5 Charming Small Towns in Minnesota You Need to Visit

Minnesota may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but some of my favorite places to explore are its charming small towns.

Give us a walkable Main Street, a locally owned coffee shop, cute boutiques, beautiful scenery, and a great place to grab lunch, and we are happy!

From historic river towns and lake-country favorites to tiny destinations surrounded by some of Minnesota’s prettiest scenery, there are so many small towns worth adding to your Minnesota bucket list.

Whether you’re planning a Minnesota road trip, girls’ weekend, couples getaway, or simply looking for a fun day trip, here are five charming Minnesota towns you need to visit.

1. New London

Central Minnesota

New London is proof that a town doesn’t have to be big to make a great day-trip destination.

This charming little community in central Minnesota has an artsy, creative feel with a compact downtown that’s easy to explore on foot. You’ll find historic buildings, locally owned businesses, coffee, food, and beautiful scenery around the Mill Pond.

One of the things I love about New London is how easily you can combine a morning exploring downtown with an afternoon outdoors.

Things to Do in New London

Start your morning at New London Bakery, then grab a coffee and wander around downtown. Take your time checking out the local shops and historic buildings before walking down by Mill Pond.

For lunch, stop at Goat Ridge Brewing Company. The riverside setting makes it an especially fun stop during the warmer months.

After lunch, make the short drive to Sibley State Park.

One of the highlights is heading up to the Mount Tom observation tower, where you’ll get beautiful views of the surrounding lakes, woods, and farmland. During summer, you can also spend some time at the beach on Andrew Lake.

Don’t Miss

• New London Bakery

• Downtown New London

• Mill Pond

• Goat Ridge Brewing Company

• Sibley State Park

• Mount Tom

• Andrew Lake

Perfect for: A relaxing day trip, couples, nature lovers, and anyone who loves finding lesser-known Minnesota gems.

2. Crosby

Cuyuna Lakes Area

If you love outdoor adventures mixed with small-town charm, Crosby needs to be on your Minnesota bucket list.

Located in the Cuyuna Lakes area, Crosby is surrounded by a landscape that looks unlike almost anywhere else in Minnesota.

Former iron-ore mining pits have filled with incredibly clear water, and the surrounding land has been transformed into a destination for mountain biking, hiking, paddling, and outdoor recreation.

But Crosby isn’t just for outdoor enthusiasts. Downtown has restaurants, coffee, locally owned shops, and plenty of personality.

Explore Cuyuna Country

The biggest attraction is the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

It’s especially well known for its mountain biking trails, but you definitely don’t have to be a mountain biker to enjoy it. Spend the afternoon hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, or simply taking in the scenery around the mine lakes.

You can also hop onto the paved Cuyuna Lakes State Trail for a more leisurely bike ride or walk.

Don’t Miss

• Downtown Crosby

• Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

• Mountain biking

• Kayaking or paddleboarding

• Cuyuna Lakes State Trail

• Local restaurants and coffee shops

Perfect for: Outdoor lovers, couples, active weekends, and summer or fall getaways.

3. Red Wing

Southeastern Minnesota

Set along the Mississippi River and surrounded by beautiful bluffs, Red Wing is one of Minnesota’s prettiest river towns.

This is a destination where you could easily spend an entire weekend. Red Wing combines history, outdoor recreation, shopping, restaurants, beautiful architecture, and incredible Mississippi River views.

Its historic downtown is also very walkable, making it easy to park the car and spend a few hours exploring.

Things to Do in Red Wing

If you’re up for a little adventure, hike Barn Bluff for beautiful views overlooking Red Wing and the Mississippi River.

Back downtown, wander through the shops and stop at the Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum, where you’ll find the famous giant Red Wing boot.

Another interesting stop is the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, where you can learn more about the pottery industry that played such an important role in the city’s history.

Finish the day with dinner downtown or find a spot where you can enjoy views of the river.

Don’t Miss

• Historic downtown Red Wing

• Barn Bluff

• Mississippi River views

• Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum

• Pottery Museum of Red Wing

• Local boutiques and restaurants

  
  

Perfect for: Couples’ weekends, history lovers, fall trips, hiking, and Mississippi River road trips.

4. Nisswa

Brainerd Lakes Area

If you’re looking for that quintessential Minnesota lake-town experience, Nisswa is hard to beat.

Located in the Brainerd Lakes Area, Nisswa is surrounded by beautiful lakes, cabins, resorts, and classic Northwoods scenery.

Downtown Nisswa is small, walkable, and packed with personality. During the summer, it’s especially lively with families browsing shops, grabbing ice cream, and enjoying the relaxed lake-country atmosphere.

Things to Do in Nisswa

Give yourself plenty of time to wander around downtown. You’ll find boutiques, gift shops, Minnesota-themed goodies, restaurants, coffee, and plenty of places to grab a treat.

If you want to add some outdoor adventure, hop onto the Paul Bunyan State Trail, which passes through Nisswa and is perfect for walking or biking.

And, of course, you’re in Minnesota lake country. Spend some time boating, fishing, swimming, or simply relaxing near the water.

Don’t Miss

• Downtown Nisswa

• Local boutiques and gift shops

• Paul Bunyan State Trail

• Nearby lakes

• Ice cream stops

• Local restaurants

• Seasonal events

Perfect for: Families, girls’ weekends, cabin trips, summer vacations, and anyone who loves Minnesota lake life.

5. Grand Marais

Minnesota’s North Shore

It’s impossible to talk about charming Minnesota towns without mentioning Grand Marais. Sitting along the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, Grand Marais almost feels like a tiny seaside village—except the seemingly endless body of water in front of you is Lake Superior. (This is somewhere we’ve visited during every season.)

Between the harbor, colorful shops, galleries, restaurants, nearby waterfalls, hiking trails, and incredible Lake Superior views, Grand Marais is one of those places you can visit over and over again.

Things to Do in Grand Marais

Start your day with a walk along the harbor and make your way toward Artist’s Point. The rocky shoreline and Lake Superior views are absolutely beautiful.

Then spend some time wandering around downtown, popping into locally owned shops, galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Grand Marais is also the gateway to the Gunflint Trail, one of Minnesota’s most scenic drives. You can easily use Grand Marais as your home base for exploring even more of the North Shore, including nearby hiking trails, waterfalls, state parks, and scenic overlooks.

Don’t Miss

• Artist’s Point

• Grand Marais Harbor

• Downtown shops and galleries

• North House Folk School

• Gunflint Trail

• Lake Superior views

• Nearby waterfalls and hiking trails

Perfect for: North Shore road trips, couples, photographers, outdoor lovers, and cozy fall getaways.

Which Minnesota Small Town Should You Visit?

One of my favorite things about exploring Minnesota is that every small town has its own personality.

Want the classic Minnesota lake-town experience? Head to Nisswa.

Looking for outdoor adventure? Put Crosby at the top of your list.

Love historic buildings, shopping, hiking, and river views? Plan a getaway to Red Wing.

Want to discover somewhere a little more off the beaten path? Spend the day exploring New London.

And if Lake Superior, waterfalls, hiking, and incredible scenery are calling your name, you really can’t beat Grand Marais.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best small towns to visit in Minnesota?

Minnesota has plenty of charming small towns, but New London, Crosby, Red Wing, Nisswa, and Grand Marais are five worth adding to your travel list. Together, they offer everything from walkable downtowns and shopping to lakes, hiking, biking, history, and incredible scenery.

What are the best small towns in Minnesota for a weekend getaway?

Red Wing, Nisswa, and Grand Marais are especially good choices for a full weekend getaway because there’s plenty to see and do nearby. Crosby also makes a great outdoor-focused weekend destination.

What are some lesser-known small towns to visit in Minnesota?

New London and Crosby are great options if you’re looking beyond some of Minnesota’s better-known tourist towns. Both offer plenty to do while still feeling like hidden gems.

What Minnesota small towns are best to visit in the fall?

Grand Marais, Red Wing, and Crosby are especially beautiful during Minnesota’s fall color season. Each gives you a completely different landscape, from Lake Superior and Northwoods forests to Mississippi River bluffs.

What is the best Minnesota small town for a day trip?

That depends on where you’re starting, but New London and Crosby are both easy towns to explore in a day. You can spend the morning downtown, grab lunch somewhere local, and add an outdoor activity in the afternoon.