Membership FAQ

A. Since our last price increase in 2017, the costs to operate a public garden have increased due to several factors. With these changes, we hope to improve our visitor experience by making it easier for you to access the Arboretum and continue to maintain and enhance our beautiful gardens, protected natural areas and miles of trails for generations to come.

The Arboretum has added several new programs and other offerings for our visitors and members, without raising rates — and all of them continue to improve the overall guest experience:

• Expanded events and educational opportunities, plus added staff to support and grow programming for more visitors — more than 600,000 in 2023!
• The Farm at the Arb (2019) is a newly expanded destination with a renovated historic Red Barn, several new event spaces and educational features focused on Minnesota-grown crops, fruits and vegetables.
• The Burton and Virginia Myers Education Center and The Foodscape (2023) serves as the statewide headquarters for the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program and a much-needed home for Arboretum Adult Education.
  

Future investments will include staff and infrastructure, including new technologies, to meet the needs of more visitors, our growing plant collections and gardens as well as continued upkeep of buildings and grounds.

We’ve simplified our household memberships to just five types:

• Solo $75: This membership pays for itself in just four visits per year, when compared to gate admission. 
• Duo $125: This membership pays for itself in just over three visits per year.
• Duo+2 $160: This membership pays for itself in just two visits per year.
• Gold $250 
• Gold Plus $500

We also added three Giving Society types for additional ways for members to deepen their support for the Arboretum:

• Advocate ($1,000+)
• Patron ($10,000+) 
• Benefactor ($25,000+)

View the benefits grid

A. That depends on the day of the visit!

• Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays: Advance admission tickets are required to reserve your spot as parking capacity is limited at the Arboretum. 
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: Solo, Duo and Duo+2 members can present their membership card for admission with no advance ticket required.
• Gold, Gold Plus and Giving Society members can access the Arboretum without an advance ticket any day of the week with their membership cards — except during special ticketed events, such as Winter Lights. 
• Note members should always bring their membership card to access the Arboretum for member discounts and other benefits. 

View the weekly access chart

A. The Arboretum’s timed ticketing requirements are largely related to parking capacity and traffic volume. Our ticketing data over the past few years shows that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are typically the days with lower attendance, while Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays have larger attendance — and more events. Encouraging everyone to purchase advance tickets Friday-Monday will help us keep track of visitor numbers so we can limit parking congestion and backups to keep the overall visitor experience here pleasant.

A. Based on survey feedback, we learned that most members place a lower value on select member benefits, so we will be sunsetting the following perks formerly included with memberships:

• Better Homes & Gardens e-Magazine
• Free Tram Tour coupon
• Free Arboretum notecards coupon
• We also will be capping the number of adult admissions allowed per visit (formerly 8):
  • 4 for Gold and Gold Plus
  • 6 for Giving Society

A. Yes! But EZ Pass is now called Gold Access. We are changing the name to more closely align with our new membership type names. Gold, Gold Plus and Giving Society memberships can access the Arboretum without an advanced ticket any day of the week with their membership cards — except during special ticketed events, such as Winter Lights. 

A. We created the Arboretum Giving Society to more formally recognize the annual support of our donors. Giving Society members enjoy special event invitations and opportunities to connect with Arboretum leadership. Giving Society types include Advocate ($1,000+), Patron ($10,000+) and Benefactor ($25,000+).

A. Photographer memberships are $800 annually and include free adult admission for up to four people per session (including the photographer). For photographers who do not visit numerous times per month, the photographer permit may be a better option. The photographer permit costs $100 per session and includes daily admission for the photographer only; clients will purchase their own daily admission tickets. Learn more about the new photographer memberships and permits

A. Learn more about the updates to care centers on the web page. Businesses and clubs/societies should call 612-301-1257 to discuss changes and membership options. 

A. Yes, our memberships are tax deductible. 

• For memberships purchased on or before March 31, 2024, refer to this membership tax deductibility chart.
• For memberships purchased on or after April 1, 2024, they are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The total value of your contribution may be deductible for tax purposes; please consult your tax advisor. We still cannot provide memberships for contributions made via family foundations per IRS rules. 

A. Due to the revised structure of our membership benefits, IRS guidelines now permit us to provide memberships for contributions made through both donor-advised fund grants and IRA-qualified charitable distributions starting April 1, 2024. We still cannot provide memberships for contributions made via family foundations due to separate IRS regulations.

A. Your membership and current benefits will continue to be valid through the original expiration date on your card. When it comes time to renew your membership after April 1, 2024, you’ll renew at the new rates with the new benefits such as guest passes for all membership types. If you have questions about your membership benefits please call 612-301-1257 or email [email protected]. 

A. Access to the Dog Commons On-Leash Trails is included with all membership types. We will no longer require an additional dog-added membership to access the Dog Commons. This 60-acre on-leash trails area is the only place at the Arboretum where dogs are allowed. However, service dogs are permitted in all areas of the Arboretum.

Learn more about the Dog Commons

A. Yes, please have your guests in the vehicle directly behind yours and enter through the main/middle gate entry.

A. We would be delighted to upgrade your Membership. Please call 612-301-1257 for details.

A. Please call us at 612-301-1257 or email us at [email protected] to let us know so we can verify your contact information and mail or email all pertinent information to you.

A. Yes. All membership levels at Duo and above offer general Arboretum admission for one or more additional guests per day as long as one of the members is present. 

A. Yes. The Arboretum is part of the AHS Reciprocal Garden Network so your membership is valid at other gardens across the country as long as they are also part of the network. To see what gardens participate, visit their website.

AHS Reciprocal Garden Network

A. If you hold or purchase a Solo membership, your caregiver will be required to pay the general admission price of $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. You may want to consider purchasing a Duo or Duo+2 membership which will allow you to bring your caregiver as your additional guest each visit.

A. To see how many people you can bring to the Arboretum as part of your membership, see our benefits chart. 

Guest Passes

Each membership type, at the time of purchase or renewal, comes with 1-6 passes per year. This enhanced benefit for membership starts April 1, 2024. Your guests can use the passes on their own or with you. If you use up your guest passes for the year, you can pay for individual advance tickets for your guests. 

A. Yes. All membership levels above our Solo membership extend benefits to two named cardholders who permanently live at the same postal address. 

A. Yes. All membership levels above our Solo membership offer general Arboretum admission for one or more additional guests each day as long as one of the members is present. 

A. No. We do not offer student memberships. However, all University of Minnesota campuses students with a valid student ID are granted free admission with a reservation or if they present their ID at the gate Tuesday-Thursday. 

A. Our new (as of April 1, 2024) Gold, Gold Plus and Giving Society memberships will be able to access the Arboretum without an advance ticket via the Gold Access lane (formerly EZ Pass) any day of the week with their membership cards — except during special ticketed events, such as Winter Lights. If you still have a Friend, Supporting, Sustaining, and Associate level membership that has not yet expired, you can also use the Gold Access (formerly EZ Pass). If you have guests in a second vehicle, please have them in the vehicle directly behind yours and enter through the main/middle gate entry. Do not use the Gold Access in this case.

A. Many companies offer programs that match charitable contributions from their employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. Membership purchases and individual donations may be eligible for an employer match, providing even more support to the Arboretum. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, please enter your employer's name in our matching gift search tool. Please note that matching funds from employers cannot be applied for membership renewals or upgrades. 

A. No. However, you may elect for annual automatic renewals with your online purchase. 

A. No. We do not offer a lifetime membership.

A. Yes! We offer a discount on individual memberships (Solo-Gold Plus) for the following groups with active IDs or cards: 

• University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Active Volunteer - 20% off

• University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer - 10% off

• University of Minnesota Alumni Association Member - 10% off

• University of Minnesota Faculty/Staff - 10% off

• University of Minnesota Retirees Association Member - 10% off

• University of Minnesota Enrolled Student - 10% off

• Active Duty Military/Veteran - 10% off

• Minnesota State Horticultural Society Active Members - 10% off

A. Yes! The Arboretum’s Arb Access program provides no-cost memberships/access to many of Minnesota’s underserved communities. Learn more about the program

A. Yes. An Arboretum membership is a household membership. The 2 cardholders need to permanently live at the same postal address. College students who live away from home for part of the year may be included as part of the membership, but adult children or other relatives who have a permanent residence elsewhere may not be included. 

A. No. For certain membership levels, a secondary cardholder is part of the package if both adults live at the same postal address. Membership benefits extend only to named cardholders and, where applicable, their children ages 15 and under. If your membership includes a secondary cardholder, we recommend that you name a second member (who lives at your same postal address) but it is not a requirement. If you are a single household you may bring a guest with you each visit. 

A. Yes. If your card has been lost, we can replace it for a processing fee of $5. Please call the membership office at 612-301-1257 or stop by the Membership or Information Desk to request replacement materials. 

A.  Yes, you will need your tickets with barcodes (either printed or on your phone). The gate attendant may ask for your ID to confirm membership and ensure that your membership is active in our system.

A. No. Guest passes cannot be reissued.

A. If you have already renewed your Membership and sent in payment, please disregard the renewal notice. The renewal notice and payment probably crossed paths in the mail. Your member card(s) will arrive in the mail within 10 business days to confirm your renewal.

A. Yes. To schedule a recurring/auto renewed annual membership at the time of Joining or Renewing your membership online, check the check box once you select the membership category.  Currently, you are not able to change your account to auto renewal after the transaction until time of renewal without being charged. In addition. Membership staff are unable to setup the annual auto renewal. 

Important note: If you check Auto Renewal it will securely save your credit card information for the following year and charge the account a few weeks before expiration of your membership.

A. No. Membership funds are considered a tax-deductible donation to the Arboretum. Memberships are non-refundable or transferable. 

A. You will not lose any time if you renew early! Your membership is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase. If you renew your membership early, that membership will not start until your current one expires. If you upgrade your membership before the current one expires, your upgraded membership begins immediately.

A. Yes, as long as you have an advance admission ticket and your membership email confirmation. You are always welcome to call our ticketing line (612-301-6775) and mention that you have not received your membership card(s) but wish to make a reservation.  If you are a Gold or higher level member, please present your email confirmation to the gatehouse for entry. Membership cards will arrive in your mail within 10 business days. During busier seasons, processing can take longer.