Together Elk River Launches 2025 Summer Tourism Campaign

There’s never been a better time to visit Elk River, and local organizations are teaming up to attract visitors from across Minnesota. The City of Elk River Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Together Elk River are promoting regional tourism throughout the summer. These efforts will also encourage residents to become “tourists in their own backyard” as they explore everything Elk River has to offer.

“Elk River is less than a 30-minute drive from Minneapolis,” says Josh Mollan, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Elk River. “It’s a perfect day trip to step out of the Twin Cities metro and explore the charming community just up the road.”

Getting to Elk River is also easier than ever. Construction on Highway 169 is now complete after three seasons of work, which means visitors can enjoy smooth roads and open freeways on their way to this beautiful community. 

Together Elk River is Launching a Summer Marketing Campaign

Together Elk River has developed an SEO and Google Ad campaign for the summer months to attract visitors. The campaigns will highlight how Elk River offers a charming downtown and easy access to the natural beauty of Minnesota. The campaign's success will be measured by tracking website traffic to the Play Elk River page and through visitor foot traffic data by Placer.ai.

Together Elk River plans to target multiple key areas with its marketing efforts:

• Anoka County
• Hennepin County
• Wright County
• Sherburne County

These are a few counties around Minneapolis with residents who might be interested in taking day trips outside the Twin Cities. 

Tourism Efforts Support Local Businesses and Job Creation

Tourism is a significant economic driver in Minnesota, with more than 80 million people visiting this state yearly. Visitors spent $14.1 billion in Minnesota in 2023, and the hospitality industry accounted for 180,473 jobs. Elk River takes its share of the tourism pie each year and benefits from visitors staying in local hotels, dining in nearby restaurants, and buying from various stores.

“We love when visitors explore local businesses in Elk River and discover the charm of all they have to offer,” says Mollan. “We want this tourism campaign to reintroduce Minnesota residents to Elk River and show them how easy it is to get here and hopefully inspire them to come back throughout the year.”

National trends also make a regional tourism campaign a smart choice. Airbnb has noticed an uptick in “spontaneous staycations,” where people travel less than 300 miles from home. More people, especially large families, plan to travel domestically this year. A getaway to Elk River can provide the relaxing feel of a far-away vacation without the cost or travel time. 

Tourism Also Has Long-Term Economic Development Impacts

In the short run, tourism brings money to local businesses. In the long run, tourism supports all industries in Elk River, not just the hospitality companies. According to Destinations International, 14% of people say their primary trigger for moving to an area was traveling there as a visitor. An increasingly popular saying in economic development is “today’s visitor is tomorrow’s talent.”

“Not only do we want visitors to return to Elk River to visit their favorite businesses and attend local events, we also want people to move here,” says Mollan. “Their day trip destination can eventually become their home. The more this occurs, the more the local workforce will grow, supporting industry development across the city.”

Talent attraction is more competitive than ever. If the City of Elk River can showcase why this community is a great place to live, it can continue to bring in qualified employees. And that starts with a staycation. 

Support Growth in Elk River Through Tourism

Elk River residents don’t have to be involved with the EDA to make a positive impact on their communities. If you live in the area, visit a new local business this summer or an existing one you’ve never tried. Welcome tourists who are eager to explore everything Elk River has to offer and share your top recommendations. You can be a tourist in your own home and help others have a positive experience in our community.

Learn more about other quality of life efforts to support economic development in Elk River. These include the recently debuted Garden Gem Awards and the newest public art piece in town, Where Energy Flows.