Midwest State Parks

Four of the twelve Midwest states charge no day-use fee at any state park: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. Michigan residents get in with the $15 Recreation Passport, bought with their vehicle registration. Where the region does charge, it charges per vehicle, from $5 in Kansas to $13 in Wisconsin at resident rates, and no annual pass costs more than Indiana's $50.

12 States

906 Park Profiles

Midwest States Compared

State	Parks profiled	Day-use fee (resident)	Annual pass (resident)
Illinois	144	Free Source: dnr.illinois.gov	None (entry is free)
Indiana	39	$7 (in-state) / $15 (out-of-state) per vehicle Source: in.gov	Annual Entrance Pass: $50
Iowa	76	Free Source: iowadnr.gov	None (entry is free)
Kansas	28	$5 per vehicle Source: ksoutdoors.gov	Annual Park Vehicle Permit: $25
Michigan	120	$0 (no day fee for residents) per vehicle Source: michigan.gov	Recreation Passport: $15
Minnesota	120	$7 per vehicle Source: dnr.state.mn.us	Year-Round Vehicle Permit: $35
Missouri	86	Free Source: mostateparks.com	None (entry is free)
Nebraska	72	$7 (NE plates) per vehicle Source: outdoornebraska.gov	Annual Park Entry Permit: $35
North Dakota	17	$7 per vehicle Source: parkrec.nd.gov	Annual Vehicle Permit: $35
Ohio	81	Free Source: ohiodnr.gov	None (entry is free)
South Dakota	55	$10 per vehicle Source: gfp.sd.gov	Annual Park Entrance License: $40
Wisconsin	68	$13 per vehicle Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov	12-month vehicle admission pass: $28

Parks profiled: published park profiles in our database for each state, counted live. Fees and pass prices: standard resident rates published by each state park agency, verified in July 2026 for our 50-state fee study. Many states charge out-of-state visitors more, so confirm the current rate with the agency before you go.