Minnesota ATV Rules for First-Time Visitors

Minnesota ATV Rules for First-Time Visitors

ByMinnesota ATV Guide Editorial Team

A Minnesota riding trip can get complicated before the engine starts: your home-state registration may not cover every trail, and road rules and trail closures vary by location. The practical approach is to check your machine’s status, obtain the right trail pass if needed, confirm rider requirements, and plan only on routes open to your vehicle.

Check registration and trail-pass requirements

For a visitor, the key distinction is between the machine’s registration and the pass required for certain trails. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a nonresident OHV legally registered in another state or country does not need Minnesota registration if it is not in Minnesota for more than 30 days. That does not remove the separate trail-pass requirement: nonresidents riding an ATV, OHM, or ORV on state or grant-in-aid trails need the appropriate nonresident pass.

A pass is not required when the machine being ridden is registered in Minnesota, or when you ride a portion of a trail on land owned by you, your spouse, child, or parent, according to the DNR. For the land exemption, keep in mind that it applies to the portion on qualifying property—not automatically to a connected public trail.

Your situation What to check
Your machine is legally registered outside Minnesota, and you are visiting for no more than 30 days The DNR says you do not need Minnesota registration, but you need a nonresident trail pass to ride an ATV, OHM, or ORV on state or grant-in-aid trails.
Your machine is registered in Minnesota The DNR says you do not need a trail pass for that machine.
You are riding a qualifying portion of a trail on family-owned land The DNR says no trail pass is required for the portion owned by you, your spouse, child, or parent.
You are visiting for longer than the stated period, or your machine is not legally registered elsewhere Contact the DNR to confirm the registration rules that apply before riding.

Passes are vehicle-specific in the sense that ATVs, off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles have different pass rules and display requirements. Make sure you choose the pass that matches the machine you plan to ride; a pass for another type of OHV is not a safe substitute. If you are unsure how your machine is classified, start with Minnesota ATV Classes and What They Mean.

According to the DNR, a nonresident trail pass is valid for the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. ATV and OHM passes do not have to be displayed on the machine, but riders must have them available if an officer asks. An ORV pass must be displayed where it is readily visible on the vehicle.

The DNR says passes can be bought online at any time or in person from Game and Fish License Agents and Deputy Registrar offices. Online purchases have an additional service fee. The DNR lists a one-year ATV pass at $31.00 and an online service fee of 3% plus $1.65, as of November 2026. Check the DNR’s current instructions before buying, especially if you are purchasing close to a trip or need a replacement; duplicate passes are available.

For a closer look at eligibility and purchase details, see Minnesota’s Non-Resident ATV Trail Pass, Which Minnesota Trails Require a Pass, and Buying a Minnesota Trail Pass Online.

If you buy a used machine in Minnesota rather than bring your own, registration deadlines can apply. According to the DNR, a purchased used ATV or OHM must be registered in your name within 15 days; a purchased used ORV must be registered within 30 days. For a visitor, this is a separate issue from whether an out-of-state-registered machine needs Minnesota registration. Check the paperwork and your specific situation with the DNR before relying on the seller’s registration or a prior owner’s documents. Buying a Used ATV in Minnesota: The Paperwork explains what to sort out after a purchase.

Confirm rider requirements before you leave home

Safety certification is another requirement to check, particularly if someone in your group was born after July 1, 1987. According to the DNR, anyone born after that date needs ATV safety certification to operate an ATV on public lands. The DNR says proof of completing the ATV Rider Course offered by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute meets Minnesota’s certificate requirement. Visitors should carry evidence of certification and confirm that their course documentation meets Minnesota’s requirement.

Training options depend on the rider’s age. According to the DNR, students ages 10–15 must complete the online ATV course before attending the ATV safety hybrid class, and the certification obtained through that hybrid class is valid at age 12. Students 16 and older can complete Minnesota ATV safety through the DNR-approved online course, which includes a virtual riding course. If a younger visitor is in your group, do not assume a completed study guide alone is a certificate: the DNR says the study guide for ages 6–9 does not provide certification.

Youth riding rules also affect which machine is allowed, who must accompany the rider, and whether the youth can cross a road. The following is a planning summary, not a substitute for checking the full rules for the particular machine and route.

Rider or situation Minnesota requirement to keep in mind
Child under age 10 The DNR says the child may operate an ATV only on private property with the owner’s permission.
Rider ages 10 and 11 The DNR allows operation on public lands and frozen waters only on a machine within the applicable size and seating limits, and with a parent or legal guardian accompanying the rider.
Rider ages 12–15 The DNR requires a valid safety certificate and accompaniment by a person at least 18 years old who holds a valid driver’s license for riding on public lands and frozen waters and making direct road crossings.
Rider ages 16 and 17 The DNR requires a valid driver’s license and ATV safety certification to make a direct road crossing or operate on a road right-of-way or roadway opened by local ordinance.
Any ATV passenger or operator under age 18 The DNR requires a DOT-certified helmet.

For riders ages 10 and 11, machine limits differ by seating and steering style: the DNR lists limits for smaller ATVs, straddle-style machines, and side-by-side-style machines equipped with a steering wheel. Check the exact machine and rule rather than assuming that a youth permitted on one kind of ATV can ride another. The DNR also says a person under age 15 may not operate a Class 2 ATV anywhere. For more detail, see Minnesota ATV Safety Training Requirements, Minnesota Age Rules for Young Riders, and Minnesota Helmet Requirements Under 18.

These requirements are not identical for every OHV type. For example, the DNR requires an off-highway motorcycle safety course for OHM riders under age 16, and it has separate rules for ORV riders. If your machine is a side-by-side or another type of vehicle that may not fit the ATV rules you expect, confirm its classification before riding. When traveling with youth, also verify the rules for passengers, road crossings, and the specific machine—not just the rider’s age.

Plan routes around trail access and road restrictions

Minnesota has plenty of riding opportunities, but a trail shown on a map is not automatically open to every OHV. The DNR describes more than a hundred state and grant-in-aid trails as available for riding. It also offers an off-highway vehicle trail atlas to help riders find opportunities. Use an up-to-date map and check current access information for your vehicle before loading up; Finding a Minnesota DNR Trail Map and Reading a Minnesota OHV Trail Map are useful starting points.

State forests are classified for OHV use, and the classification changes what roads and trails you may use:

State forest classification What it means for OHV access
Closed OHVs are not permitted, according to the DNR.
Limited Use only roads and trails posted open, according to the DNR.
Managed Use roads and trails that are not posted closed, according to the DNR.

The classification applies to named forests, not just to a trail sign you happen to see at the entrance. For example, the DNR classifies Badoura State Forest as limited, Battleground State Forest as closed, and Beltrami Island State Forest as managed for OHV use. Confirm the forest’s classification and the status of your intended route before setting out; Minnesota State Forest Riding covers the access distinction in more detail.

Roadside riding deserves particular care. Minnesota law restricts where an ATV may operate within public-road rights-of-way, and a local opening or designated trail can affect what is allowed. According to the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, an ATV generally may not operate along or on the roadway, shoulder, inside bank, or slope of the right-of-way of a trunk highway, county state-aid highway, or county highway unless otherwise allowed. An ATV may not operate in an interstate highway or freeway right-of-way at any time.

The Office of the Revisor of Statutes also sets a nighttime restriction for ATV operation in the right-of-way of those roads: from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, operation is allowed only on the right-hand side in the same direction as traffic. A road crossing must be made at approximately a 90-degree angle, and the operator must stop completely before crossing the shoulder or main-traveled way, according to the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

These rules do not mean that every roadside route is open, or that a map line grants permission to ride the road surface. A driver’s license is not required for an ATV on a public-road right-of-way when that right-of-way contains a DNR-administered trail designated for ATV or multiple use, according to the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Local ordinances may also regulate ATV use, but the office says a local ordinance may not require an ATV operator to possess a motor vehicle driver’s license. Check local signs and route rules rather than assuming a road is open because a nearby trail is marked. See Crossing a Minnesota Road on an ATV and Minnesota Cities With Posted ATV Routes.

Some mapped routes are not intended for OHVs at all. The DNR says Hunter Walking Trails provide comparatively easy access to grouse and woodcock areas, and many are gated to help prevent OHV access. Do not treat a walking-trail map or an unmarked track as permission to ride. The DNR updates Hunter Walking Trail map data annually and typically publishes it in August.

Check conditions, closures, and campground rules

A valid registration or trail pass does not override a closure. Temporary road and trail closures change, so check the DNR’s current closure information close to departure. The DNR says temporary road and trail closures are updated on Thursdays after 2 p.m. That update schedule is a useful cue, not a reason to skip a final check: weather, trail conditions, or other restrictions may affect your route. For spring planning, see Minnesota Trail Closures in Spring Thaw and Checking Minnesota Trail Status Before You Drive.

Seasonal restrictions can rule out a route even when it appears on a map. The DNR says ditch riding is prohibited south of the agricultural line between April 1 and August 1; that line runs from Moorhead to Taylors Falls along Highway 10 and Highway 95. The DNR also says groomed snowmobile trails are closed to OHVs and highway-licensed vehicles starting December 1. ATVs are not considered snowmobiles even when fitted with aftermarket ski and track configurations, according to the DNR, so winter equipment does not make an ATV eligible to ride a closed snowmobile trail.

Winter access can have additional limits on shared trails. According to the DNR, ATVs are allowed on the Matthew Lourey State Trail, Nemadji State Forest trails, and St. Croix State Forest trails only when the air temperature is 30°F or below. Confirm the conditions and current trail status before relying on a winter route. A trail that is open to snowmobiles may not be open to your ATV under the same conditions.

If your trip includes a state forest campground, treat the campground as a place to park and access a permitted route—not as a riding area. The DNR says OHVs in campgrounds must be legally registered and are subject to the same rules as highway-licensed vehicles. Riders must use only designated roadways, campground spurs, and parking areas; recreational or utilitarian riding within the campground or off those routes is not allowed. Some campgrounds are accessible by OHV without trailering in, but that access does not authorize riding around the campground. Check the DNR’s campground and trail details for your destination before planning to ride from a campsite.

A simple pre-trip check can prevent the most common visitor mistakes:

  • Confirm that the machine is legally registered where it is based and determine whether you need a Minnesota nonresident trail pass.
  • Match the pass to the vehicle type, and make sure you can produce it if asked.
  • Carry proof of any required safety certification, especially when a youth rider is coming along.
  • Check the forest classification, route designation, local rules, and temporary closures for the route you actually plan to ride.
  • Review road crossings and seasonal restrictions before using roadside or winter routes.
  • Keep to designated roads and campground spurs when accessing a campground.

When a route, machine class, or local exception is unclear, verify it with the DNR before riding rather than treating uncertainty as permission. That small check is especially worthwhile when your trip crosses between state forest roads, grant-in-aid trails, local routes, and private property.

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.

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Minnesota ATV & UTV Desk
Our focus is on off-highway riding in Minnesota—permits, registration, trail rules and places to ride.
To deliver clearer, more complete, and more current guides, we use AI tools throughout our research and drafting, check key figures against official sources, and correct a guide when a rule changes or a reader reports an error.
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