diff --git a/public/app/core/utils/explore.test.ts b/public/app/core/utils/explore.test.ts
index 32135eab90a..1c00142c3b8 100644
--- a/public/app/core/utils/explore.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/utils/explore.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ const DEFAULT_EXPLORE_STATE: ExploreUrlState = {
   datasource: null,
   queries: [],
   range: DEFAULT_RANGE,
+  ui: {
+    showingGraph: true,
+    showingTable: true,
+    showingLogs: true,
+  }
 };
 
 describe('state functions', () => {
@@ -69,9 +74,11 @@ describe('state functions', () => {
           to: 'now',
         },
       };
+
       expect(serializeStateToUrlParam(state)).toBe(
         '{"datasource":"foo","queries":[{"expr":"metric{test=\\"a/b\\"}"},' +
-          '{"expr":"super{foo=\\"x/z\\"}"}],"range":{"from":"now-5h","to":"now"}}'
+          '{"expr":"super{foo=\\"x/z\\"}"}],"range":{"from":"now-5h","to":"now"},' +
+          '"ui":{"showingGraph":true,"showingTable":true,"showingLogs":true}}'
       );
     });
 
@@ -93,7 +100,7 @@ describe('state functions', () => {
         },
       };
       expect(serializeStateToUrlParam(state, true)).toBe(
-        '["now-5h","now","foo",{"expr":"metric{test=\\"a/b\\"}"},{"expr":"super{foo=\\"x/z\\"}"}]'
+        '["now-5h","now","foo",{"expr":"metric{test=\\"a/b\\"}"},{"expr":"super{foo=\\"x/z\\"}"},{"ui":[true,true,true]}]'
       );
     });
   });
@@ -118,7 +125,28 @@ describe('state functions', () => {
       };
       const serialized = serializeStateToUrlParam(state);
       const parsed = parseUrlState(serialized);
+      expect(state).toMatchObject(parsed);
+    });
 
+    it('can parse the compact serialized state into the original state', () => {
+      const state = {
+        ...DEFAULT_EXPLORE_STATE,
+        datasource: 'foo',
+        queries: [
+          {
+            expr: 'metric{test="a/b"}',
+          },
+          {
+            expr: 'super{foo="x/z"}',
+          },
+        ],
+        range: {
+          from: 'now - 5h',
+          to: 'now',
+        },
+      };
+      const serialized = serializeStateToUrlParam(state, true);
+      const parsed = parseUrlState(serialized);
       expect(state).toMatchObject(parsed);
     });
   });
diff --git a/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts b/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
index 7a9f54a0cae..faf46118718 100644
--- a/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ export const DEFAULT_RANGE = {
   to: 'now',
 };
 
+export const DEFAULT_UI_STATE = {
+  showingTable: true,
+  showingGraph: true,
+  showingLogs: true,
+};
+
 const MAX_HISTORY_ITEMS = 100;
 
 export const LAST_USED_DATASOURCE_KEY = 'grafana.explore.datasource';
@@ -147,7 +153,12 @@ export function buildQueryTransaction(
 
 export const clearQueryKeys: ((query: DataQuery) => object) = ({ key, refId, ...rest }) => rest;
 
+const isMetricSegment = (segment: { [key: string]: string }) => segment.hasOwnProperty('expr');
+const isUISegment = (segment: { [key: string]: string }) => segment.hasOwnProperty('ui');
+
 export function parseUrlState(initial: string | undefined): ExploreUrlState {
+  let uiState = DEFAULT_UI_STATE;
+
   if (initial) {
     try {
       const parsed = JSON.parse(decodeURI(initial));
@@ -160,20 +171,41 @@ export function parseUrlState(initial: string | undefined): ExploreUrlState {
           to: parsed[1],
         };
         const datasource = parsed[2];
-        const queries = parsed.slice(3);
-        return { datasource, queries, range };
+        let queries = [];
+
+        parsed.slice(3).forEach(segment => {
+          if (isMetricSegment(segment)) {
+            queries = [...queries, segment];
+          }
+
+          if (isUISegment(segment)) {
+            uiState = {
+              showingGraph: segment.ui[0],
+              showingLogs: segment.ui[1],
+              showingTable: segment.ui[2],
+            };
+          }
+        });
+
+        return { datasource, queries, range, ui: uiState };
       }
       return parsed;
     } catch (e) {
       console.error(e);
     }
   }
-  return { datasource: null, queries: [], range: DEFAULT_RANGE };
+  return { datasource: null, queries: [], range: DEFAULT_RANGE, ui: uiState };
 }
 
 export function serializeStateToUrlParam(urlState: ExploreUrlState, compact?: boolean): string {
   if (compact) {
-    return JSON.stringify([urlState.range.from, urlState.range.to, urlState.datasource, ...urlState.queries]);
+    return JSON.stringify([
+      urlState.range.from,
+      urlState.range.to,
+      urlState.datasource,
+      ...urlState.queries,
+      { ui: [!!urlState.ui.showingGraph, !!urlState.ui.showingLogs, !!urlState.ui.showingTable] },
+    ]);
   }
   return JSON.stringify(urlState);
 }
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
index 06a6ae24cac..a2890427868 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
 import { RawTimeRange, TimeRange, DataQuery } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { ExploreItemState, ExploreUrlState, RangeScanner, ExploreId } from 'app/types/explore';
 import { StoreState } from 'app/types';
-import { LAST_USED_DATASOURCE_KEY, ensureQueries, DEFAULT_RANGE } from 'app/core/utils/explore';
+import { LAST_USED_DATASOURCE_KEY, ensureQueries, DEFAULT_RANGE, DEFAULT_UI_STATE } from 'app/core/utils/explore';
 import { Emitter } from 'app/core/utils/emitter';
 import { ExploreToolbar } from './ExploreToolbar';
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ interface ExploreProps {
   supportsGraph: boolean | null;
   supportsLogs: boolean | null;
   supportsTable: boolean | null;
-  urlState: ExploreUrlState;
+  urlState?: ExploreUrlState;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -107,18 +107,20 @@ export class Explore extends React.PureComponent<ExploreProps> {
     // Don't initialize on split, but need to initialize urlparameters when present
     if (!initialized) {
       // Load URL state and parse range
-      const { datasource, queries, range = DEFAULT_RANGE } = (urlState || {}) as ExploreUrlState;
+      const { datasource, queries, range = DEFAULT_RANGE, ui = DEFAULT_UI_STATE } = (urlState || {}) as ExploreUrlState;
       const initialDatasource = datasource || store.get(LAST_USED_DATASOURCE_KEY);
       const initialQueries: DataQuery[] = ensureQueries(queries);
       const initialRange = { from: parseTime(range.from), to: parseTime(range.to) };
       const width = this.el ? this.el.offsetWidth : 0;
+
       this.props.initializeExplore(
         exploreId,
         initialDatasource,
         initialQueries,
         initialRange,
         width,
-        this.exploreEvents
+        this.exploreEvents,
+        ui
       );
     }
   }
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/actionTypes.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/actionTypes.ts
index be7d5754bbe..3a0a564b651 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/actionTypes.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/actionTypes.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   RangeScanner,
   ResultType,
   QueryTransaction,
+  ExploreUIState,
 } from 'app/types/explore';
 
 export enum ActionTypes {
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ export interface InitializeExploreAction {
     exploreDatasources: DataSourceSelectItem[];
     queries: DataQuery[];
     range: RawTimeRange;
+    ui: ExploreUIState;
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/actions.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/actions.ts
index 1a11b7fcac9..c7b47d1c3c7 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/actions.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/actions.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import {
   ResultType,
   QueryOptions,
   QueryTransaction,
+  ExploreUIState,
 } from 'app/types/explore';
 
 import {
@@ -78,7 +79,15 @@ export function changeDatasource(exploreId: ExploreId, datasource: string): Thun
     await dispatch(importQueries(exploreId, modifiedQueries, currentDataSourceInstance, newDataSourceInstance));
 
     dispatch(updateDatasourceInstance(exploreId, newDataSourceInstance));
-    dispatch(loadDatasource(exploreId, newDataSourceInstance));
+
+    try {
+      await dispatch(loadDatasource(exploreId, newDataSourceInstance));
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error(error);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    dispatch(runQueries(exploreId));
   };
 }
 
@@ -154,7 +163,8 @@ export function initializeExplore(
   queries: DataQuery[],
   range: RawTimeRange,
   containerWidth: number,
-  eventBridge: Emitter
+  eventBridge: Emitter,
+  ui: ExploreUIState
 ): ThunkResult<void> {
   return async dispatch => {
     const exploreDatasources: DataSourceSelectItem[] = getDatasourceSrv()
@@ -175,6 +185,7 @@ export function initializeExplore(
         exploreDatasources,
         queries,
         range,
+        ui,
       },
     });
 
@@ -194,7 +205,14 @@ export function initializeExplore(
       }
 
       dispatch(updateDatasourceInstance(exploreId, instance));
-      dispatch(loadDatasource(exploreId, instance));
+
+      try {
+        await dispatch(loadDatasource(exploreId, instance));
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error(error);
+        return;
+      }
+      dispatch(runQueries(exploreId, true));
     } else {
       dispatch(loadDatasourceMissing(exploreId));
     }
@@ -258,10 +276,7 @@ export const queriesImported = (exploreId: ExploreId, queries: DataQuery[]): Que
  * run datasource-specific code. Existing queries are imported to the new datasource if an importer exists,
  * e.g., Prometheus -> Loki queries.
  */
-export const loadDatasourceSuccess = (
-  exploreId: ExploreId,
-  instance: any,
-): LoadDatasourceSuccessAction => {
+export const loadDatasourceSuccess = (exploreId: ExploreId, instance: any): LoadDatasourceSuccessAction => {
   // Capabilities
   const supportsGraph = instance.meta.metrics;
   const supportsLogs = instance.meta.logs;
@@ -343,8 +358,8 @@ export function loadDatasource(exploreId: ExploreId, instance: DataSourceApi): T
 
     // Keep ID to track selection
     dispatch(loadDatasourcePending(exploreId, datasourceName));
-
     let datasourceError = null;
+
     try {
       const testResult = await instance.testDatasource();
       datasourceError = testResult.status === 'success' ? null : testResult.message;
@@ -354,7 +369,7 @@ export function loadDatasource(exploreId: ExploreId, instance: DataSourceApi): T
 
     if (datasourceError) {
       dispatch(loadDatasourceFailure(exploreId, datasourceError));
-      return;
+      return Promise.reject(`${datasourceName} loading failed`);
     }
 
     if (datasourceName !== getState().explore[exploreId].requestedDatasourceName) {
@@ -372,7 +387,7 @@ export function loadDatasource(exploreId: ExploreId, instance: DataSourceApi): T
     }
 
     dispatch(loadDatasourceSuccess(exploreId, instance));
-    dispatch(runQueries(exploreId));
+    return Promise.resolve();
   };
 }
 
@@ -572,7 +587,7 @@ export function removeQueryRow(exploreId: ExploreId, index: number): ThunkResult
 /**
  * Main action to run queries and dispatches sub-actions based on which result viewers are active
  */
-export function runQueries(exploreId: ExploreId) {
+export function runQueries(exploreId: ExploreId, ignoreUIState = false) {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
     const {
       datasourceInstance,
@@ -596,7 +611,7 @@ export function runQueries(exploreId: ExploreId) {
     const interval = datasourceInstance.interval;
 
     // Keep table queries first since they need to return quickly
-    if (showingTable && supportsTable) {
+    if ((ignoreUIState || showingTable) && supportsTable) {
       dispatch(
         runQueriesForType(
           exploreId,
@@ -611,7 +626,7 @@ export function runQueries(exploreId: ExploreId) {
         )
       );
     }
-    if (showingGraph && supportsGraph) {
+    if ((ignoreUIState || showingGraph) && supportsGraph) {
       dispatch(
         runQueriesForType(
           exploreId,
@@ -625,9 +640,10 @@ export function runQueries(exploreId: ExploreId) {
         )
       );
     }
-    if (showingLogs && supportsLogs) {
+    if ((ignoreUIState || showingLogs) && supportsLogs) {
       dispatch(runQueriesForType(exploreId, 'Logs', { interval, format: 'logs' }));
     }
+
     dispatch(stateSave());
   };
 }
@@ -766,6 +782,11 @@ export function stateSave() {
       datasource: left.datasourceInstance.name,
       queries: left.modifiedQueries.map(clearQueryKeys),
       range: left.range,
+      ui: {
+        showingGraph: left.showingGraph,
+        showingLogs: left.showingLogs,
+        showingTable: left.showingTable,
+      },
     };
     urlStates.left = serializeStateToUrlParam(leftUrlState, true);
     if (split) {
@@ -773,48 +794,64 @@ export function stateSave() {
         datasource: right.datasourceInstance.name,
         queries: right.modifiedQueries.map(clearQueryKeys),
         range: right.range,
+        ui: {
+          showingGraph: right.showingGraph,
+          showingLogs: right.showingLogs,
+          showingTable: right.showingTable,
+        },
       };
+
       urlStates.right = serializeStateToUrlParam(rightUrlState, true);
     }
+
     dispatch(updateLocation({ query: urlStates }));
   };
 }
 
 /**
- * Expand/collapse the graph result viewer. When collapsed, graph queries won't be run.
+ * Creates action to collapse graph/logs/table panel. When panel is collapsed,
+ * queries won't be run
  */
-export function toggleGraph(exploreId: ExploreId): ThunkResult<void> {
+const togglePanelActionCreator = (type: ActionTypes.ToggleGraph | ActionTypes.ToggleTable | ActionTypes.ToggleLogs) => (
+  exploreId: ExploreId
+) => {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
-    dispatch({ type: ActionTypes.ToggleGraph, payload: { exploreId } });
-    if (getState().explore[exploreId].showingGraph) {
+    let shouldRunQueries;
+    dispatch({ type, payload: { exploreId } });
+    dispatch(stateSave());
+
+    switch (type) {
+      case ActionTypes.ToggleGraph:
+        shouldRunQueries = getState().explore[exploreId].showingGraph;
+        break;
+      case ActionTypes.ToggleLogs:
+        shouldRunQueries = getState().explore[exploreId].showingLogs;
+        break;
+      case ActionTypes.ToggleTable:
+        shouldRunQueries = getState().explore[exploreId].showingTable;
+        break;
+    }
+
+    if (shouldRunQueries) {
       dispatch(runQueries(exploreId));
     }
   };
-}
+};
+
+/**
+ * Expand/collapse the graph result viewer. When collapsed, graph queries won't be run.
+ */
+export const toggleGraph = togglePanelActionCreator(ActionTypes.ToggleGraph);
 
 /**
  * Expand/collapse the logs result viewer. When collapsed, log queries won't be run.
  */
-export function toggleLogs(exploreId: ExploreId): ThunkResult<void> {
-  return (dispatch, getState) => {
-    dispatch({ type: ActionTypes.ToggleLogs, payload: { exploreId } });
-    if (getState().explore[exploreId].showingLogs) {
-      dispatch(runQueries(exploreId));
-    }
-  };
-}
+export const toggleLogs = togglePanelActionCreator(ActionTypes.ToggleLogs);
 
 /**
  * Expand/collapse the table result viewer. When collapsed, table queries won't be run.
  */
-export function toggleTable(exploreId: ExploreId): ThunkResult<void> {
-  return (dispatch, getState) => {
-    dispatch({ type: ActionTypes.ToggleTable, payload: { exploreId } });
-    if (getState().explore[exploreId].showingTable) {
-      dispatch(runQueries(exploreId));
-    }
-  };
-}
+export const toggleTable = togglePanelActionCreator(ActionTypes.ToggleTable);
 
 /**
  * Resets state for explore.
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/reducers.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/reducers.ts
index eb67beee3b3..4ad07ddfc88 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/reducers.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/reducers.ts
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ export const itemReducer = (state, action: Action): ExploreItemState => {
     }
 
     case ActionTypes.InitializeExplore: {
-      const { containerWidth, eventBridge, exploreDatasources, queries, range } = action.payload;
+      const { containerWidth, eventBridge, exploreDatasources, queries, range, ui } = action.payload;
       return {
         ...state,
         containerWidth,
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ export const itemReducer = (state, action: Action): ExploreItemState => {
         initialQueries: queries,
         initialized: true,
         modifiedQueries: queries.slice(),
+        ...ui,
       };
     }
 
diff --git a/public/app/types/explore.ts b/public/app/types/explore.ts
index 34b7ff08c99..3abbc652c0d 100644
--- a/public/app/types/explore.ts
+++ b/public/app/types/explore.ts
@@ -231,10 +231,17 @@ export interface ExploreItemState {
   tableResult?: TableModel;
 }
 
+export interface ExploreUIState {
+  showingTable: boolean;
+  showingGraph: boolean;
+  showingLogs: boolean;
+}
+
 export interface ExploreUrlState {
   datasource: string;
   queries: any[]; // Should be a DataQuery, but we're going to strip refIds, so typing makes less sense
   range: RawTimeRange;
+  ui: ExploreUIState;
 }
 
 export interface HistoryItem<TQuery extends DataQuery = DataQuery> {