Twin Cities Sports Venues: A Family Trip Guide

The Twin Cities pack five major league teams into one walkable, family-friendly metro: the Vikings (NFL) at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Twins (MLB) at Target Field, the Timberwolves and Lynx at Target Center, the Wild (NHL) at Grand Casino Arena, and Minnesota United FC (MLS) at Allianz Field. With suburban hotels offering kitchens, pools, and free parking, the Twin Cities sports venues make for one of the Midwest’s best family sports getaways.

Among regional travelers, Minnesota ranks as a Top 10 destination for professional sports, and once you’ve heard 18,000 hockey fans yell “Let’s Play Hockey!” in unison, you’ll understand why. There’s something a little magical about a state that takes its games this seriously while still holding the door for you on the way in.

We get it: planning a sports weekend with kids is its own sport. You need tickets, transit, naps, snacks that aren’t a $9 pretzel, and a hotel room big enough that nobody’s elbow ends up in somebody’s ear. This guide walks you through every major Twin Cities venue, what to expect inside, what to do nearby, and where to stay so the whole trip feels easy instead of expensive.

Your Ultimate Guide to a Twin Cities Sports Weekend

Think of the Twin Cities as two downtowns and a ring of friendly suburbs all stitched together by light rail and I-494/I-694. Minneapolis hosts three of the five major venues within a few skyway-connected blocks. St. Paul, just 11 miles east, holds down hockey and soccer with the kind of fan energy that turns strangers into seatmates-for-life.

If you’re traveling with a youth team, and a lot of you are, with the National Sports Center in Blaine and the John Rose Minnesota OVAL drawing thousands of families every weekend, you already know the drill. You need suites for siblings, laundry for uniforms, free parking for the team van, and a pool to burn off the sugar from the concession stand. The good news: the suburbs around the venues are practically built for sports parents.

Here’s how we’ll break it down:

• Downtown Minneapolis: U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, and Target Center — all within a 15-minute walk of each other.
• St. Paul: Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) for hockey and Allianz Field for soccer.
• Where to base yourselves: Suburban hotel hubs in St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Roseville, and Shoreview — each chosen for the venue it serves best.

Downtown Minneapolis Venues: The Heart of the Action

Downtown Minneapolis is the rare American downtown where you can park once and walk to three pro stadiums. The Minneapolis sports stadiums sit clustered along the Mississippi riverfront and the Warehouse District, connected by light rail, skyways, and a surprising number of patio-friendly restaurants. For families, it’s a high-energy hub that turns a single game into a whole-day adventure.

U.S. Bank Stadium: Home of the Minnesota Vikings

U.S. Bank Stadium is the glass-and-steel home of the Minnesota Vikings, with a giant transparent roof that lets in northern light and a fan base that gets very, very loud. The Skol chant, the Gjallarhorn, and the purple haze make it one of the louder NFL game-day atmospheres in the league — a real treat for first-time football families.

Inside, the Vikings Voyage interactive museum is a free pre-game stop where kids can run NFL Combine drills, try on helmets, and pose with the Gjallarhorn. The stadium also runs “first game” certificates if you ask a guest services rep — a sweet keepsake for kids attending their first NFL game. Concourses are wide, sightlines are good, and food ranges from State Fair classics (mini donuts!) to wild rice soup for the grown-ups.

Nearby for families:

• Mill City Museum — built into the ruins of a flour mill, with a kid-friendly elevator ride and views of Saint Anthony Falls.
• Gold Medal Park — a grassy spiral hill perfect for letting kids burn pre-game energy.
• Stone Arch Bridge — a pedestrian-only bridge with the best photo op in town.

Where to stay (Hotels near U.S. Bank Stadium): Skip the downtown markup and slide just west. The AC Hotel Minneapolis West End and Homewood Suites Saint Louis Park put you in the lively West End district with restaurants and a movie theater the kids will actually want to visit. For the south side, Staybridge Suites Bloomington offers full kitchens and an easy light rail ride straight into downtown, no parking headaches, no game-day surge pricing.

Target Field: America’s Pastime with the Minnesota Twins

Target Field is the outdoor home of the Minnesota Twins, widely considered one of the prettiest ballparks in MLB. The downtown skyline rises beyond center field, the limestone exterior glows at golden hour, and the breeze off the Mississippi makes those 80-degree July nights feel just about perfect. It’s classic summertime baseball, and the most family-friendly pro venue in town.

For kids, the headline attraction is T.C. Bear’s Target Fieldhouse, a free indoor play area down the left-field line with slides, a Wiffle ball area, and a mini speed-pitch. The Twins also run “family value” concession sections where hot dogs, popcorn, and soda are priced like the 1990s. The team’s longtime partnership with Explore Minnesota means you’ll often see “Only in Minnesota” promotions tied to family ticket deals.

Nearby for families:

• North Loop neighborhood — patio restaurants, ice cream shops, and brewery rec rooms with games.
• Mississippi Riverfront trails — a five-minute walk for a pre-game stroll.
• Target Field Station — light rail hub that connects you to MSP airport and Mall of America without ever moving the car.

Where to stay: The Maple Grove corridor along Arbor Lakes Parkway is a sleeper pick for Twins families. Staybridge Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Courtyard, and Hampton Inn all sit within steps of The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes and The Fountains — meaning you can pair the ballgame with a morning of shopping and a splash pad. Heading south? Hampton Inn Eden Prairie off I-494 gets you to Target Field in about 20 minutes and to Mall of America in 15.

Target Center: Hardwood Action with the Timberwolves & Lynx

Target Center is the indoor arena right next door to Target Field, hosting the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. A recent renovation modernized the concourses and seats, and the in-arena energy, wolf howls, drumlines, T-shirt cannons — makes it a fantastic kid-friendly venue. You’re never far from the action; the upper bowl still feels close.

Basketball moves fast, which is great news for shorter attention spans. Mascot Crunch the Wolf roams the concourse for high-fives, and halftime shows lean heavily into kid acts: acrobats, dunk teams, and the occasional Pomeranian skateboarder. The Lynx, by the way, are a genuine national treasure: four-time WNBA champs and a wonderful way for kids to see world-class women’s sports in person.

Nearby for families:

• First Avenue — Prince’s old club, right across the street; great for a photo stop with older kids who know Purple Rain.
• The Minneapolis Skyway System — a climate-controlled second-story sidewalk network. In January, it’s a lifesaver.
• Brave New Workshop — for families with teens, a comedy club with a few age-appropriate matinee shows.

Where to stay: For a quick post-game drive home, the AC Hotel in the West End is about 10 minutes away. For families pairing a Wolves game with Mall of America, Staybridge Suites Bloomington is hard to beat.

St. Paul Venues: Capital City Sports & Spirit

St. Paul moves at a slightly slower pace than Minneapolis, narrower streets, more brick, a touch more ‘old-school’ charm, but don’t let that fool you about the passion. When it comes to hockey and soccer, the capital city is downright fierce. The St. Paul sports arenas pull crowds from across the upper Midwest, and the pre-game atmosphere has a neighborhood-block-party feel that’s perfect for families.

Grand Casino Arena: The “State of Hockey”

Grand Casino Arena is the home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and the spiritual heart of Minnesota’s “State of Hockey” identity. Hockey here isn’t just a sport — it’s a heritage. The arena holds about 17,900 fans, and on a Saturday night against Winnipeg or Chicago, every single one of them is on their feet for the opening “Let’s Play Hockey!” shout.

The concourses double as a hockey museum, with exhibits honoring every high school team in the state — yes, every single one. Kids love spotting their hometown jerseys on the walls. The arena also hosts the Minnesota Frost, the two-time PWHL Walter Cup champions, giving families a chance to catch pro women’s hockey at very reasonable prices. (Minnesota Wild family tickets and Frost ticket bundles often run as the season’s best value.)

Nearby for families:

• Science Museum of Minnesota — three blocks away, with dinosaurs, an Omnitheater, and the famous Questionable Medical Devices gallery.
• Rice Park — a small downtown park with Peanuts character statues (Charles Schulz was a St. Paul native).
• Landmark Center — gorgeous historic building, often hosts free family events on weekends.

Where to stay: This is where the Roseville and Shoreview hotels really shine. Both communities sit at the I-35W / I-694 junction, making them the strategic “gateway” to St. Paul — about 12-15 minutes to Grand Casino Arena with free parking back at the hotel. The Hampton Inn Roseville offers complimentary breakfast and a pool. The Hilton Garden Inn Shoreview is right next to the Shoreview Community Center, home of the Tropics Indoor Water Park, a beautiful Plan B if your morning practice gets cancelled.

Allianz Field: The World’s Game in Minnesota

Allianz Field is the soccer-specific home of Minnesota United FC in MLS, and it’s one of the most beautiful new stadiums in American soccer. The exterior shimmers with thousands of light-up panels, the supporters’ section (“The Wonderwall”) sings nonstop, and the whole 19,400-seat bowl feels intimate enough that even the kids in the back rows can see every pass.

Soccer with kids at Allianz Field is a real treat. The Great Lawn outside the stadium is a free green space where kids can kick a ball around for an hour before kickoff — packed with food trucks, face painting, and the occasional drumline parade from the supporters’ groups. Inside, the constant chanting and singing keep the energy high even when the score’s tied 0-0 (which, in soccer, happens). It feels less like a typical American sports event and more like a global festival.

Nearby for families:

• Can Can Wonderland — a quirky indoor mini-golf course with art-installation holes. A bona fide kid magnet.
• Snelling Avenue Green Line — light rail stop right outside the stadium connects you to both downtowns.
• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory — free admission, 10 minutes north. Polar bears, giraffes, and a lovely Japanese garden.

Where to stay: Once again, the Roseville hotel cluster is your best bet: Hampton Inn, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Home2 Suites all sit a quick 10 minutes from Allianz Field with free parking, free breakfast (at most), and easy access back to either downtown. Roseville also features Rosedale Center (14 million visitors a year, so it must be doing something right) and the John Rose Minnesota OVAL, the largest refrigerated sheet of ice in North America.

A Final Word From the Sidelines

Sports trips with kids have a way of becoming the stories families tell forever, the foam finger, a stadium hot dog, the overtime goal, the way a four-year-old fell asleep clutching a Skol towel halfway through the third quarter. The Twin Cities sports venues give you the rare combination of big-league quality and small-town hospitality, and the surrounding suburbs make pulling it all off surprisingly painless.

So pick your game, grab the kids, and let us help you book a base camp with enough room for everybody plus the gear. Whether it’s a Wild game in St. Paul or a summer afternoon at Target Field, we’ll see you in the stands — and at breakfast tomorrow morning. You betcha.