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Highest-rated free things to do in Minnesota by visitors

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Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
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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!

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#25. Tettegouche State Park

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. Tettegouche State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (239 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Grand Portage State Forest

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Grand Portage State Forest

- Rating: 4.8/5 (285 reviews)
- City: Grand Marais
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (694 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,192 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Minneapolis Skyway System

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Minneapolis Skyway System

- Rating: 4.3/5 (756 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Cathedral of Saint Paul

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Cathedral of Saint Paul

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,095 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Gooseberry Falls State Park

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Gooseberry Falls State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,682 reviews)
- City: Two Harbors
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Minneapolis Institute of Art

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Minneapolis Institute of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,415 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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