Where to Play Pickleball in Minneapolis

If you’re traveling in Minneapolis and you’re looking for a place to play pickleball, I researched over a dozen places before I traveled here to figure out where I can drop in as a single player as well as with a group.

Read on for two recommendations I have (and other places I found) for where to play pickleball in Minneapolis!

Lucky Shots Pickleball Club

This pickleball club is a VIBE. If the 19 indoor courts weren’t in this warehouse space, you’d think you walked into a nightclub or a fun (and huge) cocktail lounge when you step in Lucky Shots Pickleball Club.

Open to the public to drop in, you’ll find an entire lineup of open play and organized play that you can opt in for by level. On average I paid around $12 for two to three hours of play.

Simply sign up on court reserve and you both sign up and see who else signed up. Tbh, I had so much fun I extended my stay in Minneapolis so I could play here multiple days. I also signed up for DOUBLE times (i.e. two back to back open plays) so I can play with two different groups of people and get in a lonnnng session.

This huge warehouse has more than just 19 indoor courts. You’ll also find a small pro shop at the entrance (where you can rent a paddle), a “club lounge” area in the back and a cafe serving sandwiches, drinks and more.

There’s tons of free parking out front and an Uber ride from Downtown Minneapolis will cost about $12-$15 each way. Public transportation to this spot is not ideal (light rail doesn’t run in this direction and you’d be taking a bus).

You’ll find restroom facilities, but there are no showers on site. Below is their “club lounge” area which can be reserved. There are tons of seating areas all around the club.

Smash Park Roseville

Smash Park is WAY more than just pickleball and there are also WAY more locations than Roseville. You’ll find a full bar, restaurant, cornhole, axe throwing lanes, a karaoke room, an arcade and much more at Smash Park.

If you’re here for pickleball there are two options:

1. You can come alone and join for one of their organized open plays
2. You can come with a group and book a court by the hour

I had the opportunity to bring the attendees of a conference I was speaking at called ETC Conference to Smash Park. We rented private courts (weekends cost more than week days and indoor costs more than outdoor, at $29/hour).

We spent about 4 hours here between pickleball and enjoying drinks and food. They have a lot of fun pickleball themed foods (like the “Pickleballs” pictured above)!

If you’re coming in without any gear, they have equipment for rent and a small pro shop in the front. For our court rental, some people had their own paddles, but otherwise it’s $5 to rent.

Where else to play pickleball in Minneapolis, Minnesota?

There are a lot of parks around Minneapolis, but at the time I was there, I was focused on indoor play (it was in the 90s in August). Below is what I found in my research…

• Minneapolis Pickleball Club – a newer spot, looks amazing, and located in Downtown (VERY easy to get to if you’re in the downtown area). I chose NOT to play here because it’s an exclusive club and playing as a traveler is “not easy unless you know someone” and it just so happens that.. I didn’t know anyone.
  
  
• Minneapolis Cider Co – VERY cool vibe and also interesting that it’s in a cider company. Courts look great, I would check out this spot if I had a more dedicated (and smaller group than the 30 I was with) looking to play pickleball on multiple courts (all in the same area).
  
  
• Pints & Paddle – this spot is straight up rad looking with 10 courts and an entire bar/restaurant area. However, it’s FAR from Downtown Minneapolis (a 24 minute drive) if you’re taking an uber.
  

• Chip’s Pickleball Club – strictly a pickleball club (but open to the public), this spot is SUPER cool looking, has a lot of courts, but is located same as above (a distance away from Downtown if you are taking an uber. 25 minutes away and it’s south of MSP airport).

What about outdoor parks to play pickleball in Minneapolis, Minnesota?

Yep, there are lots of parks. I always use the “Places to Play” app or website to START my research, then I dive in using local Facebook Groups.

Where to stay while playing pickleball in Minneapolis?

I loved staying at Hotel Emery in Downtown Minneapolis. Not only was it modern and a total vibe, it had a TON of on site amenities (restaurant, bar, coffee shop, gym, bike rentals) that I loved. It was also right next to the light rail. Read more about it in the blog post here.

Want more ideas? Click around below for some other top hotels (or vacation rentals) in the area!

Bottom Line

There are MANY places I’ve played in the last year (see the entire list here) and Minneapolis slides into the top 5 favorite areas of the US to play in.

I’ll be honest, there’s something about playing with super kind people from the Mid-West that is just ohhhhh so nice of a vibe compared to other places around the US!