Minnesota Now One of Safest States for Spring Break Travel

Spring break usually means packed bags and open roads, but not all destinations are created equal when it comes to safety. A new nationwide study just took a closer look at where travel can turn risky, and Minnesota’s spot on the list might just surprise you.

Minnesota Ranks Among the Safest States for Spring Break Travel

If you're planning on hitting the road or sky for a spring break trip this year in Minnesota, you're not alone. AAA Minnesota estimated that while 84 percent of Minnesotans will travel sometime during the year, roughly between 25 and 30 percent of us will head out for some type of spring break trip this year.

Given that Minnesota's population is just under 6 million people in 2026, that means that around 1 to 1.5 million residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes will be traveling somewhere for spring break this year. And if you're one of them, there's some good news you'll want to hear about-- especially if you're hitting the highway here in the Bold North.

SEE ALSO: 10 MN Highways Where Fatal Crashes Happen the Most

New Study: Minnesota is the 3rd Safest State for Spring Break Driving

That's because a new study has just ranked Minnesota as the third safest state in the nation for spring break driving this year. Which is impressive, when it comes to roads and highways, Minnesota has some of the most of any state in the country. According to the Minnesota Legislature website, there are about 135,000 miles of highways that traverse the North Star State.

Here's how that total breaks down:

• Interstate and state trunk highways - 11,897 miles
• County state-aid highways and county highways - 45,211 miles
• City streets - 18,975 miles
• Town roads - 54,785 miles
• Other roads (state and US Forest roads, Indian reservation roads, roads in unorganized townships) - 4,423 miles
• Total street/road/highway mileage in Minnesota: 135,000 miles

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And now, according to this survey from the research team at personal injury law firm Andrew Pickett Law, only New York and Rhode Island are safer states for spring break driving this year.

How Minnesota Road Safety Compares to Neighboring Midwest States

To compile their results, the survey analyzed spring break traffic fatalities using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to rank the deadliest states for spring break travel from 2017 to 2023.

Specifically, here in Minnesota, we rank 48th out of the 50 states with the most fatal crashes. Minnesota recorded 95 fatalities on the roads between 2017 and 2023, which equals 1.65 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

And the Bold North doesn’t just shine nationally; we also lead the Midwest. Minnesota outperforms neighboring states like Wisconsin (42nd), Iowa (25th), and South Dakota (23rd) by significant margins, proving that the North Star State is a model for safe spring break travel.

Now, if you're looking for someplace to go for spring break this year, keep scrolling to check out the Must-Drive Highways in Each State (including here in Minnesota!)