Free State Park Access for Some Communities in Minnesota

There’s one thing I’ve learned since moving to Minnesota last September, this is a beautiful state. Obviously, the lakes and rivers help add to the beauty that’s here. 

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The state is also “rich” in State Parks where that beauty is on display daily. And the Department of Natural Resources has put together a program to allow more residents of the state to enjoy it’s beauty.  

The State has placed free seven-day park passes at certain libraries around the state so that residents from low-cost areas could have a hurdle removed that could be keeping them from visiting state parks.  

For a library to have these passes, the average median income of the residents in that community couldn’t be higher than $58,000 per year, and/or be in a community where 40% of the students qualified for the federal free/reduced lunch criteria from 2018.  

The free passes can be picked up through June 2025 and are good for only seven days. You must always have the pass on display visibly from your vehicle while you’re using it. Once your pass expires, you don’t have to return it, but the DNR is asking that you recycle it.  

It's possible that the library where you get your pass could loan you additional equipment or books with your pass, those do need to be returned to that library on time.

The free passes are only for the vehicle fees that can come with entering a state park, if you plan to camp while you’re there, you’ll need to make reservations and pay for the camping fees that come with that.  

See the complete list of libraries by clicking here.