Season guide · Minneapolis · United States
Minneapolis in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
A slow, muddy thaw in March gives way to green, mild May days; weather is changeable and late snow is possible in April. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 31 rainy days across March–May.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- -6°C (21°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 4°C (39°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 13°C (55°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 10 | 13.4 h | 2/5 |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 12 | 14.8 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 12°C (54°F) against a yearly 12°C (54°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 114 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: St. Patrick's Day parades in Minneapolis and Saint Paul (around 17 March)
- April: Twins baseball season opens at Target Field (usually early April)
- May: Art-A-Whirl — open studios across Northeast (usually mid-May)
Good choices for spring
Gallery · Loring Park
Walker Art Center
One of the leading contemporary art centres in the United States, the Walker shows modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, design and film, with a strong collection including works by Andy Warhol, Chuck Close and Frida Kahlo.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Whittier
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
Pick up a map and head for the Asian galleries and period rooms, which most first-time visitors miss.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Mill District
Mill City Museum
Built into the burned-out ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world, this museum tells how Minneapolis became the milling capital of the world.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Experience · Bloomington
Mall of America
Take the Blue Line light rail from downtown or the airport; it stops right at the mall's transit station.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Phillips
American Swedish Institute
A 33-room chateau-style mansion built in 1908 for newspaper publisher Swan Turnblad houses this museum of Swedish and Nordic culture, with carved woodwork, tiled stoves and changing exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Food
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Saint Paul (About 45 minutes by light rail, 15–20 minutes by car) — Minnesota's capital has the domed State Capitol, the Cathedral of Saint Paul at the top of Summit Avenue's Victorian mansions, the Minnesota History Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota on the river bluff.
- Stillwater (About 40 minutes) — On the St.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Minneapolis?
It is a trade-off: A slow, muddy thaw in March gives way to green, mild May days; weather is changeable and late snow is possible in April. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Minneapolis in spring?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.