Afton State Park is a Minnesota state park near Hastings, covering 1,620 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 1,620acres
- Hastingsmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Backpack camping
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Prairie landscape
- Hiking
- Cross-country skiing
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. Trails pass through remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines, and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers.
Wildlife. Birdwatchers can observe hawks and waterfowl on the St. Croix flyway, bluebirds and meadowlarks in the grasslands, and waves of migratory birds in the floodplain.
History. Situated along the lower St. Croix River in Afton Township, the park was established in 1969 to preserve unique natural features and to provide opportunities for nature-oriented recreation.
Geology. The park is cut by deep ravines which drop 300 feet to the river. The ravines display spectacular outcrops of sandstone and the rugged terrain affords spectacular views of the St. Croix River Valley.
Visit Facts
- Address6959 Peller Avenue South Hastings, MN 55033
- Phone651-201-6780
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThe ranger station is the first building on the right after the park entrance. Parking permits and other items are available for purchase. Lost and found items are stored here for one month before being donated. Posted hours are subject to change due to training, emergency response, and park maintenance needs.
- Emailafton.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point44.84782, -92.79761 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Afton State Park
- Entry notepets not allowed on groomed ski trails
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 0.6 miles | — |
| Summer | Self-Guided | Three-quarters of a mile | Trail begins at visitor center. |
| Summer | Hiking | 20 miles | — |
| Summer | Paved Bike | Four miles | — |
| Summer | Horse | Five miles | — |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 11 miles | The beginner loop is two and one-half miles long. The rest of the trails are intermediate or advanced. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | 12 miles | There are 12 miles of designated trail in the park open to snowshoes, hiking and running. Snowshoers and pets are prohibited on groomed ski trails. Snowshoe rentals are available from the ranger station. |
| Winter | Other | Winter hiking trail | The park clears one mile of the paved bike trail for winter hiking. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Backpack Sites | — | The main backpack campground has 27 backpack sites available year-round. The sites are non-electric and require a mile hike from the parking area. Drinking water is available year-round, and self-serve firewood is provided for a fee. There's a maximum of six people and two sleeping shelters per site. |
| Walk-in Sites | — | A single hike-in site is available and can be accessed from the hiking/bike trail. It is near the swimming beach and lower picnic areas. This site is approximately seven-tenths of a mile from the parking area. Paddlers can also access the site from the river. This site must be reserved before occupying, and there are no campsites on the beach. |
| Group Camp | — | Group Camp 1 is located near the lodging units and contains several drive-in vehicle sites. Group Camp 2 is more secluded and has one large open field for camping. Both camps can accommodate up to 60 people and have access to bundled firewood, drinking water, and vault toilets. Both group camps are unavailable in the winter. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | The Bluebird and White Pine camper cabins are accessible and each sleep five. The Coyote Yurt is accessible and sleeps seven. |
| Camper Cabins | — | Four camper cabins with heat and electricity are available year-round. No pets, open flames or indoor cooking. Big Bluestem and Bur Oak each sleep six. Bluebird and White Pine are accessible and each sleep five. |
| Wall Tent | — | One wall tent is available seasonally. Maximum occupancy of six, on two raised single bed wood platforms. Shared water spigot and vault toilet nearby. No pets allowed. Maximum two vehicles. |
| Yurt | — | Two seven-person yurts are available year-round. Neither has electricity. In the colder months, firewood is provided at no charge for the indoor woodstoves. No pets, open flames, or indoor cooking. The Coyote Yurt is accessible. Both yurts have a covered outdoor cooking shelter |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | St. Croix River | — |
| Fishing | — | River access is approximately a half mile walk from the parking lot. Fishing is not allowed in the designated beach area. |
| Swimming Beach | — | The beach is approximately a half mile walk from the parking lot. There is no lifeguard on duty. River buoys are placed seasonally. |
| Boat Access | — | The park does not have a boat launch. The park can be accessed by boat using the designated boater beaches. |
| Boat Docks | — | A seasonal dock is available for fishing. Boats have right-of-way access if they want to pull up off the river, but the dock is not a boat launch. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Three picnic areas – two are accessible | All three picnic areas have picnic tables, fire rings, and pedestal charcoal grills. The upper picnic area is accessible, located near the parking lot. The middle picnic area is 250 yards beyond the upper picnic area, and is also accessible. The lower picnic area is one-half mile from parking, and is located at the edge of the St. Croix River. |
| Picnic Shelter | Two shelters – one is accessible | A three-sided enclosed shelter with lights and electrical outlets is available at the middle picnic area. This shelter is accessible and has picnic tables, fire rings, a pedestal charcoal grill, and rustic toilet nearby. This is the park's only reservable shelter – call the park to reserve. |
| Volleyball | Upper picnic area | The net is up seasonally. Pick up equipment at the ranger station. |
| Horseshoes | Upper picnic area | Pick up equipment at the ranger station. |
| Warming House | In visitor center | The visitor center has bathrooms, tables and a woodstove. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | At park entrance | Stop here for vehicle permits, camping and park information. |
| Visitor Center | Accessible | The park's visitor center is open daily, and is available for public use when scheduled park programming is not occurring. Tables and chairs provide space for indoor dining and outlets are available for crockpots and coffee makers, but cooking is not allowed inside the building. There is an adjacent outdoor covered pavilion with picnic tables and fireplaces. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | In the visitor center | — |
| Gift Shop | In the ranger station | Small selection of gift items, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and books. |
| Rentals | Seasonal | Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming tools), GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the visitor center. In winter, snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available year-round at the ranger station | — |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Park-specific: No pets, open flames or indoor cooking. No pets allowed. No pets, open flames, or indoor cooking.
Directions
GPS Address: 6959 Peller Ave S – Hastings, MN 55033
- From St. Paul: Go 9 miles east on I-94 to exit #253, then 7 miles south on Highway 95, then 3 miles east on County Road 22.
- From Hudson: Go 2 miles west on I-94 to exit #258, then 8 miles south on St. Croix Trail (County Road 21), then east on County Road 22 for 0.5 miles.
- From Hastings: Go 2 miles north on US Hwy 61, then take a right onto State Hwy 95 and head north for 5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 22 and go east for 3 miles.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Fort Snelling State ParkState Park, about 20 miles away in a straight line
- Minnehaha Regional Park and Minnehaha FallsRegional Park, about 21 miles away in a straight line
- Chain of Lakes Regional ParkRegional Park, about 26 miles away in a straight line
- William O'Brien State ParkState Park, about 26 miles away in a straight line
- Frontenac State ParkState Park, about 32 miles away in a straight line
- Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkState Park, about 38 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In Twin Cities Metro
- Chain of Lakes Regional Park
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
- Historic Fort Snelling
- Lake Minnetonka
- Mill City Museum
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Minnehaha Regional Park and Minnehaha Falls
- Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
- Minnesota State Capitol
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
- Events in Twin Cities Metro
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Afton State Park?
It is near Hastings, Minnesota. The DNR address is 6959 Peller Avenue South Hastings, MN 55033.
How much does it cost to visit Afton State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Afton State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Afton State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.