Where VA care is
Kenyon is in the VA Minneapolis Health Care System. Its Minnesota sites are the Minneapolis medical center and clinics in Rochester, Albert Lea, Mankato, Shakopee, Maplewood, Ramsey, St. James, Hibbing and Ely; there is none in Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna, Hastings or Red Wing.
| Site | Address | Phone | Miles | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester VA Clinic | 3551 Commercial Dr SW, Suite 400 | 507-252-0885 | 38 mi | 49 min |
| Minneapolis VA Medical Center | One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis | 612-725-2000 | 50 mi | 65 min |
| Albert Lea VA Clinic | 2115 East Main St, Albert Lea | 507-379-5530 | 62 mi | 76 min |
| St. Paul Vet Center | 2113 Cliff Drive, Suite 100, Eagan | 612-243-7920 | — | — |
| St. Paul VA Regional Benefit Office | 1 Federal Drive, Room G200, Fort Snelling | 800-827-1000 | 50 mi | 65 min |
Rochester: weekdays 7:30 to 4:30; primary care, mental health, allergy, amputation care, cancer care, gastroenterology, lab, MOVE!, nephrology, nutrition, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, pulmonary, radiology, rheumatology, telehealth, women's care. Minneapolis: open 24 hours, emergency room, surgery, dental surgery, cardiology, neurology, geriatrics, addiction care, blind rehabilitation, caregiver support.
Community care from Kenyon
VA sends a veteran to an in-network local provider when the average drive to the nearest VA site offering the service exceeds 30 minutes for primary care, mental health and extended outpatient care, or 60 minutes for specialty care, or when the soonest VA appointment is more than 20 or 28 days out, or when VA does not offer the service. Rochester is about 49 minutes from Kenyon and Minneapolis about 65, so an enrolled Kenyon veteran ordinarily meets the drive-time basis for primary and mental health care close to home, while Rochester stays within the specialty standard for the lines it carries. VA staff make the determination with VA's own mapping tool; the drive times here are road estimates.
Enrolling
- Line
- 877-222-8387, or apply at va.gov
- Basic eligibility
- 24 continuous months of service, or the full period called, and no dishonorable discharge
- Enhanced eligibility
- Service-connected disability, post-9/11 combat service, Purple Heart or Medal of Honor, former POW, VA pension, Medicaid eligibility, Gulf War service, Camp Lejeune, PACT Act toxic-exposure groups
- PACT Act
- Toxic-exposure screening for every enrolled veteran, repeated at least every five years; more than twenty new presumptive conditions
- Dental
- Full care for compensable service-connected dental conditions, former POWs, and veterans rated 100 percent or unemployable; VADIP insurance for others
- Caregivers
- Program of Comprehensive Assistance: veteran rated 70 percent or higher needing six months of in-person care; stipend, CHAMPVA, 30 days of respite; VA Form 10-10CG
Counseling
The St. Paul Vet Center in Eagan offers free, confidential readjustment counseling for depression, PTSD, military sexual trauma, couples and families and bereavement, weekdays 8 to 4:30 (612-243-7920; after hours 877-927-8387), with a Rochester access point at the Olmsted County Government Center, 151 4th Street SE, on Thursdays by appointment. Crisis: 988, press 1; text 838255.
Getting there
- DAV vans, Minneapolis VA
- Free for ambulatory veterans from the Twin Cities and most suburbs, weekdays, appointments 9 to 1; schedule at 612-467-2768; riders forgo travel reimbursement
- DAV Minnesota, Southeast region
- 507-703-1139; rides to any VA or VA-referred provider, one week's notice, no membership required
- Hiawathaland Transit Dial-A-Ride
- Kenyon and Wanamingo, $1.75 one way, 866-623-7505, weekdays 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Blue Line
- Fort Snelling stop serves the regional office and the medical center
- Goodhue County CVSO
- Lists transportation among its services; ask for the current arrangement, 651-385-3256
Sources: va.gov, benefits.va.gov, cem.va.gov, department.va.gov, veteranscrisisline.net, Minnesota Statutes and Rules at revisor.mn.gov, revenue.state.mn.us, dps.mn.gov, mn.gov/mdva, Goodhue and Rice County veterans service pages, macvso.org, mac-v.org, davmn.org, threeriverscap.org, mnlegion.org, Minnesota Gambling Control Board, IRS and ProPublica filings, Kenyon Leader 2016–2025, KDHL, City of Kenyon council packets and minutes 2019–2026; road distances from the OSRM router. Compiled September 13, 2026. This site is independent of every agency and organization named; confirm amounts with the county service officer before relying on them.
Questions
Where is the nearest VA clinic to Kenyon?
The Rochester VA Clinic, 3551 Commercial Drive SW, Suite 400, about 38 miles and 49 minutes by road, weekdays 7:30 to 4:30, 507-252-0885. It offers primary care, mental health and 17 specialty lines.
Where is the nearest VA hospital?
The Minneapolis VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, about 50 miles and 65 minutes, open around the clock with an emergency room, surgery and more than 80 services (612-725-2000).
Is there a VA clinic in Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna or Red Wing?
No. The Minneapolis system's Minnesota sites are Minneapolis, Rochester, Albert Lea, Mankato, Shakopee, Maplewood, Ramsey, St. James, Hibbing and Ely.
Can I see a local doctor at VA expense?
Usually, for primary care and mental health. VA's standard for those services is a 30-minute average drive to the nearest VA site, and Rochester is about 49 minutes from Kenyon. VA staff make the determination with VA's own mapping tool; ask your VA clinic or call 877-222-8387.
What about specialists?
The specialty standard is 60 minutes or a 28-day wait. Rochester is inside that limit for the specialties it carries, so specialty care may be routed there; a specialty Rochester does not offer, or a wait beyond 28 days, opens community care.
Who is eligible for VA health care?
Veterans with 24 continuous months of service (or the full period called) and no dishonorable discharge, with enhanced eligibility for service-connected disability, post-9/11 combat service, Purple Heart, former POW, VA pension, Medicaid eligibility, Gulf War service, Camp Lejeune and the PACT Act's toxic-exposure groups. Enrollment line 877-222-8387.
What is the PACT Act screening?
Every enrolled veteran is due a toxic-exposure screening with follow-ups at least every five years. The Act added more than twenty presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other exposures and widened eligibility for Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans.
Does VA cover dental?
Fully for compensable service-connected dental conditions, former POWs and veterans rated 100 percent or unemployable; other classes are limited. Anyone enrolled in VA care or CHAMPVA can buy reduced-cost coverage through VADIP.
Where is the nearest Vet Center?
The St. Paul Vet Center in Eagan, 2113 Cliff Drive, Suite 100, 612-243-7920, weekdays 8 to 4:30, with a Rochester access point at the Olmsted County Government Center on Thursdays by appointment. Counseling is free and confidential; after hours 877-927-8387.
Can a family member be paid to care for me?
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers covers veterans rated 70 percent or higher who need at least six months of in-person personal care; the primary caregiver receives a monthly stipend, CHAMPVA, at least 30 days of respite a year and training. Apply with VA Form 10-10CG.
How do I get a free ride to the Minneapolis VA?
DAV vans carry ambulatory veterans free from the Twin Cities and most suburbs weekdays for appointments between 9 and 1 (612-467-2768). From Kenyon, DAV Minnesota's Southeast region at 507-703-1139 arranges rides to any VA or VA-referred provider with about a week's notice.
Is there local transit in Kenyon?
Hiawathaland Transit's Dial-A-Ride serves Kenyon and Wanamingo at $1.75 one way, exact change; dispatch 866-623-7505, weekdays 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends 7 to 4:30. No veteran fare is published.
Can I take the train to the VA?
The Blue Line's Fort Snelling stop serves both the St. Paul Regional Benefit Office and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.