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The Ultimate Day Trip from Minneapolis to Danbury, WI

Boat moving on calm lake at sunset with pink clouds.

The Ultimate Day Trip from Minneapolis to Danbury, WI (From I-35)

Ninety minutes. That is all that stands between you and one of the best days you will have all summer. If you have been sitting in the city telling yourself you will get out soon, this is your sign. Pack the cooler, grab whoever is free, and point the car north on I-35. Here is exactly how to do it right.

Start the Morning at Pinehaven Farm (Sept-Oct)

Cluster of orange pumpkins on green grass in sunlight.

If you are leaving with kids or just have a soft spot for a good fall outing, Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, Minnesota is worth the stop. It sits right off I-35 about 30 minutes north of Minneapolis and comes alive in the fall with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, giant slides, and more activities than you can fit into a single morning. The Dead End Hayride runs through Halloween and has been voted the best haunted attraction in Minnesota more than once. It is a seasonal stop so check their schedule before you go, but if the timing lines up it is one of those places that earns its own trip.

Hinckley: More Than Just a Pit Stop

Five iced cinnamon rolls on rack, empty tray beside them.

Most people blow through Hinckley without a second thought and that is a genuine mistake. Your first stop should be Tobey’s for a cinnamon roll. They are legendary for a reason and if you leave Hinckley without one you will think about it somewhere around the Wisconsin border.

Row of colorful slot machines in a casino with black chairs.

If your group is feeling lucky, Grand Casino Hinckley is right there on Highway 48 and it is one of the largest casinos in Minnesota. We are talking slots, table games, multiple restaurants, and live entertainment on a regular basis. It is a legitimate destination on its own and an easy place to spend a couple of hours before you head east. Nobody said a day trip has to be responsible the whole time.

East on Highway 48 Toward Danbury

A tall wooden observation tower surrounded by dense forest trees.

Once you leave Hinckley heading east on Highway 48 the road opens up and the Northwoods starts creeping in around you. About 15 miles out you will hit St. Croix State Park sitting along the Kettle River. If anyone in the car needs to stretch or you want to see some genuine Minnesota wilderness before you cross into Wisconsin, this is your spot. You can make it a quick stop or spend an hour on the trails either way it earns its place on the route.

From there it is a straight shot east until Highway 48 becomes Highway 77 right at the St. Croix River crossing into Wisconsin. You are almost there and the Northwoods is all around you now.

Welcome to Danbury

Your first stop in town should be Holly’s Drive In. It is a local institution and exactly the kind of place that does not exist back home. Simple, honest, genuinely good food that hits differently when you are hungry from a morning on the road. Take your time here because Danbury rewards people who slow down.

A brightly lit pinball machine with colorful lights and detailed artwork.

After lunch wander into Yellow River Pinball, one of the coolest little spots in town packed with vintage and modern machines that will eat your quarters and your afternoon if you let them.

Large jumping deer sculpture on rock-lined base near wood fence and trees.

And before you head to your main event find the Jordan Buck statue. If you have not seen it you are simply not prepared for how big it actually is. It has become one of those only in Wisconsin landmarks that people drive past, do a double take, and immediately turn around for a photo.

The Main Event: Throttle RX Rentals in Danbury, WI

a truck driving down a dirt road

Everything you just drove through was the warmup. Throttle RX at 7460 Main St in Danbury is where the day actually begins. Jet skis on open Northwoods lakes. Pontoons or Paddle Boards with nothing but treeline around you. Fishing boats on the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers. UTVs, ATVs, and Snowmobiles on trails that go on longer than you would believe. Whatever version of adventure you came here for we have it ready and waiting.

This is 90 minutes from Minneapolis. It is 90 minutes from St. Paul, Bloomington, Woodbury, and every other suburb where you have been sitting inside telling yourself you will get out soon. Book your adventure at throttlerentals.com or call us at 715-227-3004. The Northwoods does not care what is waiting for you back home on Monday. Neither do we.

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