Minnesota State Parks Passes

Check out a pass for seven days of free access to all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.

Check Out a Minnesota State Parks Library Pass

Passes available at these locations:

Passes cannot be placed on hold or transferred to another library location.

About the Passes

A library card is required to check out a State Park Pass.

Library staff will check out the pass to you and mark the pass with an expiration date.

State Park Passes cannot be held or transferred to another location. Please check the catalog to see where passes are currently available.

All state park passes expire after seven days.

Passes must be visibly displayed in your vehicle’s dashboard, so park staff can check validity and expiration date.

Passes do not need to be returned, just recycled.

The program runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

After your state park or recreation area visit, please take this brief survey. Your responses will help improve the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

The library program allows Minnesotans to visit our state parks free of charge, providing increased opportunities for individuals and families to enjoy the health and social benefits of time at state parks.
Arlington Hills, Dayton’s Bluff, Mobile Library, Rice Street, Rondo, Riverview, Sun Ray, and West 7th libraries.

This program is available in all 87 Minnesota counties, but not at all libraries.

A list of participating libraries is posted on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/librarypass.
Anyone with a valid library card can check out a Minnesota State Park library pass.

Check State Park pass availability in the library catalog.
The DNR has only a small amount of funding available to provide passes across the state.

This program is intended to serve a limited number of people who truly would not be willing or able to purchase a park permit otherwise.

You can buy a daily park permit for $7 or an annual park permit for $35 online at www.mndnr.gov/parkpermit or at any state park office.
Park entrance fees are currently an irreplaceable part of the state park and trail budget.

Without fees, the park system would not be able to adequately maintain its built or natural resources or serve the public adequately.

However, public lands are meant to be used by everyone, regardless of income. That is why collaborating with libraries to offer free passes to those that need them is one way to ensure all Minnesotans can enjoy state parks