Neighborhood GuideMinneapolis, MN
Downtown Minneapolis skyline seen across Bde Maka Ska Photo: Amy Mingo, CC BY 2.0 [P1]
Hennepin & Lake · Southwest Minneapolis

UptownLakes, trails and city energy, a few minutes from downtown

Uptown is the commercial district around Hennepin Avenue and West Lake Street, wrapped by the Chain of Lakes on its west side and the Midtown Greenway bike trail through its middle.8,6

~2.5 mito downtown Minneapolis
2 BRT linesE Line & B Line
~12 miChain of Lakes trails
5.5 miMidtown Greenway
Location

Where Uptown sits

DOWNTOWN ~2.5 mi northeast UPTOWN Hennepin&Lake Lyn-Lake West Lake Stn Bde Maka Ska Lake of the Isles Cedar Lake Lake Harriet Hennepin Ave W Lake St Midtown Greenway Lyndale Ave I-35W I-94 N
Sketch map, not to scale. Uptown's edges are debated; its core spans parts of Lowry Hill East, East Isles, ECCO and CARAG.9,10
Getting around

Transit, trails & commutes

Transit

  • METRO E Line (opened Dec 6, 2025) runs Hennepin Ave through Uptown to downtown, the U of M and Southdale, up to every 10 min.1
  • METRO B Line (opened Jun 14, 2025) runs Lake St from Uptown to downtown St. Paul every 10 to 15 min.3
  • Green Line Extension light rail opens Jun 12, 2027, with a West Lake St station near Bde Maka Ska.4

Bike & walking trails

  • Midtown Greenway: 5.5-mile former rail corridor from the lakes to the Mississippi, mostly below street level and plowed in winter.6
  • Rebuilt Hennepin Ave (reopened Oct 2025) added bike and bus lanes.2
  • Lake loops connect to the Cedar Lake Trail and the Grand Rounds.5,6
Commute estimate toDriveTransit
Downtown Minneapolis10–15 min~20 min (E)
University of Minnesota15–20 min~35 min (E)
Southdale / Edina~15 min~25 min (E)
MSP Airport~20 min~45 min
Downtown St. Paul~25 min~60 min (B)

Off-peak estimates from Hennepin & Lake for planning only. Check a live trip planner for your route and time.

Chain of Lakes & parks

Lakes at the end of the block

Bde Maka SkaLargest lake in the city; beaches, boat launch, skyline views3.1 mi loop
Lake of the IslesIslands, canoe lagoons, historic lakeside homes2.6 mi loop
Lake HarrietBandshell concerts, rose and bird gardens nearby2.75 mi loop
Cedar LakeWooded shoreline, beaches, trail links1.7 mi loop

Pedestrian loop distances from the Minneapolis park system. The whole Chain of Lakes is about 12 miles of walking path.5

Uptown Theater marquee on Hennepin Avenue at night
Uptown Theater, Hennepin Ave [P2]
Lake Harriet Bandshell and lawn seating
Lake Harriet Bandshell [P3]
Midtown Greenway trail passing under a bridge
Midtown Greenway [P4]
Historic white frame house in Lowry Hill East
Gluek House, Lowry Hill East [P5]
Shopping & dining

Four corridors, all walkable

  • Hennepin & Lake: the historic core, with Seven Points (formerly Calhoun Square) and the Uptown Theater at 2900 Hennepin.9,11
  • Lyn-Lake: Lake St and Lyndale Ave, with restaurants, bars and music venues.10
  • Lake St & Lagoon Ave: groceries, coffee, everyday errands.8
  • Lakeside: seasonal food stands and patios along the Chain of Lakes.5
Housing styles

Streetcar-era homes to new condos

  • 1880s–1910s frame houses, often 2 to 2.5 stories, from the streetcar boom (Lowry Hill East historic district).7
  • Duplexes, triplexes and brick walk-up apartment buildings on side streets.
  • Larger historic homes near Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska.
  • Newer condos and apartments along Lake St and Hennepin Ave.

+The good

  • Lakes, beaches and trails within walking distance
  • Two fast bus lines now, light rail nearby in 20271,3,4
  • Newly rebuilt Hennepin Ave with bike and bus lanes2
  • Shops, restaurants and venues in four walkable corridors

!Good to know

  • Parking is tight: many older homes rely on alley garages or street parking, and lakeside lots fill on summer weekends.
  • Older homes: many are 100+ years old. Budget for inspection findings, and expect lead-paint disclosures on pre-1978 homes.
  • Snow emergencies move street parking after big snowfalls.
  • Busy corridors: more traffic and sound near Hennepin & Lake; side streets are calmer.
Schools

Use official sources

School assignments and enrollment change. Verify for a specific address directly:

On the calendar

Dates to know

Feb13

Luminary Loppet

Sat, Feb 13, 2027: a candlelit evening walk and ski on Lake of the Isles.12

Jun12

Green Line Extension opens

Sat, Jun 12, 2027: light rail from Eden Prairie to Target Field, with a West Lake St stop.4

Aug2027

Uptown Art Fair

2027 dates TBA. The 2026 fair ran Aug 7–9 on Lake of the Isles Parkway.15

Yearround

Uptown Theater shows

Concerts at 2900 Hennepin Ave; check the venue calendar for dates.11

Fair Housing. This guide describes places, not people. Ashworth Real Estate supports equal housing opportunity. Details are from public sources as of October 20, 2026 and can change; verify anything important to your decision.

Sources

  1. Metro Transit, "New bus rapid transit line, expanded service coming Dec. 6." metrotransit.org
  2. City of Minneapolis, "Reopening of Hennepin Ave S." (Oct 2025). minneapolismn.gov
  3. Metro Transit, "METRO B Line opens." metrotransit.org
  4. Mass Transit, "Southwest light-rail line will open June 12, 2027." masstransitmag.com
  5. Minneapolis Park System, Trail Distances. minneapolismn.gov (PDF)
  6. TrailLink, Midtown Greenway (MN). traillink.com
  7. City of Minneapolis, Lowry Hill East Residential Historic District. minneapolismn.gov
  8. Wikipedia, "Uptown, Minneapolis." wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Seven Points (Minnesota)." wikipedia.org
  10. Star Tribune, "Where does Uptown start and end?" startribune.com
  11. AXS, Uptown Theater Minneapolis venue page. axs.com
  12. Loppet Foundation, Luminary Loppet. loppet.org
  13. Minneapolis Public Schools, School Directory. mpschools.org
  14. Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Report Card. rc.education.mn.gov
  15. Meet Minneapolis, Uptown Art Fair. minneapolis.org
  16. Photos via Wikimedia Commons: [P1] Amy Mingo, CC BY 2.0; [P2] Eco84, CC BY-SA 3.0; [P3] Schwerdf, CC BY 4.0; [P4] Michael Hicks, CC BY 2.0; [P5] Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0. commons.wikimedia.org