Getting here
Marine on St. Croix is on Minnesota Highway 95 (the St. Croix Trail), the scenic road that follows the river’s west bank between Stillwater and Taylors Falls. Washington County Road 4 brings you in from the west. The village center is the short stretch of Judd Street between Highway 95 and the river — when you reach the general store and the 1888 Village Hall, you’ve arrived.
There is no train or regular bus service, so nearly everyone comes by car, bicycle or boat. Cyclists share Highway 95 with traffic; it has shoulders on most stretches but hills and curves near the village. Distances and rough drive times are in the table below.
Parking
Parking is free. Small lots and on-street spaces line Judd Street near the shops, and the Marine Mill site has its own free lot a short walk south of the Village Hall. On summer weekends — especially the Fourth of July — the village fills up quickly; arriving before 11 a.m. or parking at the edge of town and walking in is the easy option.
William O’Brien State Park, two miles north, requires a Minnesota state park vehicle permit (daily or annual) that you can buy at the park entrance.
Restrooms, water and supplies
Public restrooms are mapped below. The general store sells snacks, groceries and basics, but services in a village this size are limited — fill the tank and pick up anything special in Stillwater or Forest Lake on the way in. The directory lists fuel, banking and the post office.
A day in Marine
- Morning: coffee on Judd Street, then the historic walking tour while the light is soft. Finish at the Marine Mill ruins above the river.
- Midday: lunch in the village, or pack a picnic for the shelters at William O’Brien.
- Afternoon: paddle a few miles of the St. Croix, hike the Riverside and savanna trails, or swim at Lake Alice on a hot day.
- Evening: ice cream on Judd Street and sunset from the river landing. Check the river and weather pages before you set out.
Respecting a small village
Marine is a residential community first. Park only in marked spaces, keep driveways clear, pack out what you bring to the riverbank, and keep the volume down after dark. Most businesses are small and seasonal; hours shrink between November and April, so check before a winter visit.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026.
