I'm planning a camping trip this summer. We're going to northern Minnesota. I would like to get a passport (in the US) because I have never been to Canada and I figure since I'm going to be so close, why not? Where do I go to get a passport. Is a driver's license, social security card, and birth certificate the only things I need to bring? How much does it cost? Do you actually need a passport to go to Canada and back if it's just for a day?

Thank you for your time and answers!

First you don't just go get it, it can take weeks, even a few months to get one. You will need to get a form ( here you get it from the county Court house) In some places you can also get the application at the court house.

When I got mine last year I believe it was 95 dollars ( or close to that I think)

Oh, OK I didn't know that. I will check with the court house. I'd better hurry and send the form in if it takes that long! Thanks, I appreciate it!

Here's the govt site that should answer all your questions --

Passport Home (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html)

Peggy-

Not much to add to the excellent answers you already received. If you need the passport in the next few weeks you can pay the Post Office for a fee to expedite getting your passport. The cost when I did it years ago was $55 processing fee + $30 execution fee + $12 surcharge = $97. However if you like pay the expedite fee of $60 and get it back within 4 weeks (usually less), total cost $157. Make sure to bring all identification. BTW on a personal note, once you get the passport hold on to it for safekeeping. The expiration on the passport is good for ten years. However I lost my original passport about two years ago and needed another to fly out of the country. I was warned that if I lose this second passport that the government will issue me passports in the future good for only one year.

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Bobby