Mankato (pronounced man-KAY-toh) is a city in Minnesota, USA, that exudes a college presence with several centers of higher learning, including Minnesota State University. A somewhat colorful community, it was home to Sinclair Lewis and the literary characters Betsy and Tacy, and such public figures as Ron Johnson and Mike Lindell, though his pillow store is no longer there. Then, it was also the site of a darker event, the execution of 38 individuals in 1862 following the Dakota uprising, even in the midst of the Civil War. President Lincoln reduced the number of executions which had been far higher, trying to find a balance.

Get in

Land to Air Express or Landline ground transport from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).

See

• Betsy Tacy Society, 332 Center St. If you were a fan of the Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, you will probably take a shine to this museum about the stories that were set in Mankato. However it's only open Saturdays from 1-3PM. ☏ +1 507-345-9777.

Parks

• Minneopa State Park, 54497 Gadwall Rd. A state park featuring a waterfall and trails and bison herd in the Minnesota River Valley. Features a windmill, nature center, and campground too. ☏ +1 507-386-3910
• Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave. Mankato's largest city park, located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers. Features 2 playgrounds, baseball fields, a sledding hill, flower gardens, a small zoo (summer only), and paved walking trails. Every year between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, Sibley park is host to the popular Kiwanis Holiday Lights show.

Do

• Attend the Wacipi Pow wow in September at Land of Memories Park, 100 Amos Owen Ln. You can also camp and canoe here along the Minnesota River in season.
• Hike or cross country ski/snowshoe through hardwoods and watersheds at Red Jacket Valley Park, 19950 State Hwy 66. Daily 8AM-10PM.
• Ski, sled, or mountain bike at Mount Kato Ski Area, 20461 State Hwy 66. ☏ +1 507-625-3363

Buy

• River Hills Mall, 1850 Adams Street. Monday-Saturday 10AM-9PM, Sunday 11AM-6PM. Over 100 shops, plus movie theaters. 

Learn

• Bethany Lutheran College
• Minnesota State University
• Rasmussen College
• South Central College

Eat

• Yu's Chinese Cuisine, 1601 Monks Avenue. Although the decor is not high class, Yu's serves decent Chinese food. Offers a lunch buffet. $5-9 a plate. 
• El Mazatlan, on Madison Avenue. Good Mexican food. Dos Equis on tap.
• Pagliai's, 524 South Front Street. Excellent dine-in or carry-out pizza. 
• Happy Chef Restaurant, 51646 US-169. You can get your greasy spoon fix here with hash browns and omelets in the morning or country fried steak for lunch. Also featuring cinnamon roll pancakes. Don't forget to say hi to the Happy Chef statue in the parking lot on the way out. Daily 6AM-2PM. +1 507-388-2953
• 1 Boulder Tap House (Boulder Tap, B-Tap), 291 Saint Andrews Drive (from Hwy 14/Hwy 60, exit at Victory Drive; go 1/2 mile east/northeast on Victory Drive N.; turn right at the light onto St Andrews Drive.), ☏ +1 507 344-1643, mankato@bouldertaphouse.com. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM. Sports bar with good food. Most of the wall space is covered by TVs tuned to sports channels, but sound is usually provided by music videos playing on some TVs. Not too loud. Happy Hour is M-F 3-6PM, and daily 9-11PM (dine in only): Half off most appetizers (not wings) and $1 tap beer. (updated Jun 2023)

Sleep

• Motel 6 Mankato, 1731 Premier Dr. One of those new generation Motel 6s that almost looks like it could be a clean room at a semiconductor facility, it is so minimalist. +1 507-345-6666

• AmericInn by Wyndham Mankato Event Center, 240 Stadium Rd. Indoor pool, breakfast. +1 507-345-8011

Go next

Routes through Mankato

Brookings ← New Ulm ←	W  E	→ Owatonna → Rochester
Minneapolis ← Shakopee ←	N  S	→ Blue Earth → Fort Dodge
Worthington ← St. James ← Jct N S ←	W  E	→ Jct → Faribault