Roadtrip with RVshare Dallas to Minneapolis

Texas sports fans may want to make a Dallas to Minneapolis road trip to see their favorite teams play on the road. Take your pick of watching the Rangers play the Twins, the Cowboys play the Vikings, the Stars challenge the Minnesota Wild, or the Mavericks take on the Timberwolves. You can have a great time getting to the city when you stop at state parks and points of interest along the way. This is especially true if you happen to be interested in the life of President Eisenhower. While you'll have to go some extra miles, you may want to stop and visit Gateway Arch and Indiana Dunes national parks on this road trip. 

Nearby National Parks

Gateway Arch National Park

Watch the vintage films before boarding the tram for the four-minute ride to the top of Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. Enjoy the stunning views of the city and the Mississippi River from the observation deck. Then, take the tram back down to explore the museum. Learn about the competition held to choose the architect to build this national park dedicated to westward expansion. Eero Saarinen beat out his father and other architects with his design, and college dropout Dick Bowser designed the tram system in under two weeks. You'll need to drive east about three hours from Kansas City to reach this national park. 

Indiana Dunes National Park

Closely listen as you walk across the sand at Indiana Dunes National Park near Chesterton, Indiana, and you'll hear it singing. The unique sound that the sand makes at this national park is due to the quartz and silica left behind after glaciers melted thousands of years ago. The tallest dune at this park is Mt. Tom, soaring at 192 feet tall. As you hike along the paths at this park, watch for its carnivorous plants. These plants, including the sundew and the purple pitcher plant, eat small insects. The best place to see them is in the Pinhook Bog. Indiana Dunes National Park is also a great place to play on the beach. You'll need to drive about 5.5 hours east of Des Moines, Iowa, to reach this park.

Nearby State Parks

Eisenhower State Park

Eisenhower State Park near Dennison, Texas, is a fantastic place to go fishing on Lake Texoma. You can fish from the lighted fishing pier using equipment borrowed from the park's office. You can also rent a boat from the Eisenhower Yacht Club at this park to go boating. Park rangers often lead programs about Dutch cooking, astronomy, and other activities. Ride your ATV or mountain bike along miles of trails or enjoy exploring the hiking trails at this location. 

Eisenhower State Park

While it has the same name, another park along this route is Eisenhower State Park, which is near Osage, Kansas. This state park offers over 1,000 acres of tallgrass prairie, 400 acres of woods, and an almost 7,000-acre lake to explore. Omaha Swim Beach is a fantastic place to play and gives you easy access to swimming in the lake. Archers love the 19 walk-through target archery ranges, while equestrians will find over 20 miles of trails for them to explore. The kids fishing pond is a great place to get the youth started on this sport. Everyone can have a great time on the 18-hole disc golf course. 

Rock Creek State Park

Once you get to Des Moines, head east about 44 miles to Rock Creek State Park near Kellogg, Iowa. The 602-acre lake at this park is the third-largest state-operated artificial impoundment in Iowa. You can choose to fish from this park's 15 miles of shoreline or launch your vessel onto the lake. Boats are available to rent at the on-site convenience store, where you can also buy bait and tackle. 

Ledges State Park

Take off your shoes and splash in the low-water crossings at Ledges State Park near Madrid, Iowa. Follow the 4 miles of hiking trails up and down the sandstone cliffs. Launch your canoe onto the Des Moines River or go fishing in it. This park is also a fantastic place to go rappelling or climbing. 

Minneopa State Park

Hike along the trails to see the beautiful waterfalls at Minneopa State Park near Mankato, Minnesota. Climb the natural limestone staircase and soak in the stunning views of the Minneopa Valley. Follow the trail on to see the German-style, wind-driven grist mill. Witness the herd of bison that live at this park by taking the scenic Bison Drive. The bison are part of a genetic-testing program managed by the Minnesota Zoo.

Along the Way

Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site

View the home where President Eisenhower was born by stopping in Dennison, Texas, at the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site. The home is filled with antiques to showcase what an average American home would have looked like in 1890 when he was born in this frame home. Stop at the visitors center to learn more about his life. 

Evel Knievel Museum

Include a stop at the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas, in your road trip itinerary from Dallas to Minneapolis. See some of the famous bikes that he rode, the helmets that he wore, and watch footage of many of his jumps. 

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

You'll want to stop at Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on your road trip from Dallas to Minneapolis. See chronologically displayed exhibits of the leagues that lasted from 1920 to 1962. This museum's highlight is witnessing the nearly life-sized bronze statues of twelve figures from Negro league history on a baseball field. 

Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum

See the world's most extensive collection of fine-scale miniatures at the Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum. The museum also contains one of the largest collections of historical toys. The museum's goal is to help you discuss what role toys played in your childhood. 

Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace

Head to Boone, Iowa, on your Dallas to Minneapolis RV road trip to visit the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace. This small home, which volunteers moved across the street, was where Mamie Doud lived the first nine years of her life. The home's basement contains many documents and other artifacts from the president's life. Then, tour the carriage house that includes a 1948 Chrysler Windsor Sedan that once belonged to President and Mrs. Eisenhower and a 1962 Plymouth Valiant that Mamie drove.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Once considered the Oil Capital of the World, you'll be amazed at the number of cultural and historical museums this city has to explore. Consider centrally located Tulsacampgrounds so that you can easily see this city. Outstanding options include Canyon Creek Campground, Warrior RV Park, and Eagle's View RV Park. Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state, and there are plenty of RV dump station options, like Tulsa Warrior RV Park, Pilot Flying J Travel Plaza, and Keystone State Park.

Kansas City, Missouri

While the largest part of Kansas City lies in Missouri, you'll also want to visit Kansas City, Kansas. This city has many things to do, including watching the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs play. You'll appreciate the array of choices in Kansas City campgrounds, including Worlds of Fun Village, Campus RV Park, and Autumn Falls RV Park. There are excellent RV dump stations in Kansas City as well, including Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, Basswood Country RV Resort, and Missouri State Fair RV Park.

Des Moines, Iowa

Sports fans may want to take the opportunity to see the Iowa Cubs play at home or take in a Drake University ball game. Knoxville, Iowa, located just 33 miles away, offers one of the top Sprint car tracks in the U.S., while Iowa Speedway is only 35 miles away. There are some fantastic campgrounds in Des Moines, making it easy to stay for a while. Consider camping at Griff's Valley View RV Park & Campground, Sleepy Hollow RV Park & Campground, or Des Moines West KOA Holiday. There are also great Des Moines RV dump stations at West KOA Campground, Marion County Park, and Pattee City Park.

Find Adventure from Dallas to Minneapolis

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Dallas to Minneapolis, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance.