In Willmar, railroad history, lakeside trails, and a variety of recreational activities come together. For your trip planning, that means you can focus on museum visits, outdoor activities, or water-based recreation, and choose Willmar as a destination accordingly.
Museum History and Railroads
The Kandiyohi County Historical Society invites visitors to explore its museum gallery, research library, and historic buildings in Willmar. A distinctive piece of history can be found at the entrance to the Kandiyohi Depot & Museum: the entrance building is the original Great Northern Railway depot from Kandiyohi. It was built in 1900, moved to its current location in 1967, and incorporated into the museum in 1969. The main building officially opened that same year.
The exhibits cover early transportation history, artifacts from Indigenous American populations, and a historic horse-drawn fire engine. The Great Northern Railway Engine #2523 is also a visitor attraction on the grounds of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society. This offers a specific building history and several different exhibit topics to choose from, ranging from rail and transportation to artifacts and historic technology.
Trails and Scenery Around Willmar
The Glacial Lakes State Trail offers a longer, clearly measured section: 22 miles are paved. It runs between Willmar, Spicer, New London, Hawick, and the Kandiyohi–Stearns County line. In Willmar, a parking lot at the Civic Center provides access. You can reach it via Highway 12, County Road 9, and a two-mile access road. This makes it possible to orient yourself to the trail either by its access point in Willmar or by the named communities along the paved section.
Robbins Island Regional Park offers another way to spend time outdoors. Foot Lake is in Willmar, and the park is on its eastern shore. Robbins Island features the Willmar Destination Playground as well as hiking and biking trails. If you would rather get out on the water, the park also has a public boat access to Foot Lake. The lake connects to Willmar Lake via a connecting channel upstream; both lakes are suitable for kayaking. Trails, boat access, and kayaking are different ways to include the lakeside landscape in your plans.
Water Activities and Event Dates
The Dorothy A. Olson Aquatic Center in Willmar has two water slides and a shallow, sloping play pool with interactive features. The maximum water depth in this pool is 18 inches. There is also a six-lane recreation pool with a depth of 3 to 5 feet and a 12-foot-tall poolside climbing wall. The details about pool depth, lanes, and the climbing wall can help you weigh the options against your other interests during your stay. If you plan to visit the Aquatic Center, check current hours in advance.
A festival may also influence when you travel: Willmar Fests takes place annually in Willmar. The 2026 event ran from June 24 to 28. If you plan to visit later, check the festival dates for that year.
Choosing Willmar as a Place to Stay
When looking for a hotel in Willmar, you can start by considering what you want your stay to focus on: railroad and museum history, hiking and biking trails, kayaking, or the Aquatic Center. These different priorities lead to different trip plans, without requiring you to fit every activity into a single itinerary.
Explore more destinations: Spicer.
View the broader travel guide: Kandiyohi County.
