← Grandma's Marathon·3 nights

Minneapolis-St Paul: The Twin Cities

Minnesota's Twin Cities, the natural add-on for overseas runners who flew into Minneapolis-St Paul International before driving north to Duluth.

Duration3 nights
TransitCar, around 2.5 hours south of Duluth, or a short regional flight
DepartsDuluth

After Grandma's Marathon: Minneapolis-St Paul

The Route: Duluth → Minneapolis-St Paul → MSP Logistics: A car is the most flexible option, around 2.5 hours south via I-35; a short regional flight or intercity bus service also connects Duluth to the Twin Cities. Marathon Month: June Duration: 3 nights

Duluth ──(2.5 hrs by car / short flight)──> Minneapolis-St Paul ──(local transit)──> Twin Cities neighbourhoods
                                                                                                      │
                                          MSP Airport ◄──(light rail, 25-40 mins)─────────────────────┘

Grandma's Marathon draws plenty of runners who fly into Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport before making the drive north to Duluth, and spending a few days in the Twin Cities afterward closes the loop naturally rather than requiring a separate trip. Minnesota in June is at its most reliable: warm, settled and considerably less variable than the lake-effect conditions on the North Shore, giving the Twin Cities a genuinely different weather experience from race weekend.

Nights One to Three: Minneapolis-St Paul

Minneapolis and St Paul function as a single metropolitan area while keeping distinct identities: Minneapolis leans commercial and lake-dotted, with more than a dozen lakes within the city limits itself, while St Paul, the state capital, carries an older, more formal civic character built around the Mississippi River bluffs. Both cities are connected by light rail, removing any need for a car once based in either.

The primary recovery asset is the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis, a connected network of lakes, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet and Lake of the Isles among them, ringed by flat, paved paths totalling many kilometres, with the option to walk a short loop around one lake or a much longer circuit connecting several. Alternatively, the Mississippi River Gorge trail, running along both banks between the two downtowns, offers a flatter, more direct route for anyone wanting a straight-line walk rather than a loop.

Secondary attractions include the Walker Art Center and adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, free to enter and largely flat, and the Mall of America, in suburban Bloomington near the airport, a genuinely enormous indoor option if the June weather turns uncharacteristically wet. In St Paul, the Cathedral of Saint Paul offers a striking domed interior a short walk from the State Capitol building.

Where to stay: The Hewing Hotel, in Minneapolis's North Loop, puts the Mississippi riverfront and a strong restaurant district within an easy walk. The Saint Paul Hotel, on Rice Park in downtown St Paul, offers a quieter, more historic base near the Cathedral and Capitol.

Where to eat: Spoon and Stable, in the North Loop, does a seasonal, locally sourced menu and takes bookings well worth making in advance. Mickey's Diner, a genuine 1930s dining car in downtown St Paul, gives an unpretentious, all-day breakfast option for a slower morning between longer days of walking.

Getting to the Airport

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) connects directly to both downtowns via the METRO Blue and Green light rail lines, taking roughly 25 to 40 minutes depending on the starting station, with trains running frequently through the day. There's no need for a taxi or rideshare unless travelling with significant luggage.