
Highest-rated free things to do in Minnesota by visitors
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 ever-growing cost of living, 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 cost-burdened, 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 over vacations. 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, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Minnesota using data from Tripadvisor. 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!

#30. High Falls
- Rating: 4.9/5 (177 reviews)
- City: Grand Portage
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Lake Harriet
- Rating: 4.7/5 (600 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Summit Avenue
- Rating: 4.7/5 (429 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Munsinger Gardens
- Rating: 4.8/5 (422 reviews)
- City: Saint Cloud
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Quarry Hill Nature Center
- Rating: 4.7/5 (275 reviews)
- City: Rochester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Tettegouche State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (239 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Bde Maka Ska
- Rating: 4.6/5 (613 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Grand Portage State Forest
- Rating: 4.8/5 (285 reviews)
- City: Grand Marais
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Lake of the Isles
- Rating: 4.8/5 (334 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Lakewalk
- Rating: 4.8/5 (925 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (694 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Basilica of St. Mary
- Rating: 4.7/5 (381 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Lego Store
- Rating: 4.3/5 (915 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Park Point
- Rating: 4.6/5 (341 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Black Beach
- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- City: Silver Bay
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,192 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Chain of Lakes
- Rating: 4.8/5 (416 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Minneapolis Skyway System
- Rating: 4.3/5 (756 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Enger Park and Tower
- Rating: 4.7/5 (923 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Spam Museum and Visitor Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (734 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Cathedral of Saint Paul
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,095 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Canal Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,469 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Minnehaha Falls
- Rating: 4.6/5 (507 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Aerial Lift Bridge
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,743 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,839 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,682 reviews)
- City: Two Harbors
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,415 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Minnehaha Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,512 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. North Shore Scenic Drive
- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,022 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Mall of America
- Rating: 4.3/5 (6,046 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.