Membership FAQ

We have five household memberships:

• 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 have 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 General Daily 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. During busy spring and fall weeks, please reserve a ticket to ensure a parking spot. You may need to wait if no parking is available. 
• 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. Gold Access memberships offer contactless entry at the gatehouse. 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. The Arboretum Giving Society formally recognizes the annual support of our donors. Giving Society members enjoy special event invitations and opportunities to connect with Arboretum leaders. Giving Society membership types include Advocate ($1,000+), Patron ($10,000+) and Benefactor ($25,000+).

A. Yes, the total value of your membership contribution can be deductible for tax purposes; please consult your tax advisor. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 23-7081057) that secures and manages philanthropic support, including memberships, exclusively for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 

A. IRS guidelines permits us to provide memberships for contributions made through both donor-advised fund grants and IRA-qualified charitable distributions starting April 1, 2024. To purchase or renew your membership via these methods, please instruct your DAF/IRA administrator to include a note with the contribution that includes the type of charitable account (e.g. DAF or IRA), desired membership type and the names of the member(s). The contribution can be mailed to: Development Office, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, P.O. Box 860082, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0082. 

We still cannot provide memberships for contributions made via family foundations due to separate IRS regulations. For additional information, please contact our Development Office at [email protected] or 612-301-3220.

A. Membership benefits are based on your membership type. See our benefits chart

Duo members and above receive general admission for one or more guests, as long as one of the members is present. For example, a Duo membership allows for two people total to enter (so you and your spouse could enter, or you and one guest). If you have a Duo+2 membership, four people total can enter (you and your spouse and two guests, or you and three guests).

Remember that the members entering count as part of the overall total allowed. Children ages 15 and younger (with an adult) receive free general admission and are not counted in the total. We want to ensure you have a smooth entry experience; if you have questions before your visit, please call us at 612-301-6775.

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

Guest Passes

As our thank you to members, each membership type comes with 1-6 guest passes per year. Guest passes are issued to members via email at the time of membership purchase or renewal, are one-time use only and are based on membership level. 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 General Daily Admission tickets for your guests. If you have questions about your membership benefits, please call us at 612-301-1257.

A. Although each member gets their own membership card, the benefits apply to the overall membership type. Duo members receive up to two adult admissions in total. So you could both enter, or one of you can enter with a friend.

A. Yes, please have your guests in the vehicle directly behind yours and enter through the main/middle gate entry. Be sure to purchase their General Daily Admission tickets in advance for $20, buy General daily Admission at the gate for $25 or, depending on your membership type, they may be included. Children 15 years and under are free but do require a gate ticket. For more information, see this chart or call our ticketing line at 612-301-6775.

A. Access to the Dog Commons On-Leash Trails is currently impacted by a road closure, and regretfully dogs (with the exception of service animals) will not be able to visit the Arboretum during this time. As the Arboretum embarks on a project to build a New Entry Experience with a stoplight entrance, we have closed the road and main walking trail from the Andrus Learning Center to overflow parking during construction. The closure will run through project completion in 2027. Walkers can still use Wood Duck Trail to hike to the Dog Commons area.

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. 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. The number of adult and child admissions may vary. Please call before arriving to confirm. 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. Each membership type comes with 1-6 guest passes per year. Guest passes are issued to members via email at the time of membership purchase or renewal, are one-time use only and are based on membership level. 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 General Daily Admission tickets for your guests. If you have questions about your membership benefits, please call us at 612-301-1257.

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. 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 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, the gatehouse can look you up by phone number, view the email of your membership purchase or you can present tickets with barcodes (either printed or on your phone). The gate attendant may ask for your ID to confirm your 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 14 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 or downgrade your membership before the current one expires, your upgraded or downgraded membership begins immediately.

A. Yes, as long as you have an advance general daily admission ticket or 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 14 business days. During busier seasons, processing can take longer.

A. Yes. Arboretum Education policy is that members may purchase a class or camp on behalf of an accompanying non-member at the discounted member price as long as they are registering and paying for at least one spot for themselves. Members must sign in, enter the total number of member-price tickets for all participants they are purchasing for, and then complete each participant’s name and prompted information at the checkout screen. The transaction must be completed at the same time as the member's registration(s).