Minnehaha Falls Parking: Plan a Visit to Minneapolis 2022

Last Updated on December 9, 2023 by Usama

Minnehaha Falls Parking

Minnehaha Falls is the top attraction in one of the oldest city parks, managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. If you’re coming to Minnehaha Regional Park from within or outside Minnesota, we’ll help you draw a perfect travel plan. There’s no admission charge to enjoy the park or its waterfall, but some parking lots require payment. Use our guide to find the locations of paid, metered, and free parking at and near the park. You’ll also discover the short-term fees and the best alternatives to the on-site lots.

Paid Parking at Minnehaha Falls

Paid lots are available on Godfrey Parkway and South Minnehaha Drive from 6 AM to midnight. They are placed at the following addresses and have blue “Pay Lot” signs (see the picture below).

4800 Godfrey Pkwy
4500 Godfrey Pkwy
4501 Godfrey Pkwy
4929 S Minnehaha Dr
5201 S Minnehaha Dr
5235 S Minnehaha Dr
5380 S Minnehaha Dr

The hourly parking fee varies between $1.00 and $2.00, depending on the location and time of the year. The higher rate applies on weekends from April to September. Each lot has a pay station for easy payments, and credit cards are accepted.

For the Minnehaha Falls parking map and directions, click here.

Find Free Parking Throughout the Park

Free parking areas are open from 6 AM to 10 PM every day at several locations. Four lots offering complimentary parking are placed around the Wabun Picnic Area: Main, North, South, and Lower Lot. Two additional options are Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House Lot and Gardens Lot, which are smaller and close to Godfrey Circle. If you plan to snatch one of the free spots, be sure to arrive early.

Street Parking Hours & Fees

Limited metered parking spots are available on South Minnesota Drive and are enforced daily from 6 AM to midnight. There’s a four-hour limit for visitors with disability placards or license plates; they are entitled to free parking. Other drivers pay standard rates, which are listed below.

Season	Hourly Rate	Daily Rate
Weekdays year-round & weekends September through April	$1.50	$27
Weekends April through September	$2.00	$36

Note: Metered parking spots on the southern part of South Minnehaha Drive charge slightly lower rates. The fees vary from $1.00 to $1.50 per hour or $18 to $27 per day. These areas are right north and south of the Dog Park.

ADA Parking Availability

In addition to free on-street spots, accessible parking spaces are available in all Minnehaha Falls parking lots. Each Pay Lot has one or two ADA stalls, while the Minnesota Veterans Home parking area offers plenty of spots for the disabled. Anyone occupying such a spot must own a valid disabled parking permit. We suggest that you arrive early, especially during peak hours, weekends, and holidays.

Additional Parking Near Minnehaha Falls

Although there’s no need to search for an off-site lot, we looked into the area to discover the top alternatives. The most reliable options are on the other side of the Mississippi River and require approximately a 20-minute walk. If you decide to park across the Ford Bridge, try out one of the Impark Lots.

For instance, the Plaza Ramp/Impark Lot 109 at 2145 Ford Pkwy has the following rates:

$2 for the first 30 minutes;
$1 for every additional 30 minutes.

Check out parking platforms like SpotHero or ParkWhiz for more options.

Take Public Transit to the Park

Skip the hassle of paid parking and take advantage of public transportation. The 50th Street/Minnehaha Park station on the Metro Blue Line is a quick walk across Hiawatha Avenue. The former Hiawatha Line links Downtown Minneapolis, MSP Airport, and Bloomington. Metro Transit’s buses also run to Minnehaha Park. Bus #23 runs to the Veterans Day Center and makes a few stops throughout the park.

The single-ride fare is $2.50 during rush hours and $2.00 at other times. Rush-hour fees apply from 6 to 9 AM and between 3 and 6:30 PM on weekdays.

Find Parking in the Twin Cities Effortlessly

Our international team has created in-depth guides for hundreds of popular locations nationwide and major airports worldwide. We’ll help you find discounted parking and learn about diverse parking-related topics wherever you go. In addition to Minnehaha Falls parking, residents or visitors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul can learn more about the following:

Plan on flying out of MSP? Looking for a convenient overnight parking service near your terminal? Our MSP Airport Parking guide has all the info: on-site parking prices, private lots with airport shuttles, top hotel deals, and more.

All About Minnehaha Falls Parking: Plan a Visit to the Park