Introduction
Minneapolis isn’t just the City of Lakes—it’s also a city steeped in history, folklore, and a few ghostly tales that make night drives an unforgettable experience. From eerie stretches of rural roads to historic cemeteries with chilling reputations, the Twin Cities area offers plenty of destinations for those who love a good scare. Minnesota’s mix of urban legends and documented paranormal activity has made it a hotspot for ghost tours and spooky explorations. While driving itself can be thrilling, exploring haunted roads and nighttime routes around Minneapolis adds an extra layer of adventure.
Spooky Drive List
1. Legends of Grey Cloud Island Road
📍 Grey Cloud Island Dr S, Grey Cloud Township, MN (about 30 minutes southeast of Minneapolis)
Grey Cloud Island is one of Minnesota’s most notorious haunted areas. Known for its Native American burial grounds and chilling legends, locals report phantom apparitions and mysterious glowing orbs along Grey Cloud Island Road. The road is especially unsettling on foggy nights, when headlights seem to fade into the mist.
2. Master Stick Shift with Manual Driving Academy
📍 Manual Driving Academy Minneapolis
Before heading out on eerie rural routes, drivers should feel confident handling their vehicles—especially in manual cars where control is everything. Manual Driving Academy in Minneapolis offers personalized stick shift lessons that help you tackle nighttime drives, winding backroads, and rural highways with ease. Lessons are available year-round, and gift certificates never expire, making them a perfect option for adventurous drivers.
3. St. Anthony Main & Historic Mill District
📍 100 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Downtown Minneapolis may seem bustling and modern, but the St. Anthony Main area is one of the oldest parts of the city—and rumored to be haunted. Visitors walking or driving through at night often describe ghostly figures near the Stone Arch Bridge and strange sounds echoing from the old mills. This makes it an atmospheric nighttime drive that mixes city history with spine-tingling chills.
4. Wabasha Street Caves Drive
📍 215 Wabasha St S, St. Paul, MN 55107 (about 15 minutes from Minneapolis)
Once speakeasies during Prohibition, the Wabasha Street Caves are infamous for gangster legends and paranormal sightings. Many visitors claim to see ghostly mobsters in 1920s attire lingering outside the caves or on the road nearby. Driving past after dark with the caves illuminated by the moonlight is both fascinating and unnerving.
5. Extended Adventure: Highway 61 – From Hastings to Red Wing
📍 Highway 61 South, ~1 hour southeast of Minneapolis
For a longer spooky adventure, take a drive along historic Highway 61, known for its winding routes, old cemeteries, and eerie roadside landmarks. The stretch between Hastings and Red Wing is particularly scenic—and spooky—after dark. Urban legends speak of shadowy hitchhikers and unexplained lights appearing in the distance, adding to the thrill of the drive.
Conclusion
Whether you’re seeking eerie apparitions on Grey Cloud Island, urban legends near the Stone Arch Bridge, or a long nighttime adventure down Highway 61, Minneapolis has no shortage of spooky drives. Gather your friends, pack some courage, and hit the road to experience the haunted side of Minnesota. And if you want to feel completely confident behind the wheel—whether cruising dark rural roads or navigating busy city streets—book a lesson with Manual Driving Academy today at this link.
