Mankato is home to four colleges and universities, including Minnesota State University. Popular activities in Mankato center around family fun and the outdoors. Visitors with children will love the Sibley Park Zoo and the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota. For the active and the outdoorsy, check out Red Jacket Trail, Mount Kato, and Seven Mile Creek Park. The Carnegie Art Center is also worth a visit for anyone who wants to experience visual art by regional artists.
When to Visit Mankato, MN
Mankato's tourism industry emphasizes outdoor activities as a way to attract visitors. Given the temperate climate, one way to decide when to visit Mankato is to choose the outdoor activities you're most interested in. If you love to bike or hike, spring and fall are lovely seasons where you'll see gorgeous colors and experience the outdoors without getting too hot or cold. If you want to swim, then summer is obviously your season.
Though Minnesota gets cold and a little dreary in the winter, Mankato offers tons of activities for snowy days, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowbiking, snowmobiling, and ice skating. If you're from a hot climate, try visiting Mankato in winter to experience some recreational activities you've never tried before!
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Mankato, MN:
Mankato, MN: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below we've posted 3 graphs illustrating avg. rate patterns by star rating class in Mankato, MN. Browse these charts to determine the cheapest time period to book in Mankato for any future trips.
Luxury Hotel Options in Mankato, MN
Stay at the three-star Courtyard Mankato Marriott to experience a property that's received excellent customer reviews. Guests have noted that the hotel's vibe is modern and congenial, with clean facilities and an excellent indoor pool that's very kid-friendly. The location also gets lots of kudos for being near shopping opportunities and great restaurants. Your morning starts at the on-site coffee shop, where you can get your favorite latte while you browse with your phone or computer on the free Wi-Fi. In the evening, head to the health club to get in some cardio, grab a cocktail at the bar, or stop by the restaurant for a tasty dinner.
When you choose the Hilton Garden Inn Mankato Downtown, you'll be centrally located in Mankato at a three-star location with all the amenities you crave during an upscale stay. Guest reviews talk about the clean rooms, comfortable furniture, friendly staff, and large private balconies. The indoor pool and spa tub provide exercise, fun, and relaxation. The property offers fitness facilities, a bar, and a restaurant. Express check-out and free Wi-Fi will make your entire trip more convenient.
The Mankato City Center Hotel is a three-star downtown property offering amenities that will delight guests of all ages. Adults can relax at the bar with a drink, enjoy a relaxing soak in the spa tub, or do some lifting in the fitness center. Kids will love splashing around in the indoor pool and playing games in the arcade. Food options are abundant here, with both a free breakfast and an on-site restaurant that offers delicious dinners. Free Wi-Fi, express check-in, express check-out, and laundry facilities add convenience and make traveling a little easier on everyone.
All three of these properties offer in-room accessibility. In addition, the Mankato City Center Hotel offers accessible bathrooms and roll-in showers.
Affordable Options in Mankato, MN
3 Star Average Prices: $122.61
All of Mankato's affordable hotel options offer budget rates that start below $70 per night. Try booking at the Budget Host Inn at 1255 Range St. This two-star property is right by the highway, near the Carnegie Art Center, and within driving distance of Sibley Park. Each room has a refrigerator and a microwave, perfect for bringing home your leftovers from dinner to satisfy any late night snack cravings, and the free breakfast makes each morning easy. On-site tennis is a fun and effective way to get in a workout during your vacation. There is free Wi-Fi, and if you contact the property ahead of time, you can bring your pet for $15 per pet, per night.
When you book at the Baymont Inn & Suites Mankato, you'll be near Eagle Lake and Bethany Lutheran College. This is a two-star property that offers a great deal for families: children 18 and under stay for free in adult rooms when they use existing bedding.
An indoor pool provides family fun and entertainment, and the spa tub is perfect when parents need some relaxation time. If you've been traveling for a while and need to do some laundry, the property offers dry cleaning and laundry services. Free Wi-Fi and free breakfast are also available. The Baymont Inn & Suites Mankato also offers accessible bathrooms and in-room accessibility.
