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National River & Recreation Area · Minnesota

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

National River & Recreation Area in Minnesota. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational River & Recreation Area
StateMinnesota
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkVoyageurs (246 mi)
Closest airportMSP (7 mi)
Large canoes and crews paddle down the river amidst autumnal color.
The park often uses big, safe Voyageur canoes in our programs. Photo: NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area is a national river & recreation area run by the National Park Service in Minnesota.

In the park service’s words

In the middle of a bustling urban setting, this 72 mile river park offers quiet stretches for fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking. And there are plenty of visitor centers and trails that highlight the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Visit the Mississippi River Visitor Center (5 to 60 Minutes): The Mississippi River Visitor Center provides fun activities for people of all ages as well as highlighting the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river!
  • Earn a Junior Ranger Badge (10 to 15 Minutes): Becoming a Junior Ranger means learning more about the history, resources, and communities within the 72 mile stretch of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Junior Rangers help our park rangers by learning about the park and sharing what they’ve learned with others, exploring the park, and by helping to
  • Enjoy a Coffee with a Ranger!: Start every Friday right with Coffee With a Ranger! Each week brings a different subject, and park ranger, exploring the wonderful world of birds, beers, mushrooms, geology and more within the park!
  • Go on a Day Hike at Coldwater Spring: Enjoy a nice day hike and many opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, and reflection at Coldwater Spring! Trails surround a restored prairie oak savannah and wetlands in this culturally and historically significant gem that is open year-round.
  • Kayak in the park with Paddle Share: Paddle the park with Paddle Share, self-serve kayak sharing system in the Twin Cities metro area that lets you rent a boat and paddle to a destination downriver!

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. We are a partnership park that overlaps many parks (regional, city, state), other public lands, museums, and historical sites. Check with the specific park site you plan on visiting for their hours. See http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm for more information. The National Park Service does not control the visiting hours for the partner sites. Coldwater Spring (NPS) is open from 6:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m., 365 days a year.

Getting there

Limited metered street parking is available on nearby streets near park headquarters. Several parking ramps are available nearby including the Kellogg Square parking ramp. The Mississippi River Visitor Center is located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 Kellogg Blvd West, St. Paul, MN).

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Minneapolis, Saint Paul International Airport / Wold, Chamberlain Field (MSP) Minneapolis, MN No road route 7 Large hub
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC) Saint Cloud, MN No road route 63 Regional
Rochester International Airport (RST) Rochester, MN No road route 77 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Mississippi River Visitor Center: Mon Closed; Tue 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Wed 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Thu 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Fri 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center contains interactive exhibits and a ranger station, where you can find interesting things to do and see, ask questions about the history of the area, and a plaza overlooking the Mississippi River. Metered parking is available on nearby streets and in the Science Museum's parking ramp for a fee. Call the visitor center to confirm our hours before your visit.

Weather

Minnesota has a continental climate characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Spring brings moderate temperatures and low humidity. Summer days may reach temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C), but are usually pleasant with temperatures in the low to mid-80°F (25-30°C). Autumn brings dry, warm days, cool nights and gorgeous fall colors. Winter daytime highs are around 25°F (-3°C). Rarely, winter daytime high temperatures may not get above -10°F (-23°C), sometimes with strong winds.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Voyageurs, about 246 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Mississippi National River & Recreation Area?

No entrance fee.

Where is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area?

In Minnesota. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Minneapolis, Saint Paul International Airport / Wold, Chamberlain Field, about 7 miles away.

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