Best stops on I-494 in Minnesota

All 50 exits ranked by what a road-tripper actually needs: real food choice, easy gas, 24-hour service, and the stops worth a detour. Winners below.

1. Exit 11B

Milepost 11 · 29 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 17 hotels · open 24 hours · ♥ Valleyfair, High Roller

2. Exit 4A

Milepost 4 · 20 places to eat · 12 gas stations · 11 hotels · ♥ The Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art

3. Exit 67 — Robert Street

Milepost 67 · 29 places to eat · 12 gas stations · 5 hotels · ♥ Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota State Capitol

4. Exit 27 — Saint Cloud

Milepost 27 · 29 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 11 hotels · open 24 hours · ♥ Islands of Peace County Park

5. Exit 5C — Penn Avenue

Milepost 5 · 15 places to eat · 10 gas stations · 10 hotels · ♥ Purcell-Cutts House, Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary

6. Exit 4B — Lyndale Avenue

Milepost 4 · 29 places to eat · 11 gas stations · 13 hotels · ♥ Walker Art Center

7. Exit 5B — Albert Lea

Milepost 5 · 29 places to eat · 10 gas stations · 10 hotels · open 24 hours

8. Exit 3 — Portland Avenue;12th Avenue

Milepost 3 · 20 places to eat · 9 gas stations · 12 hotels · ♥ James J. Fiorentino Museum

9. Exit 2C

Milepost 2 · 28 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 16 hotels · ♥ Mill City Museum

10. Exit 2B

Milepost 2 · 29 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 15 hotels · ♥ Nickelodeon Universe

← Every I-494 exit in Minnesota