11 Best Hotels Near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for Fair Fun (2024)

Are you visiting the Great Minnesota Get-Together and are looking for the best hotels near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds?

From delicious food to thrilling rides and so much more, the Minnesota State Fair is one of the best places to be in the summer!

Plus with there being so many other events being held here throughout the year, there are many reasons to stay near the fairgrounds.

And finding somewhere to stay nearby is a must, so you can get the most out of your entire day

I’ve gone to the MN State Fair every year since I was born and I have stayed in many different popular hotels nearby over the years.

In this post, I’m going to share with you some of the best places to stay that will get you close to the fairgrounds. Let’s jump right in!

My Top Picks: Hotels Near Minnesota State Fairgrounds

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Location of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds

The Minnesota State Fairgrounds are located in St. Paul, MN, right off Snelling Avenue.

You’ll find them just east of Minneapolis and just slightly west of Como Park.

The physical address is 1265 Snelling Avenue N, St. Paul, MN.

This is the Minnesota State Fair location, as well as where other events like the Back to the 50s car show, 4-H horse and dog shows, and much more.

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Minnesota State Fairgrounds Hotels

Below you’ll find a list of the very best places to stay near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, so you can enjoy your day at the fair.

1. Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 1.6 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

The best part about the Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel is that it’s just under 2 miles away from the fairgrounds, or around 5 minutes!

If you want to get as close as you can to the fair without staying on the actual grounds, then this is going to be the place for you.

The hotel is built inside of the old Bandana Square Train Repair Shop, so it has a unique historic feel to it. We’ve stayed at this hotel many times during our fair trips and it really is so unique.

“Great stay! We loved the unique look of the hotel. All staff were very kind and friendly.”

Teresa — (Read More Reviews)

You can enjoy the spacious hotel rooms, which each feature free wifi, comfortable beds, and some are even pet friendly.

You can enjoy a hot breakfast every morning before you head to the fair (but I totally understand if you skip this and opt for the mini donuts instead!).

There also is an indoor heated swimming pool, as well as a hot tub and sauna to enjoy after a long day of walking around.

2. Drury Plaza Hotel St. Paul Downtown

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 9.7 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

Found right along the banks of the Mississippi River in Downtown St. Paul, the Drury Plaza Hotel is a great option for your fair stay.

The amenities at the Drury Plaza are unlike many other places, as they offer plenty of free things for guests.

Each morning, wake up and enjoy a freshly made, hot breakfast. Then enjoy appetizers and drinks at their free 5:30 Kickback. Talk about a score!

“Everything was well kept and very clean. The room was very nice, well equipped and the bed was really comfortable. The staff was great and super friendly.”

Brenda — (Read More Reviews)

Guests can also enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub, as well as a 24-hour fitness center to get in a good workout while on vacation.

The unique design and decor in the lobby almost feels like you’re in a different country, and being just 10 miles away from the fairgrounds makes it easy to get there!

And along with being close to the fair, it’s also close to all of the great things to do near this Saint Paul hotel.

3. DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 3.5 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

Located right on the backside of the Rosedale Center in Roseville is the DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis.

If you’re bringing a pet along, the rooms here at the DoubleTree are pet-friendly, so your furry friend can come with you.

This hotel with shuttle to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds is perfect if you don’t want to drive, because the complimentary shuttle can take you!

I can personally tell you that the shuttle is so worth it! We always take a hotel shuttle or park-and-ride to the fair and it makes life so much easier.

“Very accommodating! The staff was friendly and it had all the amenities I needed for a productive yet fun and relaxing stay! Great value as well!”

Barbara — (Read More Reviews)

I love that it’s conveniently located right off of I-35W because I don’t have to do any driving on backroads to try to find the hotel.

At DoubleTree Hilton Roseville, you can enjoy other amenities (aside from convenience!) like their on-site restaurant and indoor pool.

And one of my favorite parts… is that once you arrive, they’ll have warm cookies waiting for you to enjoy. Score!

4. Home2 Suites by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 3.9 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

At the Hilton Home2 Suites in Roseville, you can choose from a wide variety of rooms, including ones with full kitchens.

There are small studios with microwaves and a sink, or larger suites with a full microwave oven, fridge, and more.

Home2 Suites also features an indoor heated pool for you to relax in after you’ve spent time at the fair (I always have sore feet at the end of a long fair day!).

“I would definitley stay here again! Breakfast was awesome; pool was very nice. Very nice price for kitchenette suite.”

Willa — (Read More Reviews)

Plus, there’s a fitness center if you want to get some exercise in during your stay, and free hot breakfast to enjoy each morning.

With free parking, you won’t have to worry about paying to park anywhere else.

If you’re visiting the fair, you can easily catch the free park-and-ride shuttle at the Roseville Covenant Church, just 2 miles away.

5. Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 5.6 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

Located right off of I-35W, the Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown is another great place to stay near Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

With a location so close to all of the best attractions in Minneapolis, it’s no wonder why this is one of the best options for accommodations.

Guests can enjoy the large indoor pool or take advantage of the 24-hour fitness center, all within a short distance of the Mississippi River and the Minneapolis Mill District.

” Staff was great. Very knowledgeable about the area. Very friendly when answering questions. Room was wonderful! Great area. Lots to do and places to eat within walking distance… Felt very safe.”

Nancy — (Read More Reviews)

After a long day of wandering around at the state fair, it’s nice to come back and enjoy the on-site restaurant and bar where you can grab a drink and food.

I also really love that you can rent bikes from the hotel for a very cheap price because it makes it easy to get out and explore the city!

One bummer is that most of the park and ride locations are 10+ minutes away, but since the drive is actually only about 15 minutes, it doesn’t matter too much!

6. Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Downtown

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 8.1 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

Located just outside of Downtown Minneapolis, the Hilton Garden Inn gives guests the easy chance to explore this beautiful city.

And with close access to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, being less than 15 minutes away, you can get there easily no matter the event you’re attending.

The stylish hotel features a spacious hotel room for each group that offers comfortable beds, views of the skyline, and free wifi.

“Comfortable bed, large room. Very good buffet breakfast with helpful and friendly staff. Price is good for city center stay.”

Nik — (Read More Reviews)

You’ll also find a large indoor heated pool and fitness center to take advantage of, if your feet aren’t too tired from walking around the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

There’s also an on-site restaurant to enjoy if you’re craving some late-night eats after returning from your busy day.

The Hilton Garden Inn also features a large breakfast selection to get you fueled up for the day.

7. Hewing Hotel

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 6.3 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

The Hewing Hotel is one of my favorite places to stay, and makes for a great hotel near the Minnesota State Fair to book!

The top feature of the Hewing Hotel is their rooftop pool, which is open for guests to use throughout the entire year!

You’ll also find a rooftop bar and restaurant, where you can enjoy drinks brought right to you as you relax in the hot tub.

“Beautiful, stylish, cozy, rooms. Rooftop was open and has a great atmosphere… Beds were super comfy. Can’t beat the location!”

Jenna — (Read More Reviews)

The best part, is that you can enjoy all of this while being located just a short 20 minutes away from the Minnesota State Fair.

While this is a bit further drive than others, it puts you right in Downtown Minneapolis near the Minneapolis Mill District, so you can enjoy the other great things to do here too.

And with their comfortable beds, spacious rooms, views of the Minneapolis skyline, and more, this will be the ultimate stay.

8. Radisson Hotel St. Paul Downtown

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 5.1 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

At the Radisson Hotel St. Paul Downtown, you’ll be just a short walk from things like the Minnesota State Capitol, Palace Theater, and the Xcel Energy Center.

And the hotel is also a great place when you’re looking for where to stay near Minnesota State Fairgrounds, since it’s just a short drive away.

The beautiful hotel offers modernly decorated rooms, and I love that you have a view of the state capital from some of the rooms!

“Wonderful.  Everything was really clean, friendly staff, awesome breakfast.”

Devin — (Read More Reviews)

You can also take advantage of their indoor pool, which has plenty of tables around it to relax at, as well as a hot tub to kick back in.

The Radisson Hotel St. Paul Downtown also features free breakfast every morning, a 24-hour fitness center, and pet-friendly rooms.

I’ve also found that I love this hotel because it’s just a 1/2 mile walk to the Saint Paul College, which is a park-and-ride spot for the MN State Fair shuttles!

So while this isn’t a hotel with a shuttle to the MN State Fair, it’s honestly one of the closest things you can get!

9. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Roseville

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 3.2 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

At the Country Inn & Suites Roseville, you can enjoy a relaxing night’s stay after a busy day exploring the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Whether you’re attending the fair, watching a 4-H horse show, or doing something entirely different, this is a great hotel close to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Here you’ll find a fully equipped fitness center, a heated indoor pool, an outdoor patio with a firepit, and so much more.

“Hotel and rooms were lovely, great free breakfast, staff was amazing and helpful! Hotel is in a great location to anything you’d like to do!”

Chad — (Read More Reviews)

Grab a bite to eat at their large hot breakfast station, which features my favorite hotel breakfast food, freshly made Belgian waffles!

The rooms are spacious and have plenty of room to spread out, as well as comfortable beds to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

Then when it’s time to visit the fairgrounds, you’ll only be 3 miles or 10 minutes away, so you can get there quickly! I love how fast the drive to the fair is from here.

10. Days Hotel by Wyndham University Ave SE

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 3.9 miles | 🏩 View on Booking.com

If you’re looking for affordable hotels by MN State Fairgrounds, then the Days Hotel University Avenue SE is a great choice.

Located close to the Minneapolis University of Minnesota, you’ll have easy access to some of the best restaurants nearby, as well as places like TCF Bank Stadium.

And when you’re ready to visit the fairgrounds, you’ll be just a short 15-minute drive away, being in the Minneapolis University area.

My favorite part about the Days Hotel is that it’s much cheaper than some of the other hotels in the area, so you can stay on a budget.

“We stayed here while visiting the Minnesota State Fair over the Labor Day weekend. The location was super convenient with access to a shuttle bus just a block away. Getting to the hotel was easy as it was right off I-94.”

Louis — (Read More Reviews)

At the hotel, you’ll find free breakfast and coffee to enjoy in the morning, as well as pet-friendly rooms for our furry friends.

I also really appreciate that Days Hotel is right across the street from a light rail station, because it allows you to easily transport around the city without a car.

They do have a shuttle to the fair here, but unfortunately, some people have run into issues with it actually being available. So I’d recommend calling ahead of time to make sure!

11. The Saint Paul Hotel

🚘 Distance from Fairgrounds: 5.7 miles | 🏩 View on Expedia.com

If you’re in search of an a luxury hotel near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, then the Saint Paul Hotel is for you.

Located inside of a large, historical building, The Saint Paul Hotel has hosted many famous people, and you can have the chance to stay too!

My favorite part is that it’s so close to the Saint Paul College park-and-ride location to easily get to the fair. It’s just 1 mile away.

“The hotel is amazing. The architecture and decor was perfect. Everyone was friendly and professional.”

Taiyia — (Read More Reviews)

The Saint Paul Hotel offers a fitness center to use during your stay, as well as a restaurant and a lobby bar to enjoy food and drinks at.

Staying here will give you a chance to not only visit the MN State Fair, but also the chance to explore more of St. Paul during a visit to the Twin Cities.

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FAQs

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Wrap-Up: Hotels Near MN State Fairgrounds

I’ve loved visiting the Minnesota State Fair every year since I was just a little baby, and I understand the importance of staying nearby!

You’ll want to arrive right away so you can make the most out of your time at the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

This is why staying at these hotels near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds will be your best for having a great time at this annual event.

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