Twin Cities Gateway: A Family Getaway Without the Big-City Hassle
Three and a half hours from Fargo, Twin Cities Gateway pairs waterparks, nature centers and 27 hotels with free parking.
A Getaway That Doesn't Start at the Airport
A family getaway does not have to begin at an airport, or end with everyone exhausted from navigating traffic, parking ramps and an overpacked schedule.
For Fargo-Moorhead families, Twin Cities Gateway offers an appealing middle ground: close enough for an easy road trip, far enough to feel like a real vacation, and positioned so visitors can enjoy the excitement of the Twin Cities without making downtown Minneapolis or Saint Paul their home base.
Located about three and a half hours from Fargo by car, Twin Cities Gateway represents 11 communities north of Minneapolis and Saint Paul: Anoka, Arden Hills, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes, Mounds View, New Brighton, Ramsey and Shoreview. Together, they offer a family-friendly mix of waterparks, nature centers, sports facilities, trails, restaurants, local shops, community festivals and comfortable places to stay.
Twin Cities Gateway at a Glance
Approximately 3.5 hours from Fargo-Moorhead
11 communities north of Minneapolis and Saint Paul
27 lodging properties with free parking
Indoor and outdoor attractions for every season
Free guides, maps, hotel listings and trip ideas at tcgateway.com
A Home Base That Makes Travel Easier
One of the biggest advantages of staying in the Twin Cities Gateway is flexibility. Instead of unloading the family in the middle of a busy downtown district, parents can establish a comfortable home base and decide how ambitious each day should be. One day might include a professional sporting event, museum or major metro attraction. The next might be spent entirely within the Gateway, exploring a nature trail, visiting an indoor playground or relaxing beside the hotel pool.
Families can choose from 27 lodging properties, all offering free parking, with trusted hotel brands and options located near the region's major roads and attractions. Many also offer family-friendly amenities such as spacious suites, complimentary breakfast, indoor pools, kitchen areas and easy access to restaurants and shopping. Amenities vary by property, so families can pick the stay that best fits their plans and budget.
That freedom makes it easier to build a trip around the family rather than forcing the family to keep up with the trip.
Make a Splash in Any Season
During the summer, Bunker Beach Water Park in Coon Rapids is one of the region's biggest family attractions. Located within Bunker Hills Regional Park, Minnesota's largest outdoor waterpark features a massive wave pool, a 900-foot lazy river, six towering waterslides and a zero-depth-entry lagoon where younger children can splash and play.
Families can keep swimming even after Minnesota's outdoor waterpark season ends. Shoreview Community Center is home to two year-round indoor waterparks. Tropics offers a large waterslide, water basketball, water volleyball and floating play features, while Bamboo Bay provides a tropical-themed, zero-entry environment with slides, buckets and spray features designed especially for younger children. A daily admission pass also includes access to the community center's Tropical Adventure Indoor Playground.
Trade Screen Time for Trail Time
Twin Cities Gateway also gives families plenty of opportunities to slow down and reconnect outdoors.
Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley protects 127 acres of prairie, oak and aspen forest, oak savanna and wetlands. Families can explore three miles of hiking trails, cross floating boardwalks, visit live native animals inside the Interpretive Center, and let children climb, build, balance and imagine in the center's nature play area.
At Bunker Hills Regional Park, families can turn a waterpark visit into a longer outdoor adventure. The park offers playgrounds, biking and walking trails, disc golf, camping, nature play and horseback-riding opportunities through Bunker Park Stables. Trail rides, pony rides, carriage rides, lessons and seasonal hay or sleigh rides give children another memorable way to experience the park.
Big Adventures for Active Kids
For children who would rather climb, slide, skate or compete, the Gateway has no shortage of high-energy options.
The Eagles Nest Indoor Playground at the New Brighton Community Center includes a 23-foot Web Tower Challenge, a 36-foot quadruple wave slide, a tightrope walk, climbing features and a separate toddler area for children age three and younger. Because admission is valid for the entire day, families can take a break for lunch and return for another round of play.
Blaine's National Sports Center is especially valuable for families traveling for tournaments. The more-than-600-acre campus is recognized as the world's largest amateur sports facility and includes more than 50 outdoor athletic fields, indoor training spaces, a stadium, golf facilities and the eight-sheet NSC Super Rink. It hosts leagues, camps, tournaments and sporting events throughout the year, making the Twin Cities Gateway a natural destination for both young athletes and their families.
A Different Getaway in Every Season
No two trips to the Twin Cities Gateway need to look the same.
Summer brings waterparks, beaches, trails, berry picking, community festivals and outdoor events. Fall invites families to explore local farms, changing leaves, historic downtowns and one of Minnesota's most distinctive traditions: Anoka's Halloween celebration.
Known as the Halloween Capital of the World, Anoka has organized community Halloween festivities since 1920. Today, its October celebrations include parades, costume events, family activities and traditions supported by a volunteer-led nonprofit that also raises money for local schools and student scholarships. Outside Halloween season, families can explore Anoka's shops, restaurants, parks, trails and riverfront setting.
Winter and rainy days are covered, too, thanks to indoor waterparks, playgrounds, ice facilities, community centers and a rotating calendar of family events.
Start Planning Before You Pack
Twin Cities Gateway makes it easier for parents to turn a general idea, like "We should get away for a weekend," into an actual plan.
The organization provides free digital and printed visitor guides, hotel information, event calendars, maps, seasonal recommendations, and ideas for family-friendly attractions, dining and outdoor recreation. Its website allows parents to research several communities at once rather than piecing together a trip through dozens of separate searches.
Whether your family is traveling for a tournament, planning a waterpark weekend, searching for an outdoor adventure, or simply looking for a change of scenery, Twin Cities Gateway offers an easy place to begin, and plenty of reasons to return.
Twin Cities Gateway
7071 University Ave NE, Fridley, MN 55432
tcgateway.com
Facebook: /TCGateway
Instagram: @tc_gateway
Find Them
Read It in the Magazine
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Twin Cities Gateway from Fargo?
About three and a half hours by car, which makes it an easy road trip for Fargo-Moorhead families.
Which communities make up Twin Cities Gateway?
Anoka, Arden Hills, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes, Mounds View, New Brighton, Ramsey and Shoreview.
Is there free parking where we would stay?
Yes. Twin Cities Gateway has 27 lodging properties, all offering free parking.
What can we do with kids in winter or on rainy days?
Indoor waterparks, indoor playgrounds, ice facilities, community centers and a rotating calendar of family events keep trips going in any weather.
Where can I find visitor guides and hotel listings?
Twin Cities Gateway offers free digital and printed visitor guides, maps, hotel listings and trip ideas at tcgateway.com.
What is Anoka known for?
Anoka is known as the Halloween Capital of the World and has organized community Halloween festivities since 1920.
Published October 20, 2026
