Minnetonka, Minnesota
Minnetonka is on our June 2026 itinerary — a short Twin Cities trip where we’ve arranged a rental car in this leafy western suburb, flying in from Palm Springs by way of Denver.
Our experience
Set among woods and lakes just west of Minneapolis, Minnetonka looks like a comfortable base for exploring the western Twin Cities, with Lake Minnetonka, parks, trails, and smaller lakeside communities all within easy reach.
For us, it’s the combination that makes the area appealing: easy access to Minneapolis while still being close to lake country, green spaces, and the quieter western suburbs.
Lake Minnetonka is a sprawling system of interconnected bays covering more than 14,000 acres. It is also connected to Minnehaha Creek, which flows east from the lake toward Minneapolis.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Lake Minnetonka — explore one of the Twin Cities area’s best-known recreational lakes, popular for boating, fishing, and summer days on the water.
- Minnetonka parks & trails — explore the city’s network of parks, preserves, walking paths, and biking trails.
- Excelsior — head to this charming lakeside town for its historic downtown, shops, restaurants, and Lake Minnetonka waterfront.
- Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail — walk or bike part of the regional trail connecting communities around the western Twin Cities.
- Minnehaha Creek — explore the creek system flowing east from Lake Minnetonka toward Minneapolis.
- Minneapolis & the Chain of Lakes — head east into Minneapolis for lakes, parks, neighborhoods, and city attractions.
Our pro tip
We’ll treat Minnetonka as a green, lake-country base on the west side of the Twin Cities — especially appealing in summer when Lake Minnetonka comes alive. A car makes exploring much easier, which is exactly why we arranged a rental here. We’ll take some time to drive around the lake’s bays, stop in Excelsior, and leave room for an afternoon around the water.
For the lake, trails, and local parks themselves, we’d stick with the official links — they aren’t really ticketed attractions.
If you want to add bookable experiences while staying in the Twin Cities area, browse Minneapolis tours and activities on Klook.