Rochester is built around the Mayo Clinic, and its downtown reflects that: skyways, a large hospital campus, and public art tied to the clinic's history, alongside the unrelated Quarry Hill Nature Center on the city's edge with trails through reclaimed limestone quarry land. The two halves of a Rochester day don't overlap much - one is an urban walk through the Mayo campus, the other a nature-center stop with trails and a small visitor building. Together they make a reasonable day without requiring a long drive.
| Distance | 90 miles from Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1.5 hours via US-52 South |
| Getting there | Jefferson Lines Bus from Minneapolis ($18–$28, 2 hours; jeffersonlines.com or 888-864-2832). Rental car via US-52 South. |
| Address | Rochester, MN 55901 (Mayo Clinic Visitor Center: 200 1st St SW, Rochester) |
How to get there
- Jefferson Lines Bus from Minneapolis to Rochester (2 hours, $18–$28; jeffersonlines.com)
- Personal vehicle via US-52 South (1.5 hours)
Location
Rochester, MN 55901 (Mayo Clinic Visitor Center: 200 1st St SW, Rochester)
44.0234, -92.4685 View on map
Highlights
- Mayo Clinic Plummer Building - the clinic's 1928 historic tower, visible from the downtown Peace Plaza
- Peace Plaza - the pedestrian plaza connecting the Mayo Clinic campus to downtown Rochester's shops and restaurants
- Quarry Hill Nature Center - trails and a small nature center building set in a former limestone quarry on the city's northeast side
- Silver Lake Park - a city park with a walking loop around Silver Lake, known for the Canada geese that winter there