Twin Cities Parks & Playgrounds

Parks in the Twin Cities Metro

The Twin Cities are home to hundreds of parks and playgrounds, thousands of lakes, acres of green space, and miles of trails. We have National Parks, State Parks, County Parks and Neighborhood Parks. There is something for everyone. We’ll help you find the best park with our Park and Playground Search. You can search by name, attractions and amenities, park city or zip, or just peruse our picks for the best public parks.

Want to explore what we consider to be the very best parks in each community of the Twin Cities Metro Area? Consult our quick list of great parks by City below. :

Best Parks by City​

Washington County Parks

10 of the Best Twin Cities Playgrounds

The Biggest Playground In Minnesota

The title of largest park playground in Minnesota is disputed between the play areas at Elm Creek Park Reserve and Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Both playgrounds are huge and both parks also offer nature trails to hike, beautiful views and acres of fun outside the playground.

More Parks by Type

Find State Parks near the Twin Cities and the National Parklands located in Minnesota.

Indoor Parks and Indoor Waterparks

In Minnesota indoor playgrounds are a necessity! I know we think of outdoors when we think of parks, but with our long, dark and cold winters, some indoor active games are a must. You can even have indoor picnics at these parks. This such a great way to stretch the summer feeling into the winter! Check out some of the best indoor playgrounds in the Twin Cities this winter.

Award Wining Outdoor Parks

Minnesota has these, too! And during our short summer, we want to take advantage of them as much as possible! In fact, the Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks are home to some of the best outdoor playgrounds twin cities – actually in the country. They win awards – every year! Look and See. Every. Single. Year. So get out to our area parks, make up some fun games to play. Minnesota is a beautiful place to live year round.

Beaches, Water Parks, Spraygrounds & Public Pools

Twin Cities sunny days deserve a great spot for a splash happy outing. Some of the best beaches in the Twin Cities are hidden little gems. Anne has her favorite Twin Cities Beaches, Parks & Playgrounds to Try This Summer. She revises the list every year to keep us in the know.

Shakespeare in the Park at Twin Cities Parks

One of my favorite ways to enjoy our parks is with a play or musical in a park. It doesn’t really have to be Shakespeare, it can be the latest Disney princess musical or even a puppet wagon. In fact, sometimes Open Eye Figure Theatre’s driveway tour has some park stops. Watch our Performing Arts page each summer to find these fun, free park events.

Shakespeare in the Park Performance at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, Minnesota

Music & Movies in the Parks - Minneapolis, St. Paul & Suburbs

Best Rose Garden & Wildflower Garden Parks

Toddler Friendly Parks & Tot Times

Where to Find Nature in Twin Cities Parks

The Twin Cities abounds with nature centers, nature-themed playgrounds and natural playscapes where families can enjoy the great outdoors​. Pick a close one or explore around the metro area.

Family Fun at Twin Cities Parks

Looking for the Best Playgrounds and Parks Beyond the Twin Cities?

If you are traveling outside the metro, you’ll want to check out some of our favorite day-trip parks. If you are going further than that, we have a list of great family-owned websites to direct you to the best parks around the country so you don’t have to depend on national websites or random internet searches.

Check out our Parks and Playgrounds Pinterest Board.

We can help you find some of the best playgrounds Minneapolis, St. Paul and greater Minnesota. Looking for specifics like a playground, swimming spot or bike trail? Want to find the perfect place to a pitch a tent or your city’s best sledding hill? Search by all of these amenities and more in our Twin Cities Parks & Playgrounds Search by selecting a category from the drop down menu or typing in the keyword of your choice in the search box. You can even enter an address and select a radius to search by city or region of the Metro. Plus, find park hours, fees, directions, pictures and other extras.

We’ve currently reviewed over 400 parks in this directory, but we would love to hear from you! What do YOU think are the best parks in the Twin Cities? How about the best parks in Minnesota? What parks did we completely miss? What is your favorite little unknown gem? We really want to share all your favorite indoor playgrounds and outdoor parks! Let us know and we’ll add a review here.

Twin Cities parks are great for hiking, biking, rollerblading, kayaking, canoeing and other fun physical games. But, they are also just great for hanging out in a hammock and picnicking while the kids explore and enjoy some of the best playgrounds in Minnesota. Want to get even greener? We have a big list of the best nature playgrounds for kids and families in Minneapolis and beyond.

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