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Major city · United States

AlexandriaAlexandria, Minnesota

Give Alexandria one night if you are driving I-94 between Fargo and Minneapolis; two nights only if you want a lake day or the indoor waterpark.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Alexandria is a small lakes town in Douglas County, about 2 h 15 min by car from Minneapolis and just off Interstate 94. Its draw is water: 300-plus lakes in the county, a chain of lakes inside the city, and a resort strip on the north side. The in-town sights are a runestone museum, a maritime museum and a historical society, which fill half a day, not three. Most travellers pass through on I-94 or stop for a weekend of swimming, fishing and golf.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Aug for lakes; Sep–early Oct for quiet roads and colour
avoid Nov–Mar unless you want ice fishing and indoor waterpark; Jan–Feb lows near −16 °C (3 °F)
Airports
MSP · FAR
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Alexandria911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Alexandria, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealLunch or casual dinner$12–22
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Runestone or maritime)check$6–12
  • Budget bedFamily room or resort unit (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$160
  • Mid-range bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$240

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Kensington RunestoneChain of lakes and summer resortsIce hockey (Alexandria Blizzard)Central Lakes Trail
Airports
MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul International (About 2 h 30 min by car via I-94; no direct rail or bus link to Alexandria) · FAR Hector International (Fargo) (About 1 h 45 min by car west on I-94)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −7°C (19°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −4°C (25°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    20°C (68°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  10. Oct

    Best*

    13°C (55°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    −5°C (23°F)

Best: Jun–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (−16°C (3°F) low), wettest Jun (11 rain days), driest Feb (6). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Alexandria: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−7°C (19°F)

−16°C (3°F)

7 rd

Feb

−4°C (25°F)

−14°C (7°F)

6 rd

Mar

3°C (37°F)

−7°C (19°F)

7 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

0°C (32°F)

8 rd

May

20°C (68°F)

7°C (45°F)

10 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

13°C (55°F)

11 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

16°C (61°F)

9 rd

Aug

27°C (81°F)

15°C (59°F)

9 rd

Sep

21°C (70°F)

9°C (48°F)

8 rd

Oct

13°C (55°F)

2°C (36°F)

7 rd

Nov

3°C (37°F)

−6°C (21°F)

6 rd

Dec

−5°C (23°F)

−13°C (9°F)

7 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: sights, lakes and resorts are spread over 10–15 km and local bus service (Rainbow Rider) is limited. Downtown is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. The Central Lakes Trail is a paved bike path through town and along the lakes.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sauk Centre

go

Door to door: About 30 min

I-94 east, about 25 min by car

Sinclair Lewis boyhood home and a walkable Main Street; half a day.

Saint Cloud

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

I-94 southeast, about 1 h 10 min by car

Bigger city for shopping, dining and a riverfront; easy afternoon.

Little Falls

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 40 min

MN-27 east then US-10, about 1 h 30 min by car

Charles Lindbergh house and Mississippi riverfront; a long half-day.

Moorheadcaution

Door to door: About 1 h 50 min

I-94 west, about 1 h 45 min by car

Pair with Fargo across the river; better as a stop en route than a return trip.

Walker

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 20 min

MN-29 north then MN-34, about 2 h 15 min by car

Leech Lake gateway; too far for a comfortable day return.

Crosslake

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

MN-29 north then MN-371, about 2 h 30 min by car

Brainerd lakes area; sleep a night if you go.

Tenney

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 35 min

I-94 west then county roads, about 1 h 30 min by car

Tiny village; no reason to drive out unless you have family there.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Broadway

Walk to the Runestone Museum, cafés and bars; 3–4 small hotels and inns.

South Broadway (I-94 exits)

Chain hotels with parking, 5 min drive from downtown; best for one night with a car.

North side lakes / Arrowwood

Resort and waterpark area on the chain of lakes; you need a car for everything.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–190 excl. bed
High
$190+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Indoor waterpark day pass2 × US$21 · checkUS$42
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$57
Trip total≈ US$315 per person per day, bed includedUS$629

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner breakfast$10–16
Lunch or casual dinner$12–22
Museum entry (Runestone or maritime)check$6–12
Gasoline, per galloncheck$3.00–3.60
Ice hockey ticket, Alexandria BlizzardAt the door cash only; check$9–15

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Alexandria is a low-crime small town; the real risks are winter driving on I-94, unlit lake roads at night and open water in spring.
  • Winter driving: I-94 can close in blizzards; check road conditions before leaving.
  • Many lake businesses and the maritime museum shut from mid-October to mid-May.
  • Summer weekends and fishing openers fill the resorts: book weeks ahead.
  • Ticks and mosquitoes near lakes in June–July; bring repellent.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Alexandria Police (non-emergency)
320-763-6631

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AlexandriaAlexandria, Minnesota

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Alexandria Police (non-emergency)320-763-6631

Embassy

No embassies in Alexandria; consulates are in Minneapolis and Chicago. US passport holders: no embassy needed.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MSP airport → Alexandria by car: about 2 h 30 min, roughly 230 km (143 mi) (check)
  • Jefferson Lines stop: rest stop on the outskirts, 3181 Evergreen Ln; no downtown stop (check)
  • Rainbow Rider local bus: limited weekday service; check the current timetable

Say or show

  • Where is the boat launch? — Where is the boat launch?
  • Is the lake safe for swimming today? — Is the lake safe for swimming today?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Alexandria. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Aug for lakes; Sep–early Oct for quiet roads and colour · avoid Nov–Mar unless you want ice fishing and indoor waterpark; Jan–Feb lows near −16 °C · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MSP: last practical departure time to reach Alexandria before dark, plus a Fargo-side alternative.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Broadway and the Runestone Museum, the lakeside parks, the I-94 hotel strip, the north-side resort area.
  3. Place pages with verified season dates (Runestone Museum, Legacy of the Lakes, Douglas County Historical Society) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and storm fixtures so the page can warn about I-94 closures and closed lake businesses.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources