
June 21 is World Motorcycle Day, and what better way to celebrate than by taking a motorcycle trip? If you're looking for a great ride in the Twin Cities area, you're in luck. The beautiful landscape near Minneapolis homes for sale and Saint Paul homes for sale offers exceptional routes for a memorable motorcycle ride.
- Shoreline Drive (County Road 15) - Wayzata, MN 55391
Known as Shoreline Drive along part of its length, County Road 15 is a charming route that heads westward through Hennepin County, beginning close to these Wayzata homes for sale. This beautiful stretch of asphalt hugs the north shore of Lake Minnetonka, providing some spectacular views before reaching its western terminus in Watertown. Grab lunch at the R&B Cafe in Watertown before making the return journey. The starting point of this 18-mile drive is just a few miles west of Minneapolis.
- Highway 61 - Red Wing, MN 55066
Immortalized in American myth, legend, and song, U.S. Route 61—better known as Highway 61—stretches 1,400 miles from Louisiana to Minnesota. You could enjoy a great motorcycle trip anywhere along this length, but we're especially fond of the 88-mile stretch that runs from Red Wing southward to La Crescent, hugging the Mississippi River and offering sweeping views and gently meandering curves. If you're looking for an alternate route for the return trip, consider crossing the river and making a loop with WI-35, also known as the Great River Road.
- The Welch Village Twisties Run - Red Wing, MN 55066
Though the motorcycle route known as the Welch Village Twisties Run has a similar starting point to the section of Highway 61 described above, it takes a very different course. Starting in Red Wing, head north on 61 before taking a left on MN-19 West. When you reach Vasa, hang a right onto Country 7 Boulevard, which brings you back to Highway 61. This route is known for its expansive views across miles of wide-open rural hills and valleys and some tight turns, especially in its second half. It's about 21 miles long, plus an additional 10 miles on Highway 61 to close the loop back to Red Wing.
- County Road 7 - White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Curving toward St. Croix River northeast of the Twin Cities, Washington County Road 7 is a picturesque 15-mile stretch perfect for a quick motorcycle ride when you don't have hours to invest in a longer drive. The route's western starting point is in White Bear Lake, and County Road 7 quickly leaves the suburbs behind as it heads toward its eastern endpoint at Marine on St. Croix. The second half of the ride is the most scenic, passing through shady woods with views of half a dozen lakes near these White Bear Lake homes for sale.
- Highway 60 Hardwood Forest Tour - Wabasha, MN 55981
Minnesota State Highway 60 is an east-west route that starts near the banks of the Mississippi River in Wabasha. From here, it's about a 35-mile ride westward to Zumbrota through rural farmlands, charming small towns, and wooded river valleys. Highway 60 passes through Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest along the way—a great place to stop and do some hiking—giving this route its nickname, the Harwood Forest Tour. If you reach Zumbrota and want to keep riding, go for it. Highway 60 continues westward for another 60-plus miles.
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