Minneapolis is one of the better big cities in the country for national park access, with an honest caveat: the headliner, Voyageurs National Park, is a real drive north, while the easy wins are river and trail units that run right through the metro. I will tell you plainly which of these is worth a full trip and which you can knock out on a free afternoon.
Below, ranked by payoff for the drive. The Mississippi River unit is practically in your backyard. Voyageurs is the bucket-list one that asks for a few days.
National Parks Near Minneapolis At A Glance
| Site | Designation | Drive From Minneapolis | Trip Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River | National River & Recreation Area | In the metro | Anytime |
| Saint Croix | National Scenic Riverway | ~1 hr | Day trip |
| Pipestone | National Monument | ~3 hr 15 min | Long day or overnight |
| Voyageurs | National Park | ~4 hr 30 min | Multi-day |
| Grand Portage | National Monument | ~5 hr | Multi-day (North Shore) |
| North Country Trail | National Scenic Trail | Varies | Section hikes |
1. Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (in the metro)
Distance from Minneapolis: it runs through the city. Designation: National River and Recreation Area. Fees: free.
This is the easiest national park unit you will ever visit, because it is already where you live. The recreation area protects 72 miles of the Mississippi River corridor through the Twin Cities, including Saint Anthony Falls, Minnehaha Falls, and miles of riverside trail. Walk it, bike it, or paddle it. For a first visit, start at the Mississippi River Visitor Center downtown and work out from there.
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2. Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Distance from Minneapolis: about 1 hour to the lower river near Taylors Falls. Designation: National Scenic Riverway. Fees: free; outfitters and some launches charge.
The Saint Croix and its tributary the Namekagon protect more than 200 miles of clean, canoe-friendly water along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The stretch near Taylors Falls, with its dramatic basalt dalles, is the classic day trip from the Twin Cities. Rent a canoe, hike the river bluffs, or just watch the boats from the overlook. It is the best easy nature escape on this list.
3. Pipestone National Monument
Distance from Minneapolis: about 3 hours 15 minutes via US-212 and US-23 to the southwest corner of the state. Designation: National Monument. Fees: free.
Pipestone protects the soft red catlinite quarries where Native peoples have come for centuries to carve ceremonial pipes, a tradition that continues today under federal permit. The Circle Trail loops past the active quarries and a small waterfall, and the cultural center often has Native artisans at work. It is a quiet, meaningful stop and a good anchor for a southwest Minnesota loop.
4. Voyageurs National Park (the headliner)
Distance from Minneapolis: about 4 hours 30 minutes via I-35 N and US-53 to International Falls. Designation: National Park. Fees: free entry; boat rentals and tour fees apply.
This is the one to build a trip around. Voyageurs is a water park in the literal sense: most of it is only reachable by boat, and the interior Kabetogama Peninsula has no roads. Paddle a canoe between islands, fish the big lakes, camp on your own piece of shoreline, and if you time it right, watch the northern lights ripple over the water. It is unlike any other park in the lower 48. Plan it with our guide to the best things to do in Voyageurs National Park.
5. Grand Portage National Monument (a North Shore trip)
Distance from Minneapolis: about 5 hours via I-35 N and MN-61 up the Lake Superior shore. Designation: National Monument. Fees: free.
Way up at the tip of the Minnesota arrowhead, Grand Portage preserves the great 8.5-mile portage that carried fur-trade canoes around the lower Pigeon River, and the reconstructed North West Company depot tells the story alongside the Grand Portage Ojibwe. It is a long drive, but it pairs naturally with the gorgeous North Shore drive and nearby Grand Portage State Park’s high waterfall. Make it a multi-day Lake Superior trip.
6. North Country National Scenic Trail (section hikes)
Distance from Minneapolis: varies; the trail crosses northern Minnesota. Designation: National Scenic Trail. Fees: free.
The North Country Trail is the longest of the national scenic trails, running thousands of miles from North Dakota to Vermont. You do not hike it all; you pick a section. In Minnesota it threads through the lake-and-forest country of the north, with access points you can reach on the same trips you take to Voyageurs or the North Shore. Treat it as a way to add a real woods walk to any northern outing.
More To Do Around Minneapolis
Cross into the neighboring states and the map opens up further. See our regional guides to Michigan National Parks, Illinois National Parks, and Iowa National Parks for trips a little farther afield.
Keep exploring: Michigan National Parks | Illinois National Parks | Iowa National Parks
