Major city · United States
HopkinsHopkins, Minnesota
Skip Hopkins as a base: no hotels inside the city, 15 min by car from Minneapolis. Go for a half-day on Mainstreet, or sleep in Minnetonka or St. Louis Park.
Hopkins is a small west-metro suburb of about 17,000 people, 15 minutes by car from downtown Minneapolis. Its draw is a compact Mainstreet strip of antique shops, family restaurants and the Hopkins Center for the Arts, plus two regional bike trails that start here. There is no lodging inside the city limits, so most visitors come for an afternoon and sleep nearby.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold), late Nov–Mar (ice and snow)
- Airport
- MSP
- Nights
- 0–1
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 ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Hopkins911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Hennepin County non-emergency612-348-2345
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 Hopkins, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyHopkins is a low-risk suburb; the real issues are winter driving, icy pavements and unlit trail sections after dark.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 612-348-2345 Hennepin County non-emergency
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMSP Minneapolis–St.
- Getting aroundA car is the practical option: Mainstreet is walkable once you park, but the city is spread out and buses run on limited schedules.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Street or quick mealBreakfast with rolls or a full plate$10–18
- BeerDraft beer in a bar$6–9
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Budget bedBudget motel room nearby (Minnetonka or St. Louis Park), a night, per roomUS$80
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room nearby (Minnetonka or St. Louis Park), a night, per roomUS$110
- High-end bedBudget motel room nearby (Minnetonka or St. Louis Park), a night, per roomUS$150
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
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.
- Airports
- MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul International (About 15 mi / 24 km (15 mi) from Hopkins; 20–30 min by car outside rush hour)MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul International (About 15 mi / 15 mi (24 km) from Hopkins; 20–30 min by car outside rush hour)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
Feb
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Mar
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
Avoid*
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Dec
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Hopkins: 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
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
8 rd
Feb
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
7 rd
Mar
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
9 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
11 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
8 rd
Nov
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
8 rd
Dec
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
8 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 option: Mainstreet is walkable once you park, but the city is spread out and buses run on limited schedules. Metro Transit buses serve Hopkins; check current routes and times before relying on them. Taxis and rideshare exist but are hard to hail on the street.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 20–30 min
Car via Highway 7 east, or Metro Transit bus
Downtown museums, riverfront and food; the main reason to be in this corner of the metro.
Door to door: 30–40 min
Car via I-394 and I-94 east
State Capitol, Summit Avenue and the Mississippi riverfront.
Door to door: 20–25 min
Car via Highway 169 and I-494
Mall of America and the airport; clothing is not taxed in Minnesota.
Door to door: 15–20 min
Car via Highway 7 west
Lake Minnetonka waterfront; pairs well with a Hopkins afternoon.
Apple Valley, Minnesota
cautionDoor to door: 30–40 min
Car via I-494 and Highway 77 south
Minnesota Zoo; a full half-day, mostly for families.
Afton
cautionDoor to door: 45–55 min
Car via I-494 east and Highway 95
St. Croix river valley; better as a summer day out than a quick hop.
Roseville, Minnesota
skipDoor to door: 30–40 min
Car via I-394 and I-94 east
Mostly shopping and offices; no reason to add it to a short trip.
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.
No lodging in Hopkins
The city has no hotels; book in Minnetonka, St. Louis Park or Edina and drive in.
Minnetonka (west)
Closest chain hotels to Mainstreet; 5–10 min by car.
St. Louis Park (east)
Hotels near Highway 100 and the Green Line; 10 min by car to Hopkins.
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
- Budget
- $60–90 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–160 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range chain hotel room nearby1 × 1 night × US$170 | US$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Rideshare, Hopkins to downtown Minneapolis, one way1 × US$30 | US$30 |
| Car rental, one day, compact1 × US$60 | US$60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$51 |
| Trip total≈ US$281 per person per day, bed included | US$561 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Breakfast with rolls or a full plate | $10–18 |
| Sandwich or burger with a side | $12–20 |
| Draft beer in a bar | $6–9 |
| Pizza, one specialty pie | $18–28 |
| Rideshare, Hopkins to downtown MinneapolisHigher at peak and late night. | $25–40 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No hotels inside Hopkins: arrange a bed in a neighbouring city first.
- Winter ice on pavements and trails, Dec–Mar; trails are not cleared for bikes in every stretch.
- Buses are infrequent outside commute hours: check the timetable before you skip the car.
- Mainstreet shops keep short hours; several close by late afternoon.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Hennepin County non-emergency
- 612-348-2345
Pocket card
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HopkinsHopkins, Minnesota
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Hennepin County non-emergency612-348-2345
Embassy
No embassies in Hopkins; consulates sit in Minneapolis and Chicago, embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Rideshare Hopkins → downtown Minneapolis: $25–40, 20–30 min
- Metro Transit local bus fare: $2–3 single ride
- MSP airport → Hopkins by car: about 15 mi / 24 km (15 mi), 20–30 minabout 15 mi / 15 mi (24 km), 20–30 min
Say or show
- Where is Mainstreet? — Where is Mainstreet?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
- How far is downtown Minneapolis? — How far is downtown Minneapolis?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare.
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 Hopkins. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold), late Nov–Mar (ice and snow) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MSP: taxi and rideshare bands to Hopkins-area hotels, plus a late-arrival fallback in Minnetonka.
- Walking cluster on Mainstreet with opening-hour checks for the antique shops, the arts center and the Depot Coffee House.
- Trail pages for the Southwest LRT Trail and North Trail Corridor with surface and season notes.
- Eat pages for the Mainstreet strip with last orders and a no-reservation fallback.
Sources
- officialCity of Hopkins
- officialMetro Transit
- officialExplore Minnesota
- secondaryWikivoyage: Hopkins (Minnesota), revision 4899117 (CC BY-SA 4.0)