Chicago to Minneapolis drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Minneapolis driver are Madison WI, Wisconsin Dells and Eau Claire WI. The distance from Chicago to Minneapolis is 408 miles, with a 6h6m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Minneapolis road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Minneapolis drive connects the biggest cities in Illinois and Minnesota.
Chicago’s skyscrapers, music scene and massive collection of cultural attractions make it arguably the most exciting city in the US to visit.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Recommended Chicago hotels include the Club Quarters Central Loop for astonishingly good value. Also consider the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile for its amazing, historic pool, and the entertainingly science-themed Hotel EMC2.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Top attractions in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul include the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Basilica of St Mary and Minnehaha Falls.
Minneapolis has a big craft brewing scene, and one of the best ways to explore is on a craft breweries tour. Alternatively, take a walking tour through the city’s vast Skyway network of enclosed bridges and food tours.
Other MSP experiences include St Paul’s historic gangster-era caves, Twin Cities ghost tours and St Paul walking tours.
The Minneapolis hotels with the best visitor reviews are the Element in the Warehouse District and the AC by Marriott in the West End.
Chicago to Minneapolis distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Minneapolis is 408 miles. You can expect a driving time of around six hours and six minutes. The quickest route is along the I-90 and I-94.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Minneapolis road trip itinerary are Madison WI, Wisconsin Dells and Eau Claire WI.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the individual legs of the drive.
Chicago to Minneapolis drive: Madison WI
Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin, and it hosts several decent attractions. Top of the list should be the State Capitol Building, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Pedestrianised State Street is the spot for shopping, drinking and dining.
Other good Madison experiences include downtown e-bike tours, self-guided smartphone walks and ghost tours.
Best stops between Chicago and Minneapolis: Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is home to several theme parks, the most notable of which is the Noah’s Ark Water Park. This is the biggest water park in the United States. Kids – and big kids – can spend hours learning to surf and tackling rollercoaster-esque water slides.
When not tackling slides and rides, you can try a haunted history trolley tour through the city.
Chicago to Minneapolis road trip attractions: Eau Claire WI
Eau Claire WI has a handful of attractions to check out. The Chippewa Valley Museum covers regional history. Meanwhile, the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire is a hands-on affair, all about learning through play.
There’s also a decent brewing scene in Eau Claire. Try Lazy Monk Brewing for European-style beers and the Brewing Projekt for beers it proudly boasts “not everyone will like”.
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