Are you searching for the best hidden gems in the Midwest to add to your vacation around this underrated region?
While the Midwest is often passed over by travelers, it most definitely shouldn’t be, because there are so many great places to visit.
From the charming small towns of Minnesota to stunning overlooks in the Badlands of South Dakota, there is so much more to see than grasslands and trees.
In this post, I’ll share with you the best places to add to your bucket list for exploring the Midwest.
Best Hidden Gems in the Midwest
- Stillwater, Minnesota
One of the most adorable small towns in the state of Minnesota is Stillwater, which is located on the shores of the St. Croix River.
The charming streets and picturesque river banks make Stillwater one of the best places to escape to and enjoy a relaxing getaway.
Wander the main street, which follows the riverbank, and enjoy delicious restaurants of all sorts, or dip into the stores and grab some local goods to take home. One of the best restaurants in Stillwater is LoLo American Kitchen.
The sidewalk along the river is the perfect spot for a romantic stroll, and the rooftop restaurant at the Water Street Inn is the best spot to watch the sunset.
From charming bed and breakfasts to fun outdoor adventures, Stillwater is one of the best hidden gems to add to your list.
- Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Just a short distance south of Columbus, Hocking Hills State Park makes for a perfect place to escape the big city during a visit to Ohio.
This beautiful state park never fails to captivate hikers and nature enthusiasts with its unique waterfalls and rock formations.
There are trails everywhere to explore the caves. One of the most popular leads you to Old Man’s Cave, which was named after an old man who once lived under the cavern.
Along the trail, you’ll follow towering gorge walls, get to explore the waterfalls that drop into the river, and see the also popular Ash Cave.
- Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Nestled in the stunning Badlands of South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park is a much less visited park than the other parks in the state.
Wind Cave National Park makes for a great place to explore the remarkable underground world, as well as the vast prairie lands of South Dakota.
Under the ground, you’ll find the vast Wind Cave, which is one of the longest and most complex cave systems in the world. Enter the cave with a guide and learn all about the history of Wind Cave.
If you’d prefer to stay above ground, you can also explore the hiking trails and scenic drives found within the national park. Bison roam the prairies and the rolling hills make for the perfect places to spot them!
A great way to see this would be to add it to a South Dakota road trip and pair it with Badlands National Park and Custer State Park.
- Dorset, Minnesota
If you’re a foodie and love checking out local restaurants, then the small town of Dorset in Minnesota is the best place for you.
Within this small town, which has a population of only around 25 people, you’ll find 4 restaurants. Because of this, Dorset has been given the nickname ‘The Restaurant Capital of the World.’
One of the very best is Companeros, which serves some of the very best Mexican food around, while the Dorset House features everything from pizza to tasty ice cream.
At Companeros, be sure to get either a fried ice cream or a Mexican mudball for dessert (or get both!).
While you’re there, you can also check out the charming town of Park Rapids, which has plenty to do on its adorable Main Street.
- Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
If you’re looking for a day trip from Chicago, pay a visit to Starved Rock State Park, located along the Illinois River. It’s just 1.5 hours from Chicago.
This park is one of the most beautiful areas in Illinois with gorge walls towering above you, sandstone canyons, and plunging waterfalls. It’s similar to Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio.
You can either head out on the many hiking trails to explore by yourself, or you can opt for a guided hike with an expert local guide.
If you aren’t a hiker, you can also check out adventures like trolley tours and river cruises. Also be sure to check out the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center, which features museums and exhibits to learn about the history of the park.
- Serpent Mound State Memorial, Ohio
This Midwest hidden gem is found in Ohio, just an hour outside of Cincinnati. This unique state memorial is a must-see!
Serpent Mount is an effigy mound, which is a mound of land in the shape of an animal. As the name suggests, this effigy mound is in the shape of a serpent.
This is the world’s largest effigy mound, stretching 1,348 from tip to tip. There’s an observation tower that you can climb that allows you to see the entire unique feature in Ohio!
- The Enchanted Highway, North Dakota
This unique stretch of highway in North Dakota is found between Gladstone and Regent. Along the road, which is 32 miles long, you’ll see a wide collection of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures.
Search the side of the road for towering sculptures of everything from bounding deer to flying birds, and even large metal grasshoppers.
The Enchanted Highway was started back in 1989 by a local artist who still works to maintain these sculptures. All of them were inspired by nature and people including Theodore Roosevelt, who North Dakota’s only national park is named after.
You can either get out and explore the sculptures or just drive past them and enjoy the artwork!
- Frankenmuth, Michigan
This charming small town in central Michigan is a perfect place for a year-round getaway to visit a hidden gem in the Midwest.
During the summer, the small Bavarian village offers visitors plenty to do, including strolling through the small shops and eating at the delicious restaurants.
And when winter comes around, Frankenmuth becomes a winter wonderland. Make a stop at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, wander underneath the holiday lights, and go ice skating on the Frankenmuth Ice Rink.
From winter to summer, Frankenmuth offers a fun experience for visitors of all ages.
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
This adorable island is found just off the coast of Mackinaw City in Michigan in Lake Huron. This charming small island is known for being car-free, for having some of the tastiest fudge, and for its stunning views of Lake Huron.
Mackinac Island is only accessible by boat or by plane, although most people take a ferry boat from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.
Once you’ve arrived, you can spend some time exploring the charming streets of Downtown, or take a horse-drawn carriage to explore the island. Be sure to grab a few slices of their world-famous fudge! Original Murdick’s Fudge is the best place to get it!
Then head into Mackinac Island State Park to take in the stunning views of Lake Huron. Hike along the shoreline or rent a sea kayak to take into the water. From families to couples, Mackinac Island is the perfect hidden gem in the Midwest to explore.
- Willow River State Park, Wisconsin
Found just across the Minnesota-Wisconsin border in Hudson, Wisconsin is Willow River State Park. Home to the fascinating Willow Falls, this park is popular year-round for visitors.
Of course, the main attraction is Willow Falls, which drops about 100 feet in multiple tiers back into the Willow River. You can reach the waterfall by just a short hike from the parking lot.
Many people enjoy wading or swimming at the base of the falls during the summer months, and others like going off the beaten path and exploring other trails in the state park.
There are also many great campgrounds and areas to go kayaking or paddleboarding along the Willow River. Willow River State Park makes for a great escape for those outdoorsy people in the Midwest!
- Niagra Cave, Minnesota
There aren’t many caves found in the Midwest, since the region isn’t volcanic, but you can find a few! And one of them is found right in Southern Minnesota.
Found in Harmony, this cave was discovered back in the 1920s in a very unique way. Back in 1924, three pigs were wandering in a pasture when they suddenly fell into a sinkhole. This is what would later be named Niagra Cave.
Today, the cave is family owned and operated, and you can explore one of Minnesota’s two accessible caves on a guided tour.
Tours are available in the summer and will take you on a one-mile hike underground, where you’ll have the chance to see fossils that are millions of years old, an underwater stream and waterfall, and delicate cave formations.
It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
The shoreline of Lake Superior is one of the most beautiful things to see in the Midwest, and it’s perfectly portrayed at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Along the shore, you’ll find brightly colored sandstone cliffs that contrast greatly with the blue waters of Lake Superior.
There are a few best ways to explore Pictured Rocks, one being just wandering along the shoreline. Trails line the shore and provide some of the most phenomenal views of Lake Superior.
Another (and the best) way to see the cliffs that make up the shoreline is to take a sea kayak out into the water. There are plenty of outfitters that rent the kayaks, and then you can paddle out into the lake and admire the cliffs and caverns from below.
If you’d prefer not to go by yourself, there are also guided tours that you can take to experience the beauty that is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Along with all of that, there are also many lighthouses that dot the shoreline that you can explore. One of the most popular is the Au Sable Light Station. Another is the Whitefish Point Lighthouse.
- Badlands National Park, South Dakota
There are a lot of national parks in the Midwest, but Badlands stands out amongst the best of them. But for some reason, it remains less visited than many of the others in the country.
Nestled in the western half of South Dakota, Badlands National Park features a surreal landscape of jagged rock formations, deep canyons, and vast open prairies.
Throughout the park, you’ll find roaming wildlife from bison to prairie dogs, and even mountain goats.
The best way to experience the park is to head out on a hiking trail, which there are plenty of. One of the best is the Notch Trail, which features a ladder that you must climb up to get to the main viewpoint.
- Witches Gulch, Wisconsin
Many people think only of waterparks when they plan a visit to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. But for those outdoor lovers and people looking for Midwest hidden gems, it’s also a great place for you!
Witches Gulch in Wisconsin Dells is nestled along the enchanting Wisconsin River. To reach the unique natural wonder, you’ll need to start your journey off on a scenic boat ride.
Dells Boat Tours is the company to book your boat ride with. Hop on a large boat and wind your way through towering sandstone cliffs and a narrow river. On the way, you’ll see other unique landmarks like Chimney Rock and Romance Cliff.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll get off the boat and have the unique experience of walking on a boardwalk through a narrow canyon above the Wisconsin River, known as Witches Gulch. You’ll be surrounded by towering walls that are covered in moss and ferns.
It feels like something that should only be found on another planet, not in Central Wisconsin!
While Witches Gulch is the main attraction, even just the boat ride is scenic and fun! And while you’re in Wisconsin Dells, maybe you’ll want to explore a waterpark or two.
- Deadwood, South Dakota
The historic town of Deadwood, nestled in the heart of the Black Hills offers visitors a chance to experience what it may have been like to live back in the Wild West.
Stroll along the wooden boardwalks and dip into the local stores that sell souvenirs and grab a bite to eat at the old saloons with delicious bites to eat.
Deadwood was born after a creek of gold was found here back in the 1870s. Gamblers and miners then moved in and made it as it is today.
Wild Bill Hickock was one of them, one of the most famous figures from the Wild West. In fact, you can even visit the spot where he was killed at the Wild Bill Bar.
So if you’re searching for a getaway, escape to Deadwood and jump back in time.
Wrap-Up: Midwest Hidden Gems
Although most people think that the Midwest is only filled with prairies and trees, that isn’t entirely correct.
There are so many great parts of the Midwest that feature much more than just this. From hiking trails to small towns, travelers of all types can have a blast exploring the Midwest.
These Midwest hidden gems will allow you to fully experience and enjoy the underrated and amazing region.
This is a post by Guest Contributor Kassidy.
Author’s Bio: Kassidy is a Minnesota native who loves to explore her home state as well as the Midwest. She enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, and anything else outdoors. She shares her adventures on her blog, Kassidy’s Journey.
