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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater
Spend a weekend (1 night) to see the historic downtown, lift bridge and riverboat tour; 1 day works if you’re nearby.
Stillwater is a historic river town on the St. Croix, popular for day trips from the Twin Cities. Its compact centre, lift bridge and riverboat tours fit a short stay, while limited public transport makes a car or bike the easiest way to get around.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Stillwater
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, possible snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $100–$150 excl. bed · High $150+ 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 | $2–$4 |
| Ice cream scoop | $3–$5 |
| Dinner at a downtown restaurant | $15–$30 per person |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSP · Minneapolis‑Saint Paul International Airport
- About 45 min drive via MN‑36
Typical fares
- Car from MSP to Stillwater
- ≈45 min, $45–$55 (rental + fuel, check rates)
- Metro Transit Route 294
- ≈$5 each way, weekday rush only
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
Car is best; limited express bus (Metro Transit Route 294) runs weekday rush hours only. The downtown area is walkable and bike‑friendly.
See and do
Known for
- Stillwater Lift Bridge
- St. Croix River
- Historic downtown shops
- Riverboat dinner tours
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | Car via MN‑36, about 25 min | ≈30 min |
| Minneapolis | Car via MN‑36, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- The Elephant Walk Bed and Breakfast
- Themed rooms, wine welcome, $139+ per night
- Aurora Staples Inn
- Whirlpool tubs, $119‑$229 per night
- Water Street Inn
- River views, on‑site restaurant, price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Ursäkta migursäkta mig |
| Thank you | Tacktack |
| How much is it? | Hur mycket kostar det?hur mycket kostar det |
| Where is the lift bridge? | Var är lyftbron?var är lyftbron |
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
- Public bus service is sparse; plan car or rideshare.
- Lift Bridge pedestrian reopening was in 2019; confirm seasonal hours on city site.
Generally safe; watch for river currents when swimming and keep an eye on traffic on MN‑36.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Stillwater, Minnesota yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Stillwater Lift Bridge
- St. Croix River
- Historic downtown shops
- Riverboat dinner tours
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Official city website: www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/
- Wikivoyage: Stillwater (Minnesota), revision 5237798 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5237798
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Stillwater, MinnesotaStillwater
Till den här adressen, tack
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulate is in Minneapolis; nearest Canadian consulate in Minneapolis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/stillwater-minnesota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.