🏕️National Park Data
Large canoes and crews paddle down the river amidst autumnal color.
Gray clouds over flowers growing on sand dunes.
A large canoe filled with paddlers on the river surrounded by autumnal color.
A large, long-necked, long-legged bird wades in the river.
Large trees are widely spaced in a grassland.
A canoeist paddles through a water channel between islands.
National River & Recreation Area

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

Minnesota

💰
Entrance Fee
Free
🕐
Hours
All Day
📍
Location
Saint Paul, MN
📞
Visitor Center
651-293-0200

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.

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About Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area is a national river & recreation area located in Minnesota. 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.

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).

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

Entry to Mississippi is completely free. There are no general entrance fees or vehicle passes required to access this park unit.

🥾 Things to Do

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Biking, Mountain Biking, Road Biking, Boating, and 22 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.

✅ Biking
✅ Mountain Biking
✅ Road Biking
✅ Boating
✅ Compass and GPS
✅ Geocaching
✅ Fishing
✅ Freshwater Fishing
✅ Hiking
✅ Front-Country Hiking
✅ Hunting and Gathering
✅ Hunting
✅ Living History
✅ Reenactments
✅ Historic Weapons Demonstration
✅ First Person Interpretation
✅ Paddling
✅ Canoeing
✅ Kayaking
✅ Junior Ranger Program
✅ Skiing
✅ Cross-Country Skiing
✅ Snow Play
✅ Wildlife Watching
✅ Birdwatching
✅ Museum Exhibits

📦 Recommended Gear & Packing Checklist

Custom items selected for activities at Mississippi

0 of 10 packed

🎒 Trail Essentials

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🥾 Activity-Specific Gear

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🧥 Apparel & Layers

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

📋 Visitor Planning Tips for Mississippi

  • →Beat the Crowds: Arrive at the main gates or trailheads of Mississippi before 8:00 AM. Parking spaces at popular locations fill up extremely fast, especially during warm peak season weekends.
  • →Verify Conditions: Weather and trail accessibility inside Mississippi can change rapidly. Always verify the latest road conditions and local weather advisories before starting your trek.
  • →Leave No Trace: Help protect the delicate ecosystems of Mississippi. Stay on marked trails, pack out all of your waste, and keep a respectful distance from wildlife.
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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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mississippi

The entrance fee for Mississippi National River & Recreation Area is Free per vehicle. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all 474+ NPS sites and pays for itself after just 2-3 park visits.

About the Author

🧗

James R. Mitchell

Founder & Lead Writer — National Park Data

James has visited all 63 designated US national parks and has been writing about outdoor travel for over 12 years. He spent 8 years as a wilderness guide in the Rocky Mountains before founding National Park Data to help visitors plan better, safer, and more enjoyable park trips.

🏔️ 63 Parks Visited✍️ 12 Years Writing🧭 Wilderness GuideFull Bio →
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