Explore Minnesota Travel Guide - 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide

Scenic Byways

2025-01-02 06:06:00

Aerial view of a road next to a lake, with a forest on the side, on a sunny day.

GREAT OUTDOORS

Discover Minnesota’s Scenic Byways

Dylan sang about one of Minnesota’s most famous stretches of road in what is his perhaps most lauded album, “Highway 61 Revisited.” Learn more about the eponymous highway, and explore Minnesota’s other song-worthy scenic byways.

Minnesota’s 22 scenic byways stretch almost 3,000 miles across the state, meandering through a variety of landscapes: the lake-splashed north woods, tumbling waterfalls, grand bluffs towering above winding rivers, ribbons of prairie, city parks and more. Here are five byways to check out.

GREAT RIVER ROAD

The Mighty Mississippi starts in Minnesota, meandering its way south and running through vibrant communities along the way. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway takes road trippers through the towns that line the Mississippi, including Minneapolis-St. Paul.

LAKE MILLE LACS SCENIC BYWAY

Lake Mille Lacs is a treasure trove of natural beauty and indigenous culture. Take in the views, which are at their best in the fall, and learn about the Ojibwe, who have called this area home for thousands of years.

THE GUNFLINT TRAIL

In the far northeastern tip of Minnesota, the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway traverses the Superior National Forest, bringing travelers from Grand Marais to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Spot moose, pick wild blueberries and more.

BLUFF COUNTRY BYWAY

See Minnesota’s creative spirit in action along the Bluff Country Scenic Byway, an east-west route that ends at the Wisconsin border. Head to Lanesboro, a small but thriving art colony with a downtown lined with Victorian architecture.

To explore all of Minnesota’s scenic byways, visit exploreminnesota.com/travel-styles/road-trips-scenic-byways

NORTH SHORE SCENIC BYWAY (FORMERLY HIGHWAY 61)

A 145-mile stretch of road that skirts the Lake Superior shoreline’s dramatic limestone cliffs and forests, this scenic route has been designated an All-American Road. Highlights include panoramic lake views, Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse.

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Scenic Byways
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