Hennepin district, Minnesota, United States

Places to visit near Bloomington

Bloomington is a town in Hennepin district, Minnesota, United States, home to about 86,435 people. Within 50 km by road there are 171 places to visit — 87 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 20 parks, 12 wildlife, forests & gardens and 12 churches. The must-see places are Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center (4 km), Richfield History Center and Museum (5 km) and Lake Normandale (6 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Bloomington on the map

Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Hennepin district, Minnesota, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Bloomington at a glance

Location
Hennepin district, Minnesota, United States
Population
about 86,435
Coordinates
44.8408° N, 93.2983° W
Places within 50 km
171 (171 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and churches

Top places to visit near Bloomington

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Bloomington: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Bloomington

Things to see near Bloomington, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bloomington

187 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Lake Normandale (6 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Parks near Bloomington

27 parks within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Minnehaha Regional Park (14 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Bloomington

22 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary (12 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Churches near Bloomington

15 churches within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Christ Church Lutheran (16 km). Best time: year-round.

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Museums near Bloomington

8 museums within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Richfield History Center and Museum (5 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Bloomington

7 forts & heritage within 100 km of Bloomington. The closest is Historic Fort Snelling (14 km). Best time: october to february.

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A one-day trip from Bloomington

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 37 km on the road.

  1. Start in Bloomington
  2. 8 km Bush Lake · lake, Hennepin
  3. 3 km Lake Normandale · lake, Hennepin
  4. 8 km Richfield History Center and Museum · museum, Hennepin
  5. 4 km Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center · mosque or dargah, Hennepin
  6. 8 km Black Dog Lake · lake, Dakota
  7. 6 km Back to Bloomington

Plan a longer trip from Bloomington — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Bloomington

No traveller has reported from around Bloomington yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Bloomington

    All places near Bloomington by distance

    Within 15 km of Bloomington

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Bloomington by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs87187Lake Normandale (6 km)
    Parks2027Minnehaha Regional Park (14 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1222Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary (12 km)
    Churches1215Christ Church Lutheran (16 km)
    Other attractions1313Cottontail on the Trail (10 km)
    Museums78Richfield History Center and Museum (5 km)
    Forts & heritage77Historic Fort Snelling (14 km)
    Temples55Steel Venom (16 km)
    Waterfalls23Hidden Falls Regional Park (14 km)
    Treks33Winchell Trail (16 km)
    Mosques & dargahs11Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center (4 km)
    Buddhist sites11Minnesota Buddhist Vihara (24 km)
    Caves11Wabasha Street Caves (25 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints01Stillwater Overlook (57 km)

    Bloomington: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Bloomington?

    Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center (mosque or dargah, about 4 km), Richfield History Center and Museum (museum, about 5 km), Lake Normandale (lake, about 6 km), Black Dog Lake (lake, about 6 km), Bush Lake (lake, about 8 km), The Museum of Russian Art (museum, about 9 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Bloomington?

    171 places on Spotwander: 87 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 20 parks, 12 wildlife, forests & gardens, 12 churches, 13 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest lake to Bloomington?

    Lake Normandale, about 6 km by road; Black Dog Lake (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Bloomington?

    Minnehaha Regional Park, about 14 km by road; Longfellow Park (16 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Bloomington?

    Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary, about 12 km by road; Minnesota Zoo (14 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Bloomington?

    Start in Bloomington, visit Bush Lake, then Lake Normandale, then Richfield History Center and Museum, then Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center, then Black Dog Lake, and drive back — about 37 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Bloomington?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and churches.

    Towns near Bloomington

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Bloomington’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Bloomington on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.