Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Minnesota State Parks & National Parks
Minnesota has 5 National Park Service units that report visitation. Below, each is ranked by annual visits, with the month our data recommends for the best balance of light crowds, comfortable weather and daylight. Crowds peak in summer almost everywhere — the recommended months show where the quieter shoulder seasons fall.
The 61 Minnesota state parks are listed in their own section below the national park table. Crowd levels are shown for national park units only; for state parks the best month reflects weather and daylight.
Minnesota parks on the map
Click a marker for the park page, or use Where to stay in the table.
Ways to pick a Minnesota park
Quietest months
- Saint Croix — December
- Voyageurs — December
- Pipestone — January
- Grand Portage — January
Most-visited
- Saint Croix — 852,296 visits
- Mississippi — 224,722 visits
- Voyageurs — 206,326 visits
- Grand Portage — 85,734 visits
Most-visited parks in Minnesota
| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest | Stays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint CroixNational Scenic Riverway | 852,296 | May | Jul | Dec | Where to stay → |
| MississippiNational River & Recreation Area | 224,722 | September | Jul | Dec | Where to stay → |
| VoyageursNational Park | 206,326 | September | Aug | Dec | Where to stay → |
| Grand PortageNational Monument | 85,734 | September | Aug | Jan | Where to stay → |
| PipestoneNational Monument | 83,033 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
Minnesota State Parks
61 state parks, with the month that usually brings the most comfortable weather and the longest days, where a nearby weather record exists.
- Afton State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Banning State ParkUsually best in July · about 5,200 acresOfficial park page
- Beaver Creek Valley State ParkUsually best in June · about 740 acresOfficial park page
- Big Stone Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,000 acresOfficial park page
- Blue Mounds State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Buffalo River State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,300 acresOfficial park page
- Camden State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,800 acresOfficial park page
- Carley State ParkUsually best in June · about 210 acresOfficial park page
- Cascade River State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,600 acresOfficial park page
- Charles A. Lindbergh State ParkUsually best in June · about 430 acresOfficial park page
- Crow Wing State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,600 acresOfficial park page
- Father Hennepin State ParkUsually best in July · about 290 acresOfficial park page
- Flandrau State ParkUsually best in June · about 820 acresOfficial park page
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State ParkUsually best in August · about 3,300 acresOfficial park page
- Fort Ridgely State ParkUsually best in June · about 550 acresOfficial park page
- Fort Snelling State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,600 acresOfficial park page
- Franz Jevne State ParkUsually best in July · about 88 acresOfficial park page
- Frontenac State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,400 acresOfficial park page
- George H. Crosby Manitou State ParkUsually best in July · about 6,100 acresOfficial park page
- Glacial Lakes State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Glendalough State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Gooseberry Falls State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,700 acresOfficial park page
- Grand Portage State ParkUsually best in July · about 250 acresOfficial park page
- Great River Bluffs State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,100 acresOfficial park page
- Interstate State ParkUsually best in June · about 270 acresOfficial park page
- Itasca State ParkUsually best in July · about 29,000 acresOfficial park page
- Jay Cooke State ParkUsually best in July · about 7,800 acresOfficial park page
- John A. Latsch State ParkUsually best in June · about 380 acresOfficial park page
- Judge C.R. Magney State ParkUsually best in August · about 4,200 acresOfficial park page
- Kilen Woods State ParkUsually best in June · about 220 acresOfficial park page
- Lac qui Parle State ParkUsually best in June · about 660 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Bemidji State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Bronson State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,600 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Carlos State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,200 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Louise State ParkUsually best in July · about 850 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Maria State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Shetek State ParkUsually best in June · about 820 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State ParkUsually best in July · about 4,100 acresOfficial park page
- Maplewood State ParkUsually best in August · about 8,100 acresOfficial park page
- McCarthy Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkUsually best in July · about 9,700 acresOfficial park page
- Minneopa State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Monson Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 180 acresOfficial park page
- Moose Lake State ParkUsually best in July · about 820 acresOfficial park page
- Myre-Big Island State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,600 acresOfficial park page
- Old Mill State ParkUsually best in July · about 290 acresOfficial park page
- Rice Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 780 acresOfficial park page
- Sakatah Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 730 acresOfficial park page
- Savanna Portage State ParkUsually best in July · about 15,000 acresOfficial park page
- Scenic State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,400 acresOfficial park page
- Schoolcraft State ParkUsually best in July · about 140 acresOfficial park page
- Sibley State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,700 acresOfficial park page
- Split Rock Creek State ParkUsually best in June · about 950 acresOfficial park page
- Split Rock Lighthouse State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,100 acresOfficial park page
- Temperance River State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Tettegouche State ParkUsually best in July · about 9,000 acresOfficial park page
- Whitewater State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,000 acresOfficial park page
- Wild River State ParkUsually best in August · about 6,600 acresOfficial park page
- William O'Brien State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,700 acresOfficial park page
- Zippel Bay State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,700 acresOfficial park page
State park listings come from the Minnesota state park agency. Boundaries and acreage come from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Best-month estimates use NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals and computed daylight.
Minnesota park crowd calendar (5 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 5 of Minnesota's national parks — each park's month-by-month crowd index (1.0 = its average month), busiest and quietest months, and Best-Time-to-Visit score. Built from NPS visitation data. Enter your email to download. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Where to stay near Minnesota's national parks
Find hotels, cabins and vacation rentals across Minnesota to base your national-park trip — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Minnesota national parks
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a Minnesota parks trip?
Get the best time to visit Minnesota's national parks plus lodging deals by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.