Driving Times to The Broz from Minneapolis, St. Paul & MSP Airport

When you're planning a wedding at The Broz, the practical question your guests will ask is "how long is the drive?"

Here are the real numbers, the best routes, and what to tell your out-of-town guests so they show up on time and unstressed.

The numbers

From downtown Minneapolis: about 45 minutes via Highway 169 South. 38 miles.

From downtown St. Paul: about 40 minutes via I-35 South to MN-19 West, then 169 South. 35 miles.

From MSP International Airport: about 50 minutes via MN-77 South to I-35E, then MN-19 West. 40 miles.

From Bloomington and the Mall of America area: about 40 minutes.

From Prior Lake: 20 minutes.

From Lakeville: 25 minutes.

From Mankato: about 50 minutes (going east on MN-19).

From Rochester: about 75 minutes.

From The 3 Ten Event Venue in Faribault (our sister venue): about 45 minutes.

Real-world Minnesota disclaimer: rush hour can add 15 minutes coming out of the Twin Cities on a Friday afternoon. Snow can add 30. Plan accordingly.

The best routes

From the Twin Cities, Highway 169 South is the cleanest shot. You'll drive through Eden Prairie, Shakopee, and Jordan, then arrive in downtown New Prague. Two lanes most of the way, occasional small-town speed traps near Jordan, but it's a pleasant drive.

From the airport, the standard route is MN-77 South to I-35E to MN-19 West. About 50 minutes most days. Avoid it during weekday afternoon rush hour if you can.

From the south (Rochester, Mankato, Faribault), MN-19 cuts across the state and lands you in downtown New Prague.

GPS will reliably get you to 212 Main Street West, New Prague, MN 56071. We're on the main downtown drag with our name on the front.

What to tell your out-of-town guests

A few things make a big difference for guests flying in:

Rental cars are the easiest call. New Prague doesn't have Uber, Lyft, or taxi coverage that's reliable enough for wedding-day logistics. A guest who lands at MSP and plans to rideshare to The Broz is going to have a bad time. Tell them to rent a car or arrange ahead.

Hotel options. Hotel Broz on-site has 8 boutique rooms, but the rest of your guests will need lodging. The closest options are in Prior Lake (15 minutes), Lakeville (20 minutes), Belle Plaine (15 minutes), and Shakopee (25 minutes). If you're sending out a wedding website, list 2 to 3 hotel options at different price points.

Parking is easy. We have a 50-car private parking lot behind the building, plus over 100 additional free spots within 3 blocks. No meters, no garages, no walking ten blocks in heels.

Cell service. It's fine. Verizon and AT&T both have full coverage downtown. Tell guests they won't lose signal.

Why The Broz is worth the drive

A reasonable question from a guest receiving a wedding invitation 45 minutes outside the Twin Cities is: "Why this venue?"

The Broz was built in 1898 by Bohemian immigrant Wenceslas Broz and designed by Cass Gilbert, the architect of the Minnesota State Capitol. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are exactly two surviving Cass Gilbert buildings in Minnesota that you can attend a wedding in. This is one of them.

The original pressed tin ceilings, the hand-painted stained glass, the hardwood floors, the Prohibition-era Speakeasy hidden behind an armoire door — none of this exists in a downtown Minneapolis hotel ballroom. People drive 45 minutes for this.

The drive from The 3 Ten

Some couples consider both of our venues. If you've toured The 3 Ten in Faribault and want to see The Broz too, it's about 45 minutes between them. Take MN-21 North to MN-19 West. We're happy to help you tour both in the same day.

How to plan

If you're sending a wedding invitation soon, the things to include on your wedding website:

• Driving times from MSP, Minneapolis, and St. Paul (use the numbers above)

• 2 to 3 hotel options in nearby towns

• "Rent a car at the airport — rideshare is limited here"

• Free on-site parking at the venue

That's it. Most of your guests will have an easy drive and a great weekend.

If you want to see The Broz in person, schedule a tour with us. We'll walk you through the building in about 45 minutes — same time it takes to drive here.

— Ryan