AllTrails
8.7
The most complete trail database in the US, and the reviews are recent enough to tell you whether a trail is muddy, closed, or busy this week.
Free tier is usable; the paid plan runs about $36 per year.
Minneapolis Travel Guide
A rare car-free Midwest option
- Minnesota
- August 2026
- A rare car-free Midwest option
Why go to Minneapolis
Minneapolis has light rail from the airport to downtown, one of the best urban bike networks in the country, and lakes you can circle on foot.
It is the clearest case in the Midwest for skipping the rental car entirely.
How to get there
Flights
MSP connects to downtown by Blue Line light rail in about 25 minutes.
Train
The Empire Builder stops at Union Depot in St. Paul.
Bus
Intercity coaches serve Chicago and Milwaukee cheaply.
Getting around
- Light rail links the airport, both downtowns, and the stadium district.
- Nice Ride bikes plus the Grand Rounds route cover the lakes.
- Winter skyways keep downtown walkable in January.
What to do in Minneapolis
Half day
Chain of Lakes Bike Loop
Flat, car-free, and connects four lakes and a creek.
2 hours
Walker Art Center
Contemporary collection plus a free sculpture garden.
Outdoor options nearby
Moderate
Grand Rounds Scenic Byway
A 50 mile loop of connected parkways through the whole city.
A workable plan
- Walker Art Center and sculpture garden
- Chain of Lakes loop by bike
- North Loop dinner
- Mississippi riverfront and Stone Arch Bridge
- Mill City Museum
- Twins or Wild game
- Minnehaha Falls
- St. Paul by light rail
- Summit Avenue walk
Minneapolis questions
How many days do you need in Minneapolis?
Two full days covers the essentials and three lets you add a day trip or an outdoor morning without rushing.
What is the best way to get around Minneapolis?
Check the getting-around notes above first: in some cities transit and walking beat a rental car outright, and in others a car is the only practical option.
Travel services for Minneapolis
The tools and providers that fit the way this trip actually works.
Hotels
Best used as a price check and a way to filter for genuinely refundable rates rather than as your only lodging search.
Varies by market; always compare against the hotel's direct rate.
Tours & Attractions
Strongest for skip-the-line attraction tickets and half-day tours you would otherwise queue for.
Attraction tickets from about $25; half-day tours from about $70.
