesboro, about 2 hours southeast of Minneapolis, is the trailhead for the Root River State Trail, a paved bike path through southeast Minnesota bluff country, plus a historic downtown theater.
Stillwater (40 minutes, a St. Croix river town), Taylors Falls (1 hour, a glacial river gorge), and Lanesboro (2 hours, a bluff-country biking village) are the best weekend getaways from Minneapolis, covering river, gorge, and bluff country.