Roadtrip with RVshare Minneapolis to Fort Wayne

Your route from Minneapolis to Fort Wayne will pass through the four states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. It will include fascinating cultural, historical, and natural features of this important section of North America. You have a unique opportunity to visit two stellar national parks, Voyageurs National Park and Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, which will bookend your trip at the starting and finishing points.

Nearby National Parks

Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park is a unique national park that contains many lakes and islands that are connected by waterways, and access to these islands requires the use of boats. The park is in northern Minnesota and is about a four-hour drive from Minneapolis. Voyageurs National Park is home to the four large lakes of Rainy, Kabetogama, Sandpoint, and Namakan. You'll also find 26 smaller lakes, the Ash River, hundreds of islands, and 650 miles of lakeshores. Visitors can take their own watercraft or take a tour. There is an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, moose, beavers, gray wolves, bald eagles, double-crested cormorants, loons, owls, and warblers. Besides enjoying the natural beauty of the park, you will also want to visit the abstract sculptures of Ellsworth Rock Gardens and view the historic dam and hotel in the Kettle Falls area. 

Indiana Sand Dunes National Park

Adding Indiana Sand Dunes National Park to your Minneapolis to Fort Wayne road trip itinerary is a great way to truly make your journey memorable. This park is the 61st national park and was designated as such in 2019. The 15,000-acre park features an incredibly diverse landscape of wetlands, forests, prairies, and sand dunes and contains 15 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan. There are miles of walking trails that traverse the dunes, forests, fields, and beaches, and visitors can see meadows of wildflowers in the spring and early summer and partake of snowy activities during the winter season.

Nearby State Parks

Lake Wissota State Park

Lake Wissota State Park is located on the Chippewa River on Lake Wissota and is near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Lake Wissota is 6,300 acres and is popular for its excellent fishing. You can participate in most types of boating activities, like canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, and paddleboarding, and you can rent kayaks and other equipment from the park services. There are 11 miles of multi-use trails and 9 miles of equestrian trails. The Old Abe State Park Trail is a 20-mile trail that extends into Brunet Island State Park in the city of Cornell. 

William W. Powers State Recreation Area

William W. Powers State Recreation Area is well-known for the superb fishing that Wolf Lake provides. Anglers can try their hand at catching crappie, sunfish, carp, pike, muskie, bluegill, bullhead, bass, and other fish from the 6 miles of lakeshore or from a boat. Hikers will enjoy the extensive network of nature trails, and there are also designated hunting areas within the park that are open during appropriate hunting seasons. 

Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park is located on the famous Tippecanoe River, which today is a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking. Besides enjoying the water activities on the river, visitors can hike along 23 miles of multi-use, equestrian, and hiking-only trails. You can camp inside the park at sites that include cabins, electric and primitive RV and tent sites, equestrian sites, and group areas. The park contains several historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, which include a 90-foot fire tower that visitors can ascend and Tepicon Recreation Hall, a venue often used to host weddings and other events.

Along the Way

Minnehaha Park

Minnehaha Falls is a must-see site, and you will find these beautiful cascades in Minnehaha Park inside the city of Minneapolis. The park was designed by Horace Cleveland in 1883 and was part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. For a long time, it was part of the "Fashionable Tour" steamboat cruises of the 1880s. While in the park, you can view the 53-foot falls, look down on the lower cascades of Minnehaha Creek from the river overlooks, and view the limestone bluffs. You can also tour historic buildings like the Minnehaha Princess Station depot and the John H. Stevens House. 

Cave of the Mounds

Cave of the Mounds is a significant cave system that features complex formations of limestone, and it is often called "the jewel box" of the known cave systems in North America. These limestone formations feature brilliantly colored hues of reds, blues, browns, and grays, which are the product of iron oxides and manganese oxides. Some of these formations are partially luminescent and will give off light for a short time when exposed to other lights. The Cave of the Mounds is located in the Blue Mounds hills and is just west of Madison, Wisconsin.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier has been serving the citizens of Chicago for more than 100 years. Built in 1916, Navy Pier has been both a private and public pier and at one point was even a jail for draft dodgers. Today, the pier is a mixed-venue space covering 50 acres that houses gardens, shops, and restaurants. Popular attractions include the Funhouse Maze, a 4,000-square-foot space of tunnels and mazes; the Carousel; and the Remote Control Boats. The crowning jewel of the 3,300-foot pier is the Centennial Wheel Ferris Wheel, which soars 200 feet into the sky above the pier and Lake Michigan.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Eau Claire is the first main city you will pass through on your road trip from Minneapolis to Fort Wayne and is located around 90 miles into the first leg of your route. If you have time to take a break from your trip, then you will discover much to see and to do in Eau Claire. There are museums, entertainment venues, and plenty of outdoor recreational activities in this city at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers. Eau Claire is the 9th-largest city in Wisconsin, and you will have no problem finding a convenient dump station while in the area. Stoney Creek RV Resort holds themed weeks, and the whole family will love the skate park and the jumping pillow. 

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin and lies about 80 miles west of Milwaukee. If you have the time, you should tour the Wisconsin State Capital, which is a National Historic Landmark. The capital building is constructed from 43 different types of stone that include granite, marble, and limestone from local sources and from countries around the world. The exterior is covered in predominately Bethel white granite. Another intriguing site is the Monona Terrace Convention Center, which was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Viking Village Campground is a modern RV park that is pleasant and convenient for an overnight stay, and there are many choices for a dump station if you require one. 

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is the largest city you will drive through on your Minneapolis to Fort Wayne RV road trip, and it has all the sights and sounds that you would expect from a large urban city. Chicago is located on Lake Michigan and is home to sites such as Navy Pier, Grant Park, and Willis Tower's Skydeck, which is a structure of four glass boxes that extend over a height of 100 stories and afford a view of the four states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. There are plenty of dump stations in and around Chicago, and you will be able to find one with ease. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park is rated in the top 10 of Yogi Bear Parks and offers easy access to all the main attractions in Chicago, and everyone will appreciate the fun amenities accessible at the RV park.

Find Adventure from Minneapolis to Fort Wayne

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Minneapolis to Fort Wayne, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Minneapolis or Fort Wayne.