List of Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas
There are 75 Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas spread all over the state of Minnesota. The parks offer camping, hiking, canoeing, cabin stays, and more.
You can zoom in on this map to see park locations in any area of the state. The markers are clickable and will take you to our post about that park. If we’ve been there yet…
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Or, you can click on any links in the alphabetical list below.
- Afton State Park, Hastings, Google map
- Banning State Park, Sandstone, Google map
- Bear Head Lake State Park, Ely, Google map
- Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Caledonia, Google map
- Big Bog State Recreation Area, Washish (Upper Red Lake,) Google Map
- Big Stone Lake State Park, Ortonville, Google map
- Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne, Google map
- Buffalo River State Park, Glyndon, Google map
- Camden State Park, Lynd, Google map
- Carley State Park, Plainview, Google map
- Cascade River State Park, Lutsen, Google map
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park, Little Falls, Google map
- Crow Wing State Park, Brainerd, Google map
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, Ironton, Google map
- Father Hennepin State Park, Isle (Mille Lacs,) Google map
- Flandrau State Park, New Ulm, Google map
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, Preston, Google map
- Fort Ridgely State Park, Fairfax, Google map
- Fort Snelling State Park, Saint Paul, Google map
- Franz Jevne State Park, Birchdale, Google map
- Frontenac State Park, Frontenac, Google map
- Garden Island State Recreation Area, Williams (Lake of the Woods,) Google map
- George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, Finland, Google map
- Glacial Lakes State Park, Starbuck, Google map
- Glendalough State Park, Battle Lake, Google map
- Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, Google map
- Grand Portage State Park, Grand Portage, Google map
- Great River Bluffs State Park, Winona, Google map
- Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area, Darwin, Google map
- Hayes Lake State Park, Roseau, Google map
- Hill Annex Mine State Park, Calumet, Google map
- Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls, Google map
- Iron Range Off Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area, Gilbert, Google map
- Itasca State Park, Park Rapids, Google map
- Jay Cooke State Park, Carlton, Google map
- John A. Latsch State Park, Minnesota City, Google map
- Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Grand Marais, Google map
- Kilen Woods State Park, Lakefield, Google map
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area, Solway, Google map
- Lac qui Parle State Park, Watson, Google map
- Lake Bemidji State Park, Bemidji, Google map
- Lake Bronson State Park, Lake Bronson, Google map
- Lake Carlos State Park, Carlos, Google map
- Lake Louise State Park, Le Roy, Google map
- Lake Maria State Park, Monticello, Google map
- Lake Shetek State Park, Currie, Google map
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, Soudan, Google map
- Maplewood State Park, Pelican Rapids, Google map
- McCarthy Beach State Park, Side Lake, Google map
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, Onamia, Google map
- Minneopa State Park, Mankato, Google map
- Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Jordan, Google map
- Monson Lake State Park, Sunburg, Google map
- Moose Lake State Park, Moose Lake, Google map
- Myre-Big Island State Park, Albert Lea, Google map
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, Google map
- Old Mill State Park, Argyle, Google map
- Red River State Recreation Area, East Grand Forks, Google map
- Rice Lake State Park, Owatonna, Google map
- St. Croix State Park, Hinckley, Google map
- Sakatah Lake State Park, Waterville, Google map
- Savanna Portage State Park, McGregor, Google map
- Scenic State Park, Bigfork, Google map
- Schoolcraft State Park, Deer River, Google map
- Sibley State Park, New London, Google map
- Split Rock Creek State Park, Jasper, Google map
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Two Harbors, Google map
- Temperance River State Park, Schroeder, Google map
- Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, Google map
- Upper Sioux Agency State Park, Granite Falls, Google map
- Whitewater State Park, Altura, Google map
- Wild River State Park, Center City, Google map
- William O’Brien State Park, Marine on St. Croix, Google map
- Zippel Bay State Park, Williams, Google map
Permits and fees
A $35 year-round vehicle permit to Minnesota State Parks provides unlimited visits to all 75 parks and recreation areas for a full year from the month of purchase. Plus, you can receive a discount on additional year-round permits for other vehicles you own.
Active duty military and their dependents, recipients of a Purple Heart medal, and veterans with any level of service-connected disability can get a free vehicle permit.
If you are a Minnesota resident, an alternative to the window sticker permit is the Minnesota State Parks and Trails license plate that provides you with unlimited visits to all 75 parks and recreation areas for an entire year, without requiring a separate vehicle permit. The new plate costs $70, plus tax, including the one-time $12.50 fee for the plate itself and a minimum $60 donation which renews annually. The additional fees go to support the Parks. The plate is available at Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) offices statewide, the same place you go to renew your driver’s license and tabs. Note though, there is no veterans discount available on the Minnesota State Parks and Trails specialty license plate.
Camping fees and reservations
Camping fees are separate from vehicle fees. State Park camping permits are best purchased online before you go. Overnight camping fees currently vary between $16-24 per night depending on the park and its facilities. Some campgrounds are not open in the fall or winter. Be sure to check with the park before making plans.
Reservations for camping spots open 120 days ahead of the first day of your stay. It’s advisable to book your spots as early as possible, as the spots fill up fast.
Cross country skiing passes
If you want to cross country ski on the many groomed ski trails in the Minnesota State Parks, you will need The Great Minnesota Ski Pass. If you are 16 or older, you must have a Great Minnesota Ski Pass to ski on groomed trails in Minnesota state parks or state forests, or on state or grant-in-aid trails. Sign your Ski Pass and be sure to carry it with you every time you go skiing.
Ski Pass fees go directly toward grooming trails in Minnesota’s cross-country ski trail system. The costs of the pass are:
- Daily: $10
- One-year: $25 (Effective July 1 to June 30)
- Three-year: $70 (Effective July 1 to June 30 for three years, including the purchasing season.)
- Duplicate passes: $2.50
You can buy your Great Minnesota Ski Pass here.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the management agency for the Minnesota State Parks and recreation areas.
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