U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota - Route Description

Route Description

U.S. Highway 61 enters the state of Minnesota at the city of La Crescent on the River Bridge over the Mississippi River between the cities of La Crosse and La Crescent. U.S. 61 is concurrent with U.S. 14 and State Highway 16 as it enters the state.

The four-lane divided highway continues north through La Crescent. U.S. 61 follows the Mississippi River through southeast Minnesota; through the cities of Winona, Wabasha, Lake City, and Red Wing. Highway 61 is a two-lane roadway between Wabasha and Red Wing.

U.S. 61 crosses the Mississippi River at Hastings over the Hastings High Bridge and joins U.S. 10 at Cottage Grove. U.S. 61 and U.S. 10 are concurrent as a freeway between Cottage Grove and the city of Saint Paul.

Within the city of Saint Paul, U.S. 61 follows Interstate 94 for a short distance, and then follows Mounds Boulevard, East 7th Street, and Arcade Street through the East Side of St. Paul.

U.S. 61 then proceeds north to Maplewood, where it becomes a four-lane highway named "Maplewood Drive" to White Bear Lake. Between Interstate 694 and the central business district of White Bear Lake, the road serves one of the Twin Cities region's major car dealership areas. After leaving White Bear Lake, U.S. 61 is a two-lane roadway again to Forest Lake and then to its northern terminus at the city of Wyoming.

Highway 61 closely parallels Interstate 35E and Interstate 35 from Saint Paul to Wyoming.

120 miles (190 km) of U.S. 61 from La Crescent to Cottage Grove in southeast Minnesota is officially designated the Disabled American Veterans Highway.

Legally, the Minnesota section of U.S. 61 is defined as unmarked legislative routes 3, 104, 102 and 1 in the Minnesota Statutes. U.S. 61 is not marked with these legislative numbers along the actual highway.