Small, quiet, and easy to miss — where a handful of residential blocks near Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek offer one of the most peaceful places to live within Minneapolis city limits.
Last updated: March 2026 · A complete neighborhood guide
Regina is the kind of neighborhood where, if you asked ten Minneapolis residents to point to it on a map, nine of them would miss. It occupies a small patch of south Minneapolis between Keewaydin and Hiawatha Avenue, bordered by Minnehaha Creek to the south and East 50th Street to the north. It has no signature restaurant, no viral social media presence, no public controversy generating headlines. It has well-maintained homes, old trees, creek access, and neighbors who wave. For the roughly 2,000 people who live here, that is not a limitation. That is the entire value proposition.
What is Regina, Minneapolis?
Regina is a small, quiet residential neighborhood in south Minneapolis, bounded roughly by East 50th Street to the north, Hiawatha Avenue (Highway 55) to the east, Minnehaha Creek to the south, and 34th Avenue South to the west. With approximately 2,000 residents, it is one of the smallest neighborhoods in the city — a handful of residential blocks that most Minneapolitans have never heard of and that residents are perfectly content to keep that way.
The neighborhood has no commercial activity. There are no restaurants, shops, or businesses within its boundaries. What it offers is purely residential: safe streets, well-maintained homes, Minnehaha Creek along its southern edge, and proximity to Lake Nokomis. It is a neighborhood defined by its peace and its smallness — a place where the community is tight-knit by necessity, because there simply aren't that many of you.
Regina Neighborhood Sign
Regina, Minneapolis — Key Stats (2025–2026)
Regina History & Origins
Regina's name comes from the Latin word for “queen,” though the specific origin of the naming — whether it referenced a person, a place, or an aspiration — is not well documented in the neighborhood's modest historical record. Like much of far south Minneapolis, this land was part of the Dakota homeland before European settlement, and the creek that defines its southern boundary was a feature of the landscape long before anyone drew neighborhood lines on a map.
Development came in the early to mid-20th century, later than neighborhoods closer to downtown. The housing stock dates primarily from the 1920s through 1950s — bungalows, ramblers, and Cape Cods built for working-class and middle-class families. The neighborhood developed as Minneapolis expanded southward, filling in the land between established neighborhoods and the city's southern boundary.
Regina has been residentially stable since its development. It has not experienced the waves of demographic change, urban renewal, or market-driven transformation that have reshaped neighborhoods closer to the city's center. The result is a neighborhood that looks and feels much as it has for decades — for better and for worse.
Living in Regina
Living in Regina is living in a neighborhood that asks very little of you. The streets are quiet. The homes are modest but cared for. The yards are small but green. There is no social scene to navigate, no commercial district to opinions about, no neighborhood controversy demanding your attention. You live here, you maintain your home, you walk to the creek, you wave at the neighbors, and you go about your life.
The smallness of the neighborhood creates a particular kind of community. With only about 2,000 people, Regina functions more like a small town within the city. People recognize each other at the park. The block parties are small enough that everyone knows everyone. This intimacy is appealing to some and claustrophobic to others — there is no anonymity in a neighborhood this small.
The creek is the defining natural feature. Minnehaha Creek runs along Regina's southern boundary, and the trail along it provides the primary recreational amenity for residents. Lake Nokomis, a short walk or bike ride to the northwest, serves as the neighborhood's lakefront.
Neighboring Keewaydin to the west shares the quiet residential character, while Minnehaha to the north offers more commercial activity and access to Minnehaha Falls.
“I tell people I live in Regina and they say, 'Is that in Minneapolis?' Yes. Yes it is. And it's exactly as quiet as you'd guess from the fact that you've never heard of it.”
Regina resident, neighborhood survey
Regina Food, Drink & Local Spots
Regina has no commercial activity within its boundaries. For food, drink, and shopping, residents rely entirely on neighboring areas.
Nearby Options
The Lake Nokomis area to the northwest offers seasonal cafes, restaurants, and the Sandcastle gastropub — the closest dining options for most Regina residents.
Hiawatha Avenue, Regina's eastern boundary, has scattered commercial activity including restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores.
East 50th Street provides access to commercial nodes along the corridor, particularly near Chicago Avenue and further west, with restaurants, groceries, and services.
The area near Minnehaha Falls, northeast of Regina, has Sea Salt Eatery (seasonal seafood) and other options that are popular destinations for the broader area.
Parks, Culture & Outdoors Near Regina
Regina's outdoor amenities are its greatest asset — the creek, the lake, and the park system that connects them.
Minnehaha Creek Trail
Minnehaha Creek runs along Regina's southern boundary, and the paved trail alongside it provides excellent recreational access. The trail connects west to Lake Harriet and east to Minnehaha Falls and the Mississippi River — one of the best cycling and walking corridors in Minneapolis.
Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis is accessible within a 10-15 minute walk or short bike ride from Regina. The lake's beach, 2.7-mile trail, and surrounding parkland provide the primary outdoor recreation destination for the neighborhood.
Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Falls, one of Minneapolis's most iconic natural features, is about a mile northeast of Regina via the creek trail. The 53-foot waterfall, surrounding parkland, and connection to the Mississippi River gorge make it a regional destination that Regina residents can reach by bike in minutes.
Regina Park
The neighborhood's namesake park provides a playground, open green space, and a community gathering point. It is small — appropriate for a neighborhood this size — but well-maintained and well-used.
Regina Schools
Regina is served by Minneapolis Public Schools. Page Elementary School and Keewaydin Elementary serve the neighborhood for elementary grades. Roosevelt High School is the designated comprehensive high school.
The schools are well-regarded, and the family character of the neighborhood reflects the importance residents place on education. The Minneapolis Public Schools open enrollment system allows families to access magnet and specialty programs citywide.
Regina Real Estate & Housing
Regina's housing market is characterized by stability and limited inventory. The stock is almost entirely single-family homes from the 1920s-1950s, and turnover is low.
Buying in Regina
Single-family homes sell in the $280,000 to $370,000 range. Creek-adjacent homes command premiums. The housing is modest in size — mostly two-to-three-bedroom homes — and price differences reflect condition and updates. Inventory is limited, and homes that come on the market in good condition sell quickly.
Rental Market
Rental options are extremely limited in Regina. The neighborhood is overwhelmingly owner-occupied, and renters looking in this area should expect to expand their search to adjacent neighborhoods with more rental inventory.
“We found our house by accident — we were looking at Nokomis and couldn't afford it, and our agent showed us a listing in Regina that was $50,000 less for a similar home one neighborhood over. Best accident we ever had.”
Regina homeowner, neighborhood survey
Getting Around Regina
Regina is car-dependent for most daily needs. The Walk Score of 58 and Transit Score of 44 reflect the purely residential character and limited bus service. The Bike Score of 74 reflects good recreational cycling on nearby trails.
The Blue Line light rail on Hiawatha Avenue is accessible from the neighborhood's eastern edge, providing direct service to downtown Minneapolis, MSP Airport, and the Mall of America. Bus service on Hiawatha is available but less frequent than on major corridors.
Most households own cars, and the neighborhood is designed around automobile access. Street parking and driveways are standard, and congestion is not an issue on these quiet residential streets.
What's Changing: The Honest Version
Regina is one of the most stable neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Changes here are measured in small increments over long periods.
Rising Prices
Home prices have been climbing, though less dramatically than in more centrally located neighborhoods. Regina remains accessible for middle-income buyers but is no longer the bargain it was a decade ago.
Aging Infrastructure
The housing stock is aging, and maintenance costs are rising. Most homes are 70-80 years old, requiring ongoing investment in roofs, mechanical systems, and structural upkeep.
Hiawatha Corridor Development
Development along Hiawatha Avenue — Regina's eastern boundary — is bringing some change to the area's periphery. New construction and commercial activity along the light rail corridor could gradually change the character of the neighborhood's eastern edge.
Regina FAQ
Is Regina a good neighborhood in Minneapolis?
Regina is an excellent neighborhood for anyone seeking quiet, safe, residential living within Minneapolis. It's small, stable, and close to Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek. It's not a neighborhood with commercial activity or cultural buzz — it's a neighborhood where people live, and it does that very well.
Is Regina safe?
Regina is one of the safest neighborhoods in Minneapolis, with crime rates well below the city average. It's a quiet, low-traffic residential area where most concerns are limited to minor property issues. Violent crime is very rare.
How much does it cost to live in Regina?
Single-family homes in Regina sell in the $280,000 to $370,000 range. Rental options are limited, as the neighborhood is predominantly owner-occupied. The area is moderately priced for Minneapolis, more affordable than lakeside neighborhoods to the north and west but above the city median.
Where exactly is Regina in Minneapolis?
Regina is a small neighborhood in south Minneapolis, bounded roughly by East 50th Street to the north, Hiawatha Avenue (Highway 55) to the east, Minnehaha Creek to the south, and 34th Avenue South to the west. It sits east of Keewaydin and south of Minnehaha.
What schools serve Regina?
Page Elementary School and Keewaydin Elementary serve the area for elementary grades. Roosevelt High School is the designated comprehensive high school. The Minneapolis Public Schools open enrollment system allows access to magnet and specialty programs citywide.
Is Regina walkable?
For daily commercial needs, no — Regina is purely residential with no shops or restaurants within the neighborhood. For recreational walking, it's excellent — Minnehaha Creek trail and Lake Nokomis paths are accessible nearby.
How close is Regina to Lake Nokomis?
Lake Nokomis is about a 10-15 minute walk or short bike ride northwest of Regina. The lake's beach, trails, and park facilities are primary recreational amenities for the neighborhood.
Is Regina good for families?
Yes. Regina's safe streets, good schools, creek access, and family-oriented housing stock make it well-suited for families with children. The small size of the neighborhood means everyone tends to know each other, creating a tight-knit community feel that's harder to find in larger neighborhoods.
What Makes Regina Worth Knowing
Regina is one of the smallest and least-known neighborhoods in Minneapolis, and that obscurity is part of its value. It is a handful of residential blocks near a creek and a lake, where the houses are modest, the streets are quiet, and the neighbors have been there long enough to remember when the elm trees were still alive. There is nothing flashy here. There is nothing to discover, in the way that food writers discover restaurants or real estate agents discover 'up-and-coming' neighborhoods.
What Regina offers is the irreducible core of what a neighborhood is supposed to be: a safe, stable, pleasant place to live, surrounded by people who are doing the same thing. In a city that sometimes confuses activity with vitality, Regina is a quiet reminder that a neighborhood doesn't need to be exciting to be excellent.
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