NPS Sites Near Minneapolis

Two National Park Service units operate within 150 miles of Minneapolis. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, located 12.3 miles from the city, protects a 72-mile corridor of the Mississippi River as it flows through the Twin Cities metropolitan area. This site recorded approximately 224,722 annual recreation visits. The Saint Croix National Scenic River, situated 79.5 miles away, preserves 252 miles of this scenic waterway along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and attracted approximately 852,296 annual recreation visits.

Both units emphasize water-based recreation and natural resource protection. The Mississippi site focuses on urban river access and restoration, while the Saint Croix offers a more remote experience. Visitors planning trips to these areas can find additional information through the National Park Service website for details on specific amenities, access points, and seasonal conditions at each location.

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Nearby-NPS units and their annual recreation visits are from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics package (haversine match within 150 mi of the city centroid), verified June 2026. Null visitation renders as “n/a”, never 0. How we compile this.