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The Atlas/Minnesota/Midwest Motorcycle Rally
Rally · Event

Midwest Motorcycle RallyNext edition TBA · Minnesota

Next edition TBA
Next dates
4 days
July, ~4 days
—
Attendance
Minnesota
Region

The Midwest Motorcycle Rally (MMR) is an annual multi-day gathering held in Winona, Minnesota, headquartered at The Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1025 Hwy 61 E. The 2026 event is the 19th annual running, confirming its recurring status. The rally centers on guided group rides at varying paces through the bluff-country roads of southeast Minnesota and across the Mississippi River into Wisconsin, followed by evening music, games, raffles, and vendor activities. All bike types, skill levels, and ages are welcome; registration is free. Winona's position on MN-61 at the Mississippi River makes it a natural gateway city for riders exploring the Hiawatha Valley or looping through Historic Bluff Country.

// Why riders attend

A free-to-register, multi-day mid-summer gathering in Winona built around guided group rides through southeast Minnesota's bluff-country roads — with pace options that suit different riding styles and an open-door policy for every bike type and skill level.

// The rally

Now in its 19th year, the MMR is a volunteer-organized, community-feel rally headquartered at The Plaza Hotel & Suites on Hwy 61 in Winona, Minnesota. Registration is free. The event draws a genuinely mixed crowd — touring riders, sport riders, trikes, customs, and everything in between — and keeps a low-key, welcoming tone throughout the long July weekend.

The guided bike tours are the core of the rally. Each tour runs a different route and theme, and pace varies by group so riders can self-select based on comfort rather than keeping up with a single pack. Routes work through the river-bluff roads of southeast Minnesota and across the Mississippi into Wisconsin.

Evenings back at The Plaza bring outdoor music, biker games in the rear parking lot, a raffle, biker bingo, a scavenger hunt, dinner rides, and an outdoor movie night. There's no entry fee, no club affiliation required, and the official line — 'all bikes, characters and ages welcome' — appears to reflect what actually shows up.

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// Ride it into the rally

The best two-lane within a tank of the venue — fold one into your route in.

RouteMinnesota
4.6/10
Apple Blossom Scenic Drive
Minnesota
The Apple Blossom Scenic Drive is a 19-mile Minnesota State Scenic Byway in Houston County in southeastern Minnesota, following county roads from La Crescent north along the Mississippi River bluffs through the towns of Nodine and Dakota before reconnecting to US-61. Both ends of the byway meet the Great River Road (US-61), making it a natural loop extension. The drive winds through apple orchards that blanket the hillside slopes above the Mississippi River valley, with sweeping views over the river floodplain. The road crests the bluffs at several points, delivering elevated river panoramas. Peak blossom season is early to mid-May; fall apple harvest (September–October) is the second major draw. Access to Great River Bluffs State Park is available from the byway. The nearest large town is La Crescent at the southern end.
17
miles
StopMinnesota
Aroma Pie Shoppe
Minnesota
The Aroma Pie Shoppe occupies a small house at 618 Main Street in Whalan, MN 55949, a village of roughly 60 people tucked into the Root River valley along the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (MN-16). The shop is renowned throughout the region for homemade pies with local fruit fillings including rhubarb, gooseberry, and wild blueberry, baked fresh daily in a seasonal operation that runs roughly May through October. Seating is minimal and the shop fills quickly on weekend afternoons. Whalan sits on MN-16 between Lanesboro and Peterson, placing it at the geographic heart of the bluff-country motorcycle loop that follows the Root River corridor.
RouteMinnesota
1.2/10
Avenue of the Pines Byway (MN-46)
Minnesota
The Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway follows Minnesota State Highway 46 for 46 miles from Deer River northwest to Northome through Chippewa National Forest. The route is named for the towering stands of mature red pines that line the road, creating a canopy effect in the forest sections. Along the route are views of sparkling lakes, marshes, and aspen stands interspersed with the pine corridors. Wildlife commonly observed includes bald eagles, white-tailed deer, black bear, porcupine, and osprey. The byway is relatively flat and straight compared to MN-38 to the east, making it a relaxed, scenery-focused ride rather than a technical road. Services including fuel, dining, and lodging are available in Deer River at the south terminus and in smaller communities along the route. The byway is located 13 miles northwest of Grand Rapids and can be combined with the Edge of the Wilderness (MN-38) as a northern Minnesota loop.
46
miles