A typical drive from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Spokane, Washington takes roughly 21 hours. If you make it a proper road trip, the time you take is up to you. From stopping to stretch your legs for shopping to snapping photos with colorful buffalo statues in Fargo, North Dakota and walking the brewery trail in Billings, Montana, plus tons of natural sites and historic monuments along the way, the road trip from Minneapolis to Spokane is one fun route.
There’s plenty of things to do in Minneapolis and our Girls’ Getaway Guide | Minneapolis even has more fun ideas for you and your girlfriends. From the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to the Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater, you’ll want to spend at least a night in the Twin Cities before embarking on your holiday road trip to Spokane, Washington.
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For the shoppers, Albertville Premium Outlets, about 45 minutes northwest of Minneapolis in Albertville, Minnesota. The outlets are a great way to stretch your legs and pick up a few finds. Dozens of brands, from Coach and Crocs to Kate Spade and Puma all appear here, as do quick coffee and treat options, including Mexican-style sweets at La Michoacana Purépecha.
While in Fargo, stop in for a funny photo at the Mario and Luigi interactive mural, created by local artists Dark Elvis and Icky Hiccup, at The Toasted Frog. Snap your own jumping Mario photo and enjoy a reprieve from the driving with a specialty burger or pizza.
While in Fargo, you won’t see any roaming buffalo, but you will see a colorful collection of painted bison statues throughout town, including a swirly one dedicated to Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Close by, on the Concordia College campus in Moorhead, stop for a family photo by the low, sprawling branches of the “Crazy Tree,” a wild natural wonder.
At 26 feet tall, the World’s Largest Buffalo monument, named “Dakota Thunder,” is a fun stop in Jamestown, North Dakota. Learn more about the important role of the roaming beast in American history at the National Buffalo Museum.
Driving through North Dakota, naturalists are in luck. The drive from Minneapolis to Billings takes you largely through the southern parts of North Dakota and includes the 70,000-plus acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Dedicated in 1949, the expansive park is home to tons of animals, from large grazers like bison, horses, elk, and pronghorn, to small prairie dogs. Over 180 types of birds can be found there, too. Stretch your legs with one of several hikes on the premises.
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Since you’re stopping for the night, grab a cold brew along the Billings Brew Trail, Montana’s only walkable brewery trail. The self-guided walk takes you to six breweries, two distilleries and a cider house along the mile-and-a-half route.
Be sure to head to Pictograph Cave State Park, an archaeologically significant site that offers walkable loop trails showcasing ancient rock paintings of prehistoric hunters.
Detour! If time allows, and history is your thing, the Little Bighorn Battlefield national monument is about an hour south of Billings, Montana.
In Missoula, butterflies are a big deal. Pay attention on the road and you may even notice that many of the cars sport specialty butterfly license plates. Proceeds from those purchases go to support the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, a vast education center dedicated to building awareness about the winged beauties and other important insects.
Bugs not your thing? Visit the Montana Museum of Art & Culture, with a permanent collection of nearly 11,000 objects spanning European, Asian, and American art, plus textiles. Similarly, the Missoula Art Museum is worth a look for its contemporary American Indian Art collection and lots more.
There’s a lot to love about the east Washington city on the river. While in Spokane, be sure to stop by Riverfront Park, which was the site of the 1974 World’s Fair and offers an interesting sculpture walk, plus cable car views over Spokane Falls.
For a fun meal out, try The Flying Goat gastropub near Audubon Park. Neapolitan pizzas stand out here, but salads and sandwiches are tasty options, too. The atmosphere blends fire pits and wooden accents, giving a warm and rustic vibe. For Mexican street fare, hit up Cochinito Taqueria. The impressive taco list includes braised chicken, rockfish or pork belly options. For a solid meal downtown with a side of Hollywood glam, try the historic Safari Room, where you’ll find robust menus from dawn ‘til dusk.
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