Location: Encircles Minneapolis, Minnesota
Length: 52 miles (83 km)
Time To Allow: 3–4 hours

Description/Highlights/Points of Interest

The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway is the country's longest continuous system of public urban parkways and has been the preeminent urban parkway system for more than a century. The system includes lovely trails, paths, creeks, lakes and roadways in a totally unique urban setting. The Grand Rounds showcases one of the nation's most comprehensive system of parks linked by boulevards. Sights include the Chain of Lakes, Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Falls.

Suggested Itinerary

Beginning at the northeastern terminus of the Grand Rounds on Highway 35, travel west and follow the byway as it winds around to Theodore Wirth Park. This park is well worth the visit and includes the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden with its spectacular display of wildflowers and other flowering plants.

Returning to the byway, follow it around Cedar Lake to Lake Calhoun. Here, turn northeast and travel around Lake of the Isles to Loring Park. Loring Park is home to the well-known Sculpture Garden. With its impressive display of sculpture and fanciful artwork, the Sculpture Garden is one of the highlights of the Grand Rounds.

Return the direction you came only continue to wind around Lake Calhoun to Lake Harriet and visit the Lake Harriet Refectory, another popular site along the Grand Rounds. Continue following the byway as it turns and travels east to Minnehaha Park where you may view the falls and Lake Hiawatha, immortalized by Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha. From here, follow the byway north to its terminus at Nicollet and Boom Island.

The following organizations offers a trip along The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway:

The Twin Cities – "Grand Rounds"
American Driving Vacations

The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway in the Twin Cities area is the only urban National Scenic Byway in the United States. The drive takes in Minneapolis parkways, several city lakes, the historic Stone Arch Bridge, St, Anthony Falls Dam, Minnehaha Creek, historic neighborhoods and the Mississippi River. Less known to outsiders are the many natural and man-made parklands and refuges set aside right in the midst of the metropolitan, intended to keep at least a part of the area "natural." We've designed this 4-day, 3-night Break Away for you to explore and celebrate Twin Cities' nature, starting with an itinerary specifically designed to let you drive the urban scenic byway. While you spend your days discovering the natural beauty of this scenic landscape, you'll be staying at the historic Saint Paul Hotel, located right in the center of St. Paul. This package includes admission to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Mississippi Riverboat Cruise, and a specially-developed itinerary for the "Grand Rounds Scenic Byway".