EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A MN STATE PARK PASS
In our area, we have a few state parks and forests. A year-round pass would be perfect with all the time you could spend inside these beautiful parks. A few of the closest ones include Zippel State Park, Franz Jevne State Park, and Beltrami Island State Forest. The outdoor activities you can do in the parks are endless, from fishing, canoeing, hiking, mushroom hunting, biking, camping, etc. Stay informed and be prepared to be stopped and don’t forget to get your permit.
Four seasons of outdoor fun!
Purchase an entry permit online
A $35 year-round permit provides unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for a full year from the month of purchase.
By purchasing a permit, you help maintain and improve the natural resources, facilities, and education and outreach programs that make Minnesota’s state parks among the best in the nation.
Permits are valid for one year from the month of purchase. Plus, you can receive a discount on additional year-round permits for other vehicles you own.
Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast? Purchase a gift card!
Why limit yourself to one day?
Did you know? When you buy a $7 one-day permit, you can trade it in before you leave the park and get $7 off a year-round permit!* Already have one? Gift it—introduce a friend to unlimited good times with a year-round permit.
Minnesota State Parks and Trails specialty license plate
Not a fan of windshield stickers? Now there’s another option; the new Minnesota State Parks and Trails license plate provides you with unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for an entire year, without requiring a separate vehicle permit. Plus it helps fund the operations and maintenance of Minnesota state parks and trails!
Common Questions
- $35 Year-round vehicle permit
- $26 Additional year-round vehicle permit
- $12 Year-round special permit
- $30 Year-round motorcycle permit
- $7 One-day vehicle permit
- $5 One-day group permit
- Disabled veterans and active duty military personnel can get discounted or free vehicle permits.
Online
Visit
- Any Minnesota state park, and purchase from self-serve kiosk* or the front office
- Minnesota DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul
No, you may purchase either a year-round or one-day permit when you arrive at the park, even if there is nobody in the office at the time.
Not a problem! There are self-service kiosks at every Minnesota state park and recreation area for exactly this purpose, so you can always buy a permit, even if the park office is not staffed.
Payment envelopes can be used for one-day or year-round permits. You can pay using cash, check or credit card.
Follow the instructions on the sign and envelope, put your cash, check, or credit card information for the correct amount in the envelope, and deposit it into the payment slot. There’s a “user copy” section of the form for you to put on the dash of your vehicle as proof of compliance. Easy!
Your year-round Minnesota state park vehicle permit is valid from the day it is purchased through the last day of that same month one year later.
There is a reduced price year-round permit for multiple vehicles. After you buy one full-price year-round vehicle permit, you may purchase as many multiple-vehicle permits as needed for additional vehicles you own. (Vehicles must all be under the same ownership to qualify.)
Regardless of when you purchase them, your multiple-vehicle permits will be punched with the same month as your first permit, so they will all expire in the same month.
Yes! For day use visitors, one-day permits are dated with the day of purchase and expire at 10:00 p.m.
If you are camping overnight (or staying in a cabin or camper cabin), when you purchase your one-day permit it will be dated with the following day’s date, and your vehicle may remain in the park until camping check-out time.
Yes! You can only do this the same day you purchased your one-day permit. As long as it is still valid, a one-day permit may be exchanged for a $7 credit toward the purchase of a year-round permit, with a limit of one $7 credit per year-round permit.
Yes! If you have ten vehicles or more in your group, each one can purchase a one-day permit at the group rate of $5. One-day group permits expire at 10:00 p.m. on the day of purchase and may not be used for an overnight stay.
Contact the park at least 24 hours before you arrive. Some parks may issue one-day group permits in advance, and others will issue them as individual vehicles arrive at the park.
Damaged permits will only be replaced if you bring the actual damaged permit to a state park or to the DNR central office in St. Paul. It must be identifiable as a current year-round permit, show the type of permit (regular or special), display the month it expires, and contain at least part of the serial number. If these conditions are all met, you will be given a free replacement permit that is punched the same month as your damaged year-round permit.
Lost vehicle permits or vehicle permits damaged too badly to meet the above conditions will not be replaced for free. You may purchase a reduced price year-round permit for multiple vehicles as a replacement.
The only vehicles not required to have some sort of valid Minnesota state park permit associated with them are Minnesota State owned vehicles that have white and black “Minnesota State Vehicle” license plates AND are at the park on official business, and law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances while they are on official business.
