MN DNR announces four Free Park Days

Mark your calendars for a month from now, for the first of four Free Park Days in Minnesota this spring, and into the fall.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas. Dates include:

• Saturday, April 22
• Saturday, June 10
• Saturday, September 9
• Friday, November 24

“Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are open year-round, and there’s plenty of fun to be had in the outdoors in every season,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR Parks and Trails Division. “We hope offering a series of free entrance days will encourage Minnesotans to visit these special places to spend time enjoying the outstanding natural resources our state has to offer and recharge from the stresses of everyday life.”

Most Minnesotans live within 30 miles of a State Park, accessing hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, swimming, skiing, and birding. In addition to self-guided exploration, the DNR also offers a variety of park programs that are open to all visitors. Some programs do require pre-registration, which can be done here.

The entrance fee waiver on Free Park Days does not cover activities like camping, rentals or tours.

For more information, visit the DNR’s Free Park Days page, or contact the DNR Information Center by emailing info.dnr@state.mn.us or by calling 888-646-6367. Available hours are 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday, or 8:00am to 4:30pm on Saturday.