Month guide · Minneapolis · United States
Minneapolis in February
What February is really like in Minneapolis: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
February is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -3°C (27°F), lows of -13°C (9°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10.3 hours of daylight. Still deep winter, but with lengthening days; frozen lakes host skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -3°C (27°F) / -13°C (9°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10.3 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in February
February is the 10th-warmest month in Minneapolis: days average -3°C (27°F) against a yearly average high of 12°C (54°F), and nights fall to about -13°C (9°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 28 days. Compared with January (-6°C (21°F)), February is warmer; by March highs climb to around 4°C (39°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 07:14
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:41
- Daylight
- About 10.3 hours
Winter (December–February). Long and very cold, with snow cover, frozen lakes and wind chills below −20°C; the skyway and indoor culture make it manageable.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, February rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Saint Paul Winter Carnival (usually ends in early February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Architecture · Downtown
Minneapolis Skyway System
About 13 km of enclosed second-floor footbridges connect around 80 blocks of downtown, so office workers can cross the city in shirt sleeves in January.
- Time needed
- As needed
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · University of Minnesota
Weisman Art Museum
View the building from the Washington Avenue Bridge, where the steel facade catches the light over the river.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Lake Street
Midtown Global Market
Inside the huge former Sears building on Lake Street, now the Midtown Exchange, dozens of small food stalls and shops serve Mexican, Somali, Vietnamese, Moroccan and Scandinavian food.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Historic site · Chanhassen
Paisley Park
Allow about 40 minutes by car from downtown; there is no direct public transport, and phones must be secured during tours.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -3°C, lows near -13°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Minneapolis?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Minneapolis in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is February a good time to visit Minneapolis?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still deep winter, but with lengthening days; frozen lakes host skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
+How warm is Minneapolis in February?
Average highs are around -3°C (27°F) and lows around -13°C (9°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Minneapolis in February?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.