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Where to stay around Lake Minnetonka, US?
Our 2019 property listings offer a large selection of 267 vacation rentals near Lake Minnetonka. From 193 Houses to 24 Condos/Apartments, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable stay with your family and friends. The best places to stay near Lake Minnetonka for a holiday or a weekend are on VRBO.
What are the most popular destinations to visit in Lake Minnetonka?
There are many lovely places to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend in Lake Minnetonka. From VRBO travelers, the top most popular destinations to visit are:
- Minneapolis: 1,388 vacation rentals
- Excelsior: 106 vacation rentals
- Calhoun Isles: 136 vacation rentals
- Mound: 143 vacation rentals
- Wayzata: 525 vacation rentals
And VRBO offers you the chance to discover many other popular destinations in Lake Minnetonka! Please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available in other popular destinations.
What are the main cities to discover in Lake Minnetonka?
Whether you're traveling with family or friends, here are the cities with the largest selection of vacation rentals for a holiday trip or just for a weekend in Lake Minnetonka:
- Minneapolis: 1,388 rentals
- Excelsior: 106 rentals
- Mound: 143 rentals
- Wayzata: 525 rentals
- Edina: 789 rentals
For other cities, please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available.
An affluent getaway destination
Discover scenic Lake Minnetonka, which has long been a weekend getaway destination for locals of Minneapolis, which is just a short drive to the east. It's an affluent area, with dozens of luxury Lake Minnetonka vacation rentals dotting its shoreline. With plenty of mountain biking trails, a number of genteel yacht clubs, kid friendly activities, year-round community festivals and several regional parks, there's never a shortage of things to do around Lake Minnetonka. If that's not enough to tempt you in, the culinary destinations of Excelsior and Wayzata, and the waterfront dining opportunities surely will.
Endless opportunities for fun
While staying in a Lake Minnetonka vacation rental, you'll have a staggering amount of adventure activities to try. During the hot summers, swimming is popular in the lake, as is kayaking and standup paddleboarding along the calm waters. The Luce Line and Dakota Rail trails offer endless opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as wintery activities like snowmobiling. The lake has a long history of steamboats, and there is no better way to while away a sunny afternoon than on board one of these vessels. Once sunk, the Minnehaha, pulled from the icy depths and fully restored, now offers pleasure cruises.
Railway depots and botanical gardens
Lake Minnetonka isn't short on attractions and things to see. The idyllic Noerenberg Memorial Gardens lie along Crystal Bay at the edge of the lake and is considered by most to be the finest gardens in the state. If you have an interest in trains and history, be sure to visit the Wayzata Depot & Museum which was built in the early 20th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While you're in town, go to the Wayzata Library which offers fabulous views over the lake from its panoramic windows.
Activities for every season
The climate in Lake Minnesota is characterized by hot summers and freezing winters. You can enjoy warm and bright weather when you stay at a Lake Minnetonka vacation rental during spring, ideal for walking along the shoreline trails. Summer days are best spent on or in the lake, cooling down in the waters or in the shady forests nearby. The trees around the lake come alive in color during fall, while the snows that blanket the state between December and February turn the parks into a wintery adventure playgrounds for skiing and ice skating.
Look out for a giant sturgeon
Lake Minnetonka provides a habitat for far too many species to list, but according to local legend, a giant 10-foot sturgeon affectionately named Lou lives below its surface. Though it's never been officially recorded, there have been sightings of the beast for decades. By contrast, your chances of seeing bald eagles around Lake Minnetonka are high. Some circle on the overhead thermals around Brown's Bay looking for waterfowl and squirrels, while others perch in the high treetops. Be sure to bring your binoculars to the beach for an up close look at these majestic birds of prey.