Overview
Minnetonka is a suburban city of 54,000 people (2019) in the Twin Cities area. The city’s forests, wetlands, prairies and lakes give it a natural environment unlike that of other suburbs.
1 sights · 3 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Minnetonka
Charles H. Burwell House
A five acre site, including the buildings, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the site is also a designated Minnetonka Landmark. Tours of the home are offered during the summer.
Shady Oak Beach
This 85-acre, fully recreational area offers 76′ of sandy beach shoreline and clear spring-fed waters, as well as great amenities including multi-age playground area (newly installed in 2011), lifeguards, swimming, high …
Libbs Lake Beach
Libbs Lake Beach is a small neighborhood beach. The beach will have limited times with lifeguards on duty and also times when swimming is allowed in an unsupervised setting. Parking is very limited.
The Marsh
Set amid an expansive wetland, this suburban retreat includes a full-service salon, spa, conference center, fitness center, guest rooms and restaurant.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Minneapolis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 14 mi away (major hub). Directions
- STC Saint Cloud Regional Airport, Saint Cloud — 51 mi away. Directions
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is only fifteen miles from Minnetonka.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $60–$60 a night (typical $68), from 2 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$120, comfortable ~$180.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Charles H. Burwell House, The Marsh
- Lunch Redstone American Grill
- Afternoon Libbs Lake Beach, Shady Oak Beach
- Dinner Bacio
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The word "Minnetonka" comes from the Dakota Indian mni tanka meaning "great water". The city is home to Cargill, the country's largest privately owned company and United Healthcare, the state's largest publicly owned company.
Minnetonka's close proximity to Minneapolis makes it an attractive location for people wishing to visit the Twin Cities, yet not spend the money on a hotel downtown.
Get in
By plane
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is only fifteen miles from Minnetonka.
By car
Minnetonka is intersected by two major interstates and a number of major highways. Interstate 494 runs north/south through the center of Minnetonka. Interstate 394 runs east/west, into Minneapolis and joining with interstate 94
Get around
Most people travel by car in Minnetonka. Metro Transit serves the Minnetonka area with bus service and the schedule can be found on the Metro Transit website. Express busses to Minneapolis run most mornings and evenings. Taxi service is also available by request, although it would be rather hard to hail a cab down from the street.
See
Do
Do Shady Oak Beach
This 85-acre, fully recreational area offers 76′ of sandy beach shoreline and clear spring-fed waters, as well as great amenities including multi-age playground area (newly installed in 2011), lifeguards, swimming, high dive, concessions, changing area, canoe rental, sand volleyball, fishing and free parking.
Do Libbs Lake Beach
Libbs Lake Beach is a small neighborhood beach. The beach will have limited times with lifeguards on duty and also times when swimming is allowed in an unsupervised setting. Parking is very limited.
Buy
Eat
Eat Bacio
Contemporary Italian restaurant serving dishes such as natural chicken risotto, spaghetti with meatballs and traditional flatbread pizza.
Eat Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille
Serves its signature handmade tater tots (pumped full of cheddar), spicy walleye cakes and a lot of great American standbys like burgers and fries. Try the Minnesota Wild Rice Burger.
Eat Jimmy's Food and Cocktails
contemporary and traditional American cuisine with global influences, market fresh fish and seafood.
Eat Lone Spur Grill and Bar
Southwestern specialties and barbecue beef brisket. The meats here are smoked for 14 hours with specialty seasoning and all authentic menu items are handmade.
Eat Redstone American Grill
Watch the chefs in the open kitchen prepare specialties like Grilled Meatloaf, Wood Fired Filet Mignon or Slowly Roasted Prime Rib. Offers a full bar, extensive wine list, diverse lunch menu and Sunday Champagne Brunch.
Eat Scoreboard
Sports themed bar & grill. Menu offers favorites like burgers and pasta, but there are surprises like fish tacos and lettuce wraps.
Sleep
Go next
In the Twin Cities metro
- Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
- Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
- Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
- Minneapolis is only a five minute drive from Minnetonka and offers plenty to do.
Nearby
Excelsior
City / town · 33 listings · 3 mi away
Chanhassen
City / town · 15 listings · 4 mi away
Eden Prairie
City / town · 4 listings · 4 mi away
Hopkins
City / town · 23 listings · 4 mi away
Plymouth
City / town · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Edina
City / town · 8 listings · 7 mi away
Shakopee
City / town · 7 listings · 8 mi away
St. Louis Park
City / town · 6 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.