Highest-rated free things to do in Minnesota by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Minnesota.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Minnesota using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: Highest scoring NBA players born in Minnesota

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. High Falls

- Rating: 4.9/5 (177 reviews)
- City: Grand Portage
-

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Lake Harriet

- Rating: 4.7/5 (600 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Summit Avenue

- Rating: 4.7/5 (429 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
-

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. Munsinger Gardens

- Rating: 4.8/5 (422 reviews)
- City: Saint Cloud
-

Tripadvisor

5 / 30

#26. Quarry Hill Nature Center

- Rating: 4.7/5 (275 reviews)
- City: Rochester
-

You may also like: Most popular diamond shapes in the Midwest

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. Tettegouche State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (239 reviews)
- City: not available
-

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Bde Maka Ska

- Rating: 4.6/5 (613 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Grand Portage State Forest

- Rating: 4.8/5 (285 reviews)
- City: Grand Marais
-

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Lake of the Isles

- Rating: 4.8/5 (334 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

10 / 30

#21. Lakewalk

- Rating: 4.8/5 (925 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

You may also like: Best NFL players born in Minnesota

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (694 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Basilica of St. Mary

- Rating: 4.7/5 (381 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

13 / 30

#18. Lego Store

- Rating: 4.3/5 (915 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
-

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Park Point

- Rating: 4.6/5 (341 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

15 / 30

#16. Black Beach

- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- City: Silver Bay
-

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,192 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
-

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Chain of Lakes

- Rating: 4.8/5 (416 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Minneapolis Skyway System

- Rating: 4.3/5 (756 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. Enger Park and Tower

- Rating: 4.7/5 (923 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

20 / 30

#11. Spam Museum and Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (734 reviews)
- City: Austin
-

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Cathedral of Saint Paul

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,095 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
-

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Canal Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,469 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Minnehaha Falls

- Rating: 4.6/5 (507 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. Aerial Lift Bridge

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,743 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

25 / 30

#6. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,839 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Gooseberry Falls State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,682 reviews)
- City: Two Harbors
-

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Minneapolis Institute of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,415 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Minnehaha Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,512 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
-

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. North Shore Scenic Drive

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,022 reviews)
- City: Duluth
-

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#1. Mall of America

- Rating: 4.3/5 (6,046 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
-

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

爆料TV