Minnesota State Highway 86 is a highway

Highway

A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

 in southwest Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, which runs from Iowa Highway 86

Iowa Highway 86

Iowa Highway 86 is a state highway that runs from north to south in northwest Iowa. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Highway 71 just north of Milford. Its northern terminus is at the Minnesota border northwest of Spirit Lake, where it continues onward as Minnesota State Highway 86.-Route...

 at the Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

 state line, near Spirit Lake, IA

Spirit Lake, Iowa

Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....

, and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection

Intersection (road)

An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...

 with State Highway 60

Minnesota State Highway 60

Minnesota State Highway 60 is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 25 upon crossing the Mississippi River.Highway 60 is...

 near Windom

Windom, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,490 people, 1,910 households, and 1,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.6 people per square mile . There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile...

 and Wilder

Wilder, Minnesota

Wilder is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 60 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.25% is water....

.

Route description

Highway 86 serves as a 23 miles (37 km) north–south route between Windom

Windom, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,490 people, 1,910 households, and 1,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.6 people per square mile . There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile...

, Lakefield

Lakefield, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,721 people, 731 households, and 453 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,611.0 people per square mile . There were 784 housing units at an average density of 733.9 per square mile...

, and the Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

 state line.

The route has an interchange

Interchange (road)

In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...

 with Interstate 90

Interstate 90 in Minnesota

In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...

 near Lakefield

Lakefield, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,721 people, 731 households, and 453 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,611.0 people per square mile . There were 784 housing units at an average density of 733.9 per square mile...

.

Kilen Woods State Park

Kilen Woods State Park

Kilen Woods State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the Des Moines River south of Windom.-External links:*...

, on the banks of the Des Moines River

Des Moines River

The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...

, is 5 miles east of the junction

Junction (traffic)

A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...

 of Highway 86 and County Road 24. The park entrance is located on County Road 24.

History

Highway 86 was authorized in 1933.

In 1934, the highway was paved between U.S. Highway 16 and Lakefield.

The route was still gravel south of U.S. 16 in 1942. It was completely paved by 1953.

Major intersections