There are many wonderful things to discover in the world, but there’s nothing quite like crossing the state line back into Minnesota and being greeted by three simple words: Minnesota Welcomes You. Perhaps you call this state home, or maybe you lived here once, many years ago. Or maybe, you’re among the many people who come to Minnesota again and again for rest, relaxation, and natural beauty. Whatever the reason, or the season, you’ll see the Minnesota welcome sign and know you’re home.
Minnesota has erected signs at all of the state’s major entry points – the state calls them “entry monuments."
Google / Matt Gatlin
A lot of people see these signs every year. The state estimated in 2008 that nearly 87 million vehicles entered the state via 65 trunk highways that connect to state borders.
Google / Logan Edwards
The state has uniform designs for its signs – the last time they did a redesign was in 1996. Why change what works?
Google / Matt Gatlin
The biggest signs are “Type 1” monuments that depict the outline of Minnesota with red letters. A dozen of these signs exist, and they are all located along interstate highways and the highway routes with the highest traffic volume.
Google / Rich KR
On smaller highways, there are “Type 2” monuments made of stone and wood – some are very old and eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Flickr / Tony Webster
The smallest highways get a regular road sign – while it’s not as impressive as the stone monuments, it still offers a cheerful welcome to everyone who passes by.
Google / Ned Beasley
Many of Minnesota’s welcome signs are located near rest areas. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has a map and information on all the rest areas in the state on its website. More than 20 million people stop at a Minnesota rest area every year. Now that you’ve made your way into Minnesota, here are the 10 best road trips you can take in the state.
Google / Matt Gatlin
Google / Logan Edwards
Google / Rich KR
Flickr / Tony Webster
Google / Ned Beasley
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Address: Minnesota, USA
