After 52 years of offering multi-day bicycle touring rides throughout the state, Tour of Minnesota is changing its route format. Rather than running the annual bike ride as a “loop” or a “point to point” tour, accumulating 50 to 80 miles each day between overnight towns. The bike tour, formerly known as the Klobuchar Ride, will now include two-night stays in each of three cities with two days of riding, out-and-back, visiting other neighboring communities. Always scheduled for the third week in June, the tour will depart from Mankato, Albert Lea, and Faribault in 2026. Giving you a chance to explore more of Southern Minnesota on your bike.
The new multi-day ride format
From a recent press release from Doobie Kurus, the tour’s director, he stated. “After testing the new route format last year, the Tour of Minnesota will now consist of 2-night stays and 2 days of riding across three cities. Each day, we will offer a distinct and unique route. Upon returning to camp on the second day in each host city, participants can shower, pack up their gear, and drive to the next host city”.
“Not only is this new format so much more enjoyable for our participants, but we’re now able to finalize so many more details earlier from a planning perspective, which also means we’ll be able to share more information earlier than ever! We have already secured our campsites, reserved hotel room blocks, planned (and vetted) bike routes, reserved rest stop locations, locked in caterers, designed the shirts, booked entertainment, and so much more!”
After looking at their website’s Fact Sheet, this new route format makes a lot of sense. Not only will you have more opportunities to see and experience many of Minnesota’s unique features, but you’ll also have the chance to explore the region’s rich history. Plus, with the average daily routes covering 50-60 miles, when possible. This new format gives riders the option of shorter routes or NOT riding that day, should they choose.
The dates for the bike tour and the price
The expected date for the 2026 Tour of Minnesota is Saturday, June 13, through Friday, June 19. Most participants will arrive late afternoon on Saturday, June 13, to pick up their registration packet, set up their tents (or check in to their hotel), and attend a welcome/info meeting. The first day of actual riding for the weeklong tour is Sunday, June 14th.
The 6-day bike tour fee is $499 (includes six breakfasts and three dinners, daily snacks at rest stops, route maps/turn-by-turn directions, SAG vehicles, showers, phone charging stations, entertainment, and campsites, to name a few things). There is also a 2-day sampler option; see their website.
For now, save the date and tell your friends
Want updates and a reminder when ride registration opens? Sign up for their newsletter here. Registration opens Sunday, February 1, 2026, at noon, Central time.