Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Des Moines to Minneapolis. If you're planning a road trip to Minneapolis, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops. Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.
10:00 am start in Des Moines
drive for about 38 minutes
10:38 am Ames (Iowa)
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 11:38 am
drive for about 48 minutes
12:26 pm Webster City
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 1:26 pm
drive for about 41 minutes
2:06 pm Iowa Falls
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 3:06 pm
drive for about 1 hour
4:10 pm Clear Lake
stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am
day 1 driving ≈ 3 hours
find more stops
11:00 am leave from Clear Lake
drive for about 39 minutes
11:39 am Albert Lea
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 12:39 pm
drive for about 41 minutes
1:20 pm Waseca
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 2:20 pm
drive for about 1 hour
3:30 pm Eagan
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 4:30 pm
drive for about 22 minutes
4:52 pm arrive in Minneapolis
stay at Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America
day 2 driving ≈ 3 hours
find more stops
Ames (Iowa)
Webster City
Iowa Falls
Clear Lake
questions about Clear Lake:
restaurants
Albert Lea
Waseca
Eagan (2 answers)
Minnehaha Falls (10 mentions)
Minnehaha Park (8 mentions)
Mall of America (8 mentions)
Lake Nokomis (7 mentions)
The Museum of Russian Art (4 mentions)
restaurants around Eagan:
Sea Salt Eatery
Sandcastle
Marla's Caribbean Cuisine
Corner Table
questions about Eagan:
What is your favorite restaurant in Eagan?
Are you going straight to a hotel, or looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?
The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, and hotels is the Trippy page on where to stay in Minneapolis.
If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America, which was mentioned 2 times on Trippy.
Want to research more popular hotels in Minneapolis? Click the blue button below.
Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?
Trippy members suggest The Bachelor Farmer, which was mentioned 10 times.
Here are some more restaurants people talk about:
Want to research more popular restaurants in Minneapolis? Click the blue button below.
This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.
These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:
Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!
For example, here are some questions people have asked about Minneapolis. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Katie from Los Angeles asked:
Best free things to do in Minneapolis? (27 answers)
Bianca from Miami asked:
Is the Mall of America worth visiting? (17 answers)
Keith from Denver asked:
Fine dining in Minneapolis? (8 answers)
Tandy from Miami asked:
What are the best lakes in and/or around Minneapolis? (8 answers)
Liv from Cape Cod asked:
What are your favorite restaurants in Minneapolis? (7 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Minneapolis.
Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!
Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Minneapolis to Des Moines drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Des Moines? Try searching for places within 3.5 hours of Des Moines.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Des Moines to Minneapolis. Or get a full Des Moines to Minneapolis flight plan.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.
And if you know Des Moines well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Des Moines!