The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a partnership park. While we do not charge admission fees some partner parks, museums, and historical sites within our park do have admission fees. These include, among others, Historic Fort Snelling, Mill City Museu, and Fort Snelling State Park. Others, such as Minnehaha Regional Park, charge parking fees. Some parks require reservations and fees for reserving picnic shelters and for events. Please contact those parks and facilities for more information.
The Mississippi River Visitor Center (MRVC), located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota, has free admission. The MRVC address is 120 Kellogg Blvd West, Saint Paul, MN. Paid parking is available in two nearby ramps and on-street metered parking.
TheSt. Anthony Falls Visitor Center (SAFVC) is open starting June 11 until Labor Day in 2017. The address is 1 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. There is limited parking at the SAFVC for visitors. A Minneapolis paid parking lot is available nearby.
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Senior Passes
We currently have senior passes available at the Mississippi River Visitor Center. Please call 651-293-0200 for an automated message with the most updated information. We only accept credit or debit cards; we do not accept cash.
On July 10 we were officially notified that the lifetime Senior Pass price will increase to $80 effective August 28th. The National Park Service has provided more information on the rate increase and other options on the national website.
We are experiencing an extremely high demand for Senior Passes, which has created has created shortages of the passes nation-wide. We are selling passes as they arrive. We cannot reserve a pass and all pass sales must be in person.
Following are some other options for obtaining Senior Passes:
Traveling prior to August 28? Purchase the Senior Pass for $10 at your first destination that requires an admission fee. If they don't have the pass you will be issued a receipt which will act as a temporary Senior Pass. They will mail you a card when they become available.
The passes may be ordered online at Your Pass Now. The order confirmation/receipt will serve as a temporary Senior Pass until your card arrives in the mail. Any orders prior to August 28 are $10 plus a $10 processing fee per card.
Senior Passes may be ordered by mail from the USGS Store. Orders received prior to August 28 will be charged $10 plus a $10 handling fee per card and the card will be sent to you when available.
Other Passes
While the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area does not collect admission fees. Visitors can obtain America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Lands Pass cards at our park for use at various U.S. fee areas. These include the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10), Access Pass (free to those with disabilities), the annual pass for active duty service men and women (free), and the Every Kid in a Park program. Please note that the Mississippi River and Recreation Area can only accept payment by credit card.
The America the Beautiful pass series was created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and authorized by Congress in 2004. Participating agencies include the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation. The pass series permits admission to fee areas managed by these agencies and replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Passport series. They are not valid for admissions to state or locally managed properties, such as state parks, historical sites, etc., including those that have admission fees within the borders of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
111 E. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 105
Saint Paul, MN55101
Phone:
(651) 293-0200 This is the general phone line at the Visitor Center. Please leave a voicemail if we miss your call and expect a return call within 1 day, often sooner.
