If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
Minnesota Beach Vacations
Minnesota borders Canada and Lake Superior. The state has more than 11,000 lakes that feature numerous beaches.
If you’d like to go to a Minnesota beach and are wondering where a great place to stay might be, you should consider the following hotels. They were the Minnesota Beach Award Winners in the 2021 Best Loved Hotels by Hotels.com. All these hotels had numerous excellent reviews and also received the highest guest ratings. And you can use Hotels.com to find the best price for your stay.
Barnum
Little Hanging Horn Lake is 114 acres in size and 10 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers catch bullhead, walleye, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern perch and yellow perch. Go to the beach and sun, swim and enjoy water sports.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Hanging Horn Lakeside Resort
Bemidji
Located on the Mississippi River, Bemidji is the home of the legendary Paul Bunyon. Lake Bemidji is a central location for the area. There is a Dragon Boat Festival on the lake each summer. Anglers come hoping to catch perch, walleye, bass, muskie, crappies, panfish and trout. Conde Nast Traveler named Lake Bemidji as “one of America’s top 100 swimming holes.”
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge
Deerwood
Bay Lake was named for its irregular outline with many bays, projecting points ad islands. It is one of the top bass fishing lakes in Minnesota. Go swimming, boating, tubing, jet skiing, stand up paddle boarding, water skiing and much more.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort
Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes has more than 400 lakes within 25 miles. It has more freshwater and miles of shoreline than anywhere else in Northwest Minnesota. You can fish for walleye, bass, trout, perch, panfish and, in the fall, muskies. Go swimming, boating, scuba diving and more.
Best Loved Beach Hotels
- Holiday Inn Detroit Lakes, an IHG Hotel
- Best Western Premier The Lodge on Lake Detroit
Duluth
A city port, Duluth is on Lake Superior. Its waterfront Lakewalk Trail goes along Canal Park with views of the Aerial Lift Bridge. Built in 1905, this bridge spans the Duluth Ship Canal into the Duluth Superior Harbor. Minnesota Point, aka Park Point, is 6 miles long, making it one of the longest freshwater sand spits in the world.
Best Loved Beach Hotels
- Canal Park Lodge
- Comfort Suites Canal Park
- South Pier Inn
Grand Marais
Grand Marais is located on the North Shore of Lake Superior and is nicknamed “America’s Coolest Small Town.” The Grand Marais lighthouse is still in use. Walk alontg the ocy beach and listen to the waves and the seagulls. With the right weather conditions, you can see the Northern Lights from Grand Marais.
Best Loved Beach Hotels
- East Bay Suites
- Skyport Lodge
Lutsen
Lutsen Mountains are the Midwest’s largest and tallest ski area. The town of Lutsen is located on the shore of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Go swimming, boating, stand up paddle boarding and more. Fish for lake trout and salmon.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Cascade Lodge
Nisswa
Brainerd Lakes area has sandy beaches, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and more. It is a water sport playground with dramatic lake vistas. Anglers come in pursuit of bass, northern pike and walleye.
Best Loved Beach Hotels
- Good Ol’ Days Resort
- Lost Lake Lodge
- Grand View Lodge
- Quarterdeck Resorts & Restaurant
Onamia
Mille Lacs Lake has 132,500 acres and they fish for trophy sized. Bassmaster recognized it as “one of the best smallmouth bas fishing lakes in the U.S.” Anglers also take home walley, muskie and northern pike. Sandy beaches abound and swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and other water sports are enjoyed here.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Izatys Resort
Two Harbors
Two Harbors is a city on Lake Superior. It has the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tour the Foghorn Building, a museum focused on fishing and shipwrecks. Enjoy the beach at Burlington Bay and look for agates, Minnesota state gemstone.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Superior Shores Resort & Conference Center
Walker
Leech Lake has approximately 112,000 acres, the third largest lake in Minnesota. It’s known for great fishing for walleyes, pike, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, crappies and sunfish. People come here in the winter to ice fish. Jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, stand up paddle boarding, wakeboarding, swimming, tubing and more are enjoyed on Leech Lake.
Best Loved Beach Hotel
- Chase On The Lake Resort Hotel