Visit Minnesota: Free Travel Guide to the North Star State Discover Outdoor Adventures, Nordic Heritage and the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Minnesota is a midwestern state bordering Canada to the north, Lake Superior and Wisconsin to the east, North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, and Iowa to the south. Called the Land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is rich in outdoor splendors and water recreation opportunities. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul are the center of urban life and culture in the state.

The state name comes from the Dakota word minisota, which means “sky-tinted or cloudy-water.”

The earliest human inhabitants came to Minnesota at the end of the last ice age.  Evidence of their life and culture can still be found at Pipestone National Monument and the Jeffers Petroglyphs site.

The first Europeans were French trappers and traders, called voyageurs. They arrived at the end of the 17th century and established business relationships with local tribes, provided metal tools, weapons, and textiles in return for skins and other local goods.

By the early 1800s, settlers from the northeast were moving into the Minnesota territory, pushing the Indians off of their traditional lands. The early administration of the territory was run from Fort Snelling, near the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers.

By the middle of the 19th century thousands of settlers came to cut timber and farm. Minnesota entered the Union on 11 May 1858 as the 32nd state.

Logging and farming were mainstays of the economy throughout the 19th century. By 1900 Minnesota flour mills led by the Pillsbury Company produced 14% of U.S. flour.

Mining became a major industry following the discovery of iron ore at the Vermilion and Mesabi ranges in the 1880s. Ore mined here was shipped by boat over the Great Lakes to feed the giant steel plants back east.

Growing industrialization in the 20th century brought people to urban areas, especially the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Today over 50% of the state population resides in the region.

Minnesota is the northernmost of the countiguous United States. With an area of 86,936 sq mi (225,163 sq km), it is the 12th largest state. The highest point is Eagle Mountain, 2301 Ft (701 m). The lowest point is Lake Superior (602 ft (183 m). Its Northwest Angle in Lake of the Woods county is the only part of the contiguous states lying above the 49th parallel.

Water is Minnesota’s defining geographical characteristic. Known as The Land of 10,000 Lakes, there are actually 12,000 lakes in the state including Lake Superior, which is both the largest and deepest body of water within its borders.

In addition to lakes, the source of three of North America’s major watersheds spring from the state. The great Mississippi River begins its run from Lake

western prairies

Deciduous forests in the north are used for logging and recreation.

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Minneapolis is centrally located in the upper midwest, making it an easy jumping off point to destinations around the region.

Arrival by Air

Minnesota is served by Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), consistently rated one of the top domestic airports. It is within one hour of all midwestern cities, and only 2-4 hours from cities along the east and west coasts. It is the second largest hub for Delta Airlines, which handles about 70% of passenger traffic through the airport. Other full service airlines serving the airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American, Frontier, Spirit, and United. Discount airlines serving Minneapolis include Condor, Icelandair, JetBlue, Southwest and Sun Country.

Arrival by Car

Three Interstate highways pass through Minnesota. I-35 runs north/south, I-90 runs east/west, and I-94 runs diagonally between the northwest and southeast. I-94 and I-35 converge in the Twin cities.

Fargo to Minneapolis is a 3.5 hour drive on I-94. The time from the Twin Cities to Madison, Wisconsin is about 4.5 hours.

The drive from Kansas City, Missouri to the Twin Cities is about 6.5 hours. The drive from Des Moines, Iowa can be made in under 4.

I-90 traverses the state close to its southern border, passing through Rochester and Albert Lea.

Drive Safe

Current road conditions are available by telephone by dialing 511, or online at WV511.org. The West Virginia Department of Transportation also has a 511 app downloadable from its website.

The West Virginia Courtesy Patrol is available for roadside service while you are in the state. If you need help, call +1 (888) 359-3683 or *77 from your mobile phone. The patrol changes flat tires, offers jump starts, provides gasoline, gives out directions, and more.

West Virginia Welcome Centers

I-64 Eastbound Huntington +1 (304) 545-1819.
I-64 Westbound White Sulphur Springs +1 (304) 536-4553.
I-70 Westbound Valley Grove +1 (304) 767-0177.
I-77 Southbound Williamstown +1 (304) 375-2700.
I-79 Southbound Morgantown +1 (304) 328-5261.
I-81 Northbound Inwood +1 (304) 229-8836.
I-81 Southbound Falling Waters +1 (304) 274-2281.
I-68 Westbound Bruceton Mills +1 (304) 379-2648.

Welcome Center Hours
08:00-18:00 daily, May-October
09:00-17:00 daily, November-April

West Virginia Turnpike Travel Plazas

I-77 Service Plaza Princeton, +1 (304) 487-2214.
Turnpike Northbound Bluestone, +1 (304) 384-7534.
Turnpike Northbound Morton, +1 (304) 595-2238.
Turnpike North and Southbound Beckley, +1 (304) 256-6695.
Tamarack Crafts Center Beckley, +1 (888) 262-7225.

Buses Welcome

Arrival By Bus

Greyhound Bus Lines has service in West Virginia connecting to over 3800 destinations throughout the country. Greyhound stations are located in Charleston, Huntington and Wheeling, with stops in over 20 destinations around the state.

Megabus has bus connections to Mountaineer Station in Morgantown, WV, serving the University of West Virginia.

Arrival by Train

Amtrak serves West Virginia. The Amtrak Cardinal, running between New York and Chicago, stops in White Sulphur Springs, Alderson, Hinton, Prince, Thurmond, Montgomery, Charleston, and Huntington. The Capitol Limited, running between Washington, D.C. and Chicago, stops in Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg.

In the Eastern Panhandle, you can travel the MARC Train Brunswick Line from Washington, D.C. to Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg, WV.

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Minnesota Travel Websites

Explore Minnesota is the Official Site of Explore Minnesota Tourism.

[Order Travel Guides] [Virtual Brochure Rack] [Newsletter]

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Louisiana Maps

State of Louisiana Travel Map Color coded by region. Includes Major roads and markers for state welcome centers, state parks, state historic sites, and UNESCO World Heritage.

Louisiana State Welcome Centers

Stop in at any of these state run welcome centers for travel information, advice, maps, catalogues, and brochures.

I-20 Eastbound Welcome Center
9945 I-20 West
Greenwood, LA 71033
+1 (318) 938-5613

I-20 Westbound Welcome Center
836 I-20 West
Tallulah, LA 71282
+1 (318) 574-5674

I-49 Welcome Center
7050 Hwy. 1 North
Boyce, LA 71409
+1 (318) 767-6000

U.S 84 Vidalia Welcome Center
112 Front Street
Vidalia, LA 71373
+1 (318) 336-7008

I-10 Eastbound Welcome Center
6212 I-10 West
Vinton, LA 70668
+1 (337) 589-7774

Atchafalaya Welcome Center
1908 Atchafalaya River Highway
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
+1 (337) 228-1094

U.S. 61 Welcome Center
14869 U.S. Highway 61
St. Francisville, LA 70775
+1 (225) 635-6962

State Capitol Welcome Center
Louisiana State Capitol
900 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
+1 (225) 342-7317

I-10 Westbound Welcome Center
41300 Crawford Landing Road
Slidell, LA 70461
+1 (985) 646-6451

New Orleans Welcome Center
529 St. Ann Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
+1 (504) 568-5661

I-55 Southbound Welcome Center
77479 I-55 South
Kentwood, LA 70444
+1 (985) 229-8338

I-59 Southbound Welcome Center
61441 I-59 South
Pearl River, LA 70452
+1 (985) 646-6450