Minnesota state parks vehicle permit

• $35 Year-round vehicle permit
• $26 Additional year-round vehicle permit
• $30 Year-round motorcycle permit
• $7 One-day vehicle permit
• $5 One-day group permit
• Minnesota residents with disabilities that have a Federal Access Pass or a Minnesota-issued disability license or hang tag can get a $12 year-round permit. 
• Disabled veterans and active duty military personnel can get discounted or free vehicle permits.

Online

• Purchase a one-day venicle permit (Yodel)
• Purchase a year-round vehicle permit (Reserve MN)

In person

• At any staffed and open Minnesota state park ranger station. Keep in mind that not every ranger station is staffed seven days a week.
• At the Minnesota DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.

Yodel is a web-based portal where you can make certain purchases related to a state park visit. Yodel is the easiest way to buy a one-day vehicle permit online. Yodel is also the online purchase option if you need to buy firewood in a state park or recreation area when the ranger station is closed. (You must be physically in the park when you buy firewood using Yodel - you can't pre-purchase before your arrival. Learn more about firewood.)

Reserve MN is the online reservation system for Minnesota state parks. In addition to being able to purchase both one-day and year-round vehicle permits, you can also reserve campsites, lodging and tour tickets, or buy gift cards and merchandise through Reserve MN. Reserve MN is the only online option for purchasing a year-round vehicle permit.

While you can buy a one-day permit through Reserve MN or Yodel, Yodel requires fewer steps. If you're just getting a one-day permit and don't need to purchase anything else, we recommend getting your one-day permit through Yodel.

We strongly recommend you purchase your vehicle permit before leaving home, as park ranger stations can be busy places and may not be open when you arrive. If you need to buy a vehicle permit at the park and there is nobody in the ranger station, you can buy one online following the instructions at the pay station.

If you bought a year-round vehicle permit online, it will come in the mail. Print the temporary permit and use it until your permanent one arrives. If you can't print the temporary permit, or if you bought your vehicle permit over the phone, just write your purchase confirmation number on a sheet of paper and leave it visible on your vehicle dash when you are in a park.

If you bought a one-day vehicle permit online, write your confirmation number on a permit confirmation card, available at the pay station, or write your confirmation number on any piece of paper. Display your confirmation number on your vehicle dash when you are in a park.

If you need to buy a vehicle permit at the park and there is nobody in the ranger station, you can buy one online following the instructions at the pay station.* 

Follow the instructions at the pay station to complete an online payment and display your confirmation number on the dash of your vehicle.

* NOTE: Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area and Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area do not have pay stations.

Cell signal availability varies across the state park system, and there are some parks with little or no cell phone coverage. If you will be arriving at the park outside of open hours at the ranger station, we recommend buying your permit online before arriving at the park. Remember that open hours at ranger stations vary, and you can check open hours on the park's website.

If you're already at the park and not getting a cell signal, try connecting to the park's WiFi network. Every state park and recreation area has a free guest WiFi network available for visitors to use. It's most often located at the ranger station. If you don't have a cell signal, try standing outside the ranger station to connect to the guest WiFi network. No password is required.

Your year-round Minnesota state park vehicle permit is valid from the day it is purchased through the last day of that same month one year later.

There is a reduced price year-round permit for multiple vehicles. After you buy one full-price year-round vehicle permit, you may purchase as many multiple-vehicle permits as needed for additional vehicles you own. (Vehicles must all be under the same ownership to qualify.)

Regardless of when you purchase them, your multiple-vehicle permits will be punched with the same month as your first permit, so they will all expire in the same month.

Motorcycle riders may purchase a "wallet card" type year-round permit. The motorcycle license plate number is written on the back of the card, which you will need to carry and present upon request.

Motorcyclists may also purchase regular and multiple-vehicle year-round permits, but these permits are not wallet style and must be affixed to your motorcycle.

Not a fan of windshield stickers? Now there's another option! The Minnesota State Parks and Trails license plate provides you with unlimited visits to every Minnesota state park and recreation area for an entire year, without requiring a separate vehicle permit. Plus it helps fund the operations and maintenance of Minnesota's state parks and trails.

No. If you are staying overnight you can purchase an overnight vehicle permit for the same price as the one-day permit. It will be valid for the date of purchase through 4 p.m. the following day. Your vehicle may remain in the park until camping or lodging check-out time.

You will still need a camping reservation to stay overnight; your vehicle permit provides park access but does not include or guarantee any kind of campsite access. 

Lost vehicle permits will not be replaced for free. You may purchase a reduced price year-round permit for multiple vehicles as a replacement. This permit can be purchased at any open and staffed state park, or at the DNR license center in St. Paul. Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week.

Regardless of when you purchase them, multiple vehicle permits will be punched with the same month as your first permit.

To request a replacement, you must bring the actual permit to an open and staffed state park ranger station, or you may mail it to us. If your car was in an accident and you cannot remove the vehicle permit to return it, please mail a photo of the permit and the accident report to:
Minnesota DNR, Parks and Trails Division
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Yes! Minnesota residents can get a reduced rate year-round vehicle permit for $12. If you own multiple vehicles you may purchase additional permits at the same rate for other vehicles in your name.

You will need the following documents to prove eligibility:

• A Minnesota-issued disability license plate OR disability hang tag OR Federal Access Pass; AND
• Proof of vehicle ownership.

To get the discount, you will need to first show your documents to DNR staff. You can do this at the DNR license center in St. Paul, or at any staffed and open Minnesota state park ranger station - be sure to bring your paperwork with you! Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week.

If you have questions, leave a voicemail for the permit fulfillment center at 218-595-7118. Be sure to mention "disability tag" in your message. 

If you qualify for the reduced rate vehicle permit but do not have a vehicle, you may purchase a "wallet card" for the same price, to be carried with you rather than affixed to a particular vehicle.  Wallet cards can only be purchased by calling the fulfillment center at 218-595-7118 or emailing [email protected] - they are not available at the DNR license center or in the parks.

Disability permit wallet card application

More information about DNR discounts for people with disabilities

Yes! Active military personnel and their dependents in any branch or unit of the United States Armed Forces, veterans with a service-related disability, and Purple Heart recipients are eligible for a free year-round vehicle permit that provides unlimited access to all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.

You will need one of the following documents to prove eligibility:

• Current military orders, plus military ID; OR
• Federal government Access Pass to federal recreational sites, plus military ID; OR
• A copy of your determination letter or Veterans Affairs Healthcare ID indicating a service-connected disability, plus a photo ID.

To get the discount, you will need to first show your documents to DNR staff. You can do this at the DNR license center in St. Paul, or at any staffed and open Minnesota state park ranger station - be sure to bring your paperwork with you! Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week.

If you have questions, leave a voicemail for the permit fulfillment center at 218-595-7118. Be sure to mention "military discount" in your message. 

Military permit application

More information about DNR military benefits.

Yes! A one-day vehicle permit will be issued free of charge for any vehicle transporting K-12 students, chaperones, teachers and coaches for school sanctioned activities.

This permit must be pre-arranged with the park you will be visiting. Contact park staff well in advance of the date of your field trip to work through any additional details. Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week. 

Yes! If you have ten vehicles or more in your group, each one can purchase a one-day vehicle permit at the group rate of $5. One-day group permits expire at 10:00 p.m. on the day of purchase and may not be used for an overnight stay.

Contact the park at least 24 hours before you arrive. Some parks may issue one-day group permits in advance, and others will issue them as individual vehicles arrive at the park. Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week. Plan ahead, as you will need to speak to someone at the park before your group arrives. 

Yes! If you are buying 50 or more permits, they are $30 each instead of $35. 

To order a large number of permits - even if you are ordering fewer than 50 and do not qualify for the bulk discount - email [email protected] with your name, phone number, and the number of annual permits you'd like to purchase. Put "Bulk Permits" in the subject line. We will call you to complete your bulk permit order within the next ten business days. 

Yes! Any member of the 11 federally recognized tribes in Minnesota is eligible for a free vehicle permit, providing unlimited access to all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. You will need to present one of the following forms of tribal identification at any open and staffed Minnesota state park ranger station, or at the DNR license center in St. Paul:

• Tribal ID; OR
• Certificate of Indian Blood; OR
• Tribal license plate; OR
• 1854 Treaty Authority window cling; OR
• 1854 Treaty Authority hunting, fishing, gathering card.

No, there are no discounts other than those listed on this page.

Maybe! We are collaborating with regional library systems to provide free seven-day state park vehicle permits for checkout in select areas. This program is currently available at over one hundred libraries around the state - find out if your library is participating in the program.

Employee vehicles and contractors' vehicles are legally required to display a valid vehicle permit, just like any other visitor's vehicle. If you are working in the park under the direction of the park manager, you may be able to get a "work permit" to meet this requirement. Contact the park ranger station well in advance to see if this is an option for your specific circumstances. Keep in mind that not every park ranger station is staffed seven days a week.

The only vehicles not required to have some sort of valid Minnesota state park vehicle permit associated with them are Minnesota state-owned vehicles that have white and black "Minnesota State Vehicle" license plates AND are at the park on official business; and law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances while they are on official business.

If you're having issues creating a new account or logging into an existing account on mndnr.gov/reservations, call 866-857-2757.

If you're having issues creating a new account or logging into an existing account on Yodel, click the support button in the upper right corner of the Yodel screen.

For the following issues, email [email protected] with your name, mailing address and purchase confirmation number. We'll look it up and get back to you. 

I purchased an annual permit online over 30 days ago but I haven't received it yet.

Put "Didn't Receive Permit" in the subject line when you email us. We will look up your purchase and send your permit to you. If you purchased your permit through a self-pay station at a park (not online), you will need to contact the park directly to resolve the issue. Continue to use your temporary permit or confirmation number until you receive your permit sticker.

I purchased a permit online but didn't receive a confirmation email/temporary permit.

Confirmation emails are sent from this address: [email protected]. It may have gone to your spam or junk folder - check there first before you email us. If you find your missing confirmation there, please whitelist that email address so it doesn't happen again with any future purchases. If you still can't find the confirmation, put "Confirmation" in the subject line when you email us, and we'll resend your confirmation email and temporary permit within three business days.

After placing my permit order online, I realized that my mailing address is incorrect.

Put "Wrong Mailing Address" in the subject line when you email us. Continue to use your temporary permit or confirmation number until you receive your vehicle permit.

Email your question to [email protected]. Please use the subject line to describe your issue, and be sure to share your name, phone number, and if applicable, your purchase confirmation number. We'll get back to you within two business days.