How long is the drive from Minneapolis to Chicago?

About 6 hr 36 min and 409 mi of road driving, before any detours.

What are the best stops between Minneapolis and Chicago?

Top ranked stops include Trappers Turn, Wild Rock Golf Club, Lula Cafe. Each stop shows an honest +N min detour estimate from the main drive.

Can I plan this drive in Roamward?

Yes — open the pre-filled From→To planner for Minneapolis to Chicago, pick a detour budget, and save the trip.

Roamward

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Drive corridor

Minneapolis to Chicago road trip: 19 stops worth the detour

Minneapolis, MN → Chicago, IL. Ranked detours with honest +N min estimates — then open a pre-filled plan door when you're ready to drive it.

409 miRoad miles

6 hr 36 minDrive time

3States crossed

19Detour stops

Plan this drive

Worth the detour

Stops along the drive

12 stops · 7 hidden

All19 Golf5 Dining5 Hikes3 Breweries & distilleries2 Roadside Americana1 Mountain biking1 Waterfalls1 Hidden gems1

Trappers Turn+2 min
Golf · WI
A Dells mainstay co-designed by Wisconsin native Andy North, with rolling glacial terrain. The pick of the family-vacation golf in the Dells.
Wild Rock Golf Club+4 min
Golf · WI
A dramatic course built around an old quarry and pine woods at the Wilderness Resort in the Dells. The most striking layout in the area.
StoneRidge+1 min
Golf · MN
A links-inspired public course east of St. Paul.
Minnehaha Falls+16 min
Roadside Americana · MN
a city-park fall made famous by Longfellow’s poem
Willow Falls+18 min
Waterfalls · WI
a wide multi-tier fall in Willow River State Park near the Twin Cities
Surly Brewing+19 min
Breweries & distilleries · MN
the brewery that changed Minnesota’s beer laws, with a huge beer hall
Gibraltar Rock+27 min
Hikes · WI
a clifftop over the Wisconsin River
Pewits Nest+29 min
Hikes · WI
a hidden slot gorge and falls near Baraboo
Balanced Rock (Devils Lake)+34 min
Hikes · WI
a steep climb past a famous balanced quartzite boulder
Capital Brewery+42 min
Breweries & distilleries · WI
a German-style brewery with a popular Bier Garten near Madison
University Ridge+51 min
Golf · WI
A Robert Trent Jones Jr. course split between open prairie and wooded glacial terrain near Madison, home of the Badgers and a Champions Tour stop.
Cantigny+56 min
Golf · IL
A polished 27-hole public course on a former estate.

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State hubs & places

Minnesota atlas Illinois atlas Wisconsin atlas Trappers Turn Wild Rock Golf Club Lula Cafe Ngon Bistro

Where to stay

Where to stay along this drive

Hotels, cabins, and rentals close to the action — compare and book for your trip.

At the destination: Chicago →

Mid-drive: Black River Falls →

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FAQ

Before you go

How long is the drive from Minneapolis to Chicago?
About 6 hr 36 min and 409 mi of road driving, before any detours.
What are the best stops between Minneapolis and Chicago?
Top ranked stops include Trappers Turn, Wild Rock Golf Club, Lula Cafe. Each stop shows an honest +N min detour estimate from the main drive.
Can I plan this drive in Roamward?
Yes — open the pre-filled From→To planner for Minneapolis to Chicago, pick a detour budget, and save the trip.

Paper backup

Glovebox note

Dead zones happen. Plan this corridor, then use Print glovebox sheet on the trip page for a paper itinerary with coordinates — no signal required. Start here: pre-filled From→To door.