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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Redwood Falls
Half a day to see the falls and Alexander Ramsey Park, then move on. One night if you want to gamble at Jackpot Junction or use it as a budget base for southern Minnesota road trips.
Redwood Falls is a small city in southern Minnesota, best known for its namesake waterfalls in Alexander Ramsey Park — the largest municipal park in the state. Most travellers pass through on US 71 or Highway 19, stopping for a short walk and a photo. The park, the casino and a handful of chain hotels make it a practical overnight stop, not a destination.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, snow)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $100–150 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (diner or gas station) | $2–4 |
| Burger and fries | $10–15 |
| Casino buffet dinner | $15–25 |
| Motel room per night | $80–140 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSP · Minneapolis–Saint Paul International
- About 2 h 15 min drive east via US 212 and MN 19; the nearest major airport.
Typical fares
- MSP airport → Redwood Falls by car
- about 2 h 15 min, rental car required
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. The city is spread out along US 71 and MN 19; no public transport connects the park, the casino and the hotels. Parking is free and plentiful.
See and do
Known for
- Alexander Ramsey Park and Redwood Falls
- Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel
- Gateway to the Minnesota River Valley
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pipestone National Monument | US 71 south then MN 30 west, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| New Ulm | MN 19 east, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Minneapolis | US 212 east then US 169 north, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- East Bridge Street (US 71)
- Motels and the Travelodge; close to the highway, walkable to a few fast-food places.
- Morton (Jackpot Junction)
- About 10 min west; the casino hotel is the only full-service option in the area.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the waterfall? | Where is the waterfall?where is the waterfall |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- The waterfall flow varies by season: spring snowmelt is strongest; late summer can be a trickle.
- Jackpot Junction is on tribal land (Lower Sioux Indian Community); alcohol and smoking rules differ from the rest of Minnesota.
- Last restaurant orders in town can be early (by 21:00); check ahead on weekdays.
Very safe. The main risks are winter driving on US 71 and MN 19 (black ice, snow) and deer on rural roads at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Redwood Falls yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Alexander Ramsey Park and Redwood Falls
- Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel
- Gateway to the Minnesota River Valley
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel: www.jackpotjunction.com/
- Travelodge by Wyndham Redwood Falls: www.wyndhamhotels.com/travelodge/redwood-falls-minnesota/travelodge-redwood-falls/overview
- Wikivoyage: Redwood Falls, revision 5296323 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296323
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Redwood Falls
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no local phrase needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/redwood-falls). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.