The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will waive vehicle permit fees at all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Saturday, April 25.
This Free Park Day is one of four days each year when the DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit at state parks and recreation areas. The four fee-free days are spread throughout the year, giving Minnesota residents and visitors an opportunity to explore a state park in each season.
“After a long Minnesota winter, spring is a perfect time to get outside and enjoy state parks and recreation areas,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Visitors can soak in the beauty of nature coming back to life, whether it’s spotting wildflowers, hearing the songs of returning birds, or seeing trees begin to leaf out.”
Each spring, Free Park Day is scheduled on the Saturday after Earth Day. Park and recreation area visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly to protect natural resources. For example:
- Visitors might see increased wildlife activity in spring; respect wildlife by observing from a distance.
- Stay on trails when hiking or biking to avoid causing erosion or damaging sensitive plants and wildlife habitat.
- Spring wildflowers are starting to bloom but resist the urge to pick them; take a photo instead. Leave flowers, rocks and other natural objects as they were
Several state parks are offering naturalist-led programming on Free Park Day, including:
- Pages and Pines: Where Books and Nature Come Together, Jay Cooke State Park, 11 a.m.-3 pm.
- Celebrate Free Park Day and National Library Week with a slate of activities, including outdoor story time, naturalist programs, story strolls and local authors.
- Bingo Scavenger Hunt, Itasca State Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Grab a bingo card at the Jacob. V. Brower Visitor Center and then explore the park and hunt for animals, plants, historic sites and geological features. Once you win bingo, head back to the visitor center for a prize.
- Volunteer! Sand Point Clean Up, Frontenac State Park, 9 a.m.-noon
- Join the Frontenac State Park Association to help clean up debris along the park’s unique Sand Point Trail, which traverses floodplain forest near Lake Pepin.
- Blue Mounds Birding, Blue Mounds State Park, 9-10 a.m.
- Enjoy a naturalist-led walk to learn tips and tricks to identify some of the common bird species in the park.
See the full state park events calendar online. These events are free, though some programs may require registration.
Visitors looking for a park with specific recreational opportunities or amenities can use the ParkFinder tool to find the best park for their trip. Before leaving home, check for updates or visitor alerts on park webpages.
Visitors don’t need a vehicle permit for state park or recreation area admission on Free Park Days, but additional fees for things like camping reservations and equipment rentals still apply.
For more information, visit mndnr.gov/freeparkdays.