From buses, cabs to metro transit, Minneapolis has a wide range of transport options to choose from. If you are in the city for just a day or two, then public transportation is your best option. If you want to travel on the outskirts of Minneapolis, one can easily rent a car or hire a cab.
Image by 4Ullas via Panoramia.com
Arriving in Minneapolis by Plane
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport or MSP is the international airport that serves both the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Located about 10 miles from Downtown Minneapolis, MSP is the 15th busiest airport in the country and the 44th busiest airport in the entire world. It is also the largest airport in the Upper Midwest region.
It has two terminals – Terminal 1 (also known as Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (also known as Humphrey), out of which the former terminal is the busiest. MSP is the 3rd largest center for Delta Airlines, which dominates this airport by almost 90%. It offers non-stop services to several cities from MSP including Amsterdam, Tokyo, Paris, London, Montreal and others. Sun Country, Icelandair, Canada Jazz and Air France also provide air service from MSP.
Other popular airlines offering service from this airport include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Aviation, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. For more information,
click here.
Terminal 1
Address: 4300 Glumack Drive, St. Paul, MN 55111
Phone: 612-726-5555
Terminal 2Address: 7150 Humphrey Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55450
Phone: 612-726-5555
Getting to and from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
MSP offers several comfortable and affordable transportation means to its passengers. There are many car rental services, cabs, buses and other modes of public transport available at the airport.
Blue Line Light Rail is the best way to reach the airport from Downtown Minneapolis and vice versa. The trains are quite fast and easy. A single trip could cost anywhere between $1.75 and $2.25, depending on the time. Blue Line metro has stations at both the terminals of the airport. For more information,
click here.
City Bus Service is another popular mode of public transportation in Minneapolis. There is a bus service at Terminal 1 of MSP, however Terminal 2 does not have a bus stop. For passengers arriving on the second terminal, they can either take cabs or the light rail.
Click here, for more information on bus services of Minneapolis.
Rental Car FacilityTravelers can also rent a car and drive around the city at their own leisure. Here are some popular rental car companies at the airport:
Advantage: 1-800-777-5500
Alamo: 1-800-327-9633
Avis: 1-800-831-2847
Budget: 1-800-527-0700
Dollar: 1-800-800-4000
Enterprise: 1-800-325-8007
Hertz: 1-800-654-3131
National: 1-800-227-7368
Thrifty: 1-800-847-4389
Arriving and Getting Around in Minneapolis by Rails or Bus
Jefferson Lines and Greyhound buses are the main sources of public transportation in Minneapolis. They arrive at the Hawthorne Transportation Center at 950 Hawthorne Avenue, Downtown Minneapolis.
Other buses that offer bus service to nearby cities include:
Badger Coaches – They run bus services four times a week to Madison and Milwaukee and costs anywhere between $45 and $53.
Greyhound Express – It offers services from Milwaukee and Chicago.
Jefferson Lines – These new eco-friendly buses have regular services to Wisconsin, South Dakota and other places.
Megabus – They offer services from places like Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison with fares as little as $1, if reserved well in advance. Their double deck coaches are very comfortable with clean restrooms, Wi-Fi and power outlets. Call 1-877-462-6342 for more information.
Some important bus routes in Minneapolis include:
Route 5 – Downtown, Midtown Exchange, Mall of America and Chicago Avenue
Route 6 – Uptown, Downtown, Chain of Lakes, Dinkytown, Target Center and University of Minnesota (Minneapolis Campus)
Route 10 – Downtown, Central Avenue and Northeast Minneapolis
Route 16 and 50 – Downtown, MetroDome, Amtrak Depot, Saint Paul
Route 18 – Downtown, Nicollet Mall, MCAD
Route 21 and 53 – Uptown (Lakes), Lyn-Lake, St. Paul and Midtown
By TrainAmtrak runs daily service from St. Paul Union Station in Downtown St. Paul, which is connected to Minneapolis via the Green Line Light Rail. Amtrak Trains – 8/28 and 7/27 connect the Twin Cities to Chicago and Seattle/Portland. Taxis or the Green Line LRT are the best way to reach Minneapolis once you arrive. For more information,
click here.
Northstar Lines provides service between Downtown Minneapolis and the Big Lake, while stopping at various stations in Northwest Suburbs like Coon Rapids, Anoka, Elk River, Ramsey and Fridley. For more information,
click here.
Light Rail Transit
Image by Andrew Ciscel via WikeMedia Commons
Currently there are two rail lines – Blue Line and Green Line. The Blue Line connects majority of Downtown Minneapolis including Target Field, Mall of America, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Metrodome and other points in between. The Green Line connects Saint Paul to Downtown Minneapolis to University of Minnesota, University Avenue and Washington Avenue.
Arriving and Getting Around Minneapolis via Road
Interstate Highways 94 and 35W are the primary roads into the city. Both of the routes will take you to the borders of Downtown. While 35W runs from north to south, 94 runs from east to west.
Traveling in Minneapolis via car or bike is one of the best ways to see the city at your own leisure. You can either rent a car or hire a taxi to take you to your destination.
Here is a guide to Minneapolis’s various neighborhoods.
Generally, it costs around $28 per day to rent a car in the city.
Here is a website to rent a car in Minneapolis via CarRentals.com. You can also hire a taxi or a cab to get around the city.
TaxiFareFinder is a good way to find out about the rates and fares for taxis in Minneapolis.
Biking is another great way to see Minneapolis at your own pace. There are several biking paths and lanes in the city for bikes including some off-road bike trails such as the one between Chaska and St. Paul. Even during the winter season, major bike trails, like the one at Midtown Greenway, are shoveled at the same time as the roads. For information on cycling in the Twin Cities,
click here.
If you do not own a bike, you can always rent one from the following companies:
Nice Ride Minnesota: 1-877-551-6423
Grand Performance: 1 651-699-2640
Calhoun Cycle: 1 612-827-8000
Getting Around Minneapolis via Skyway System
The new Minneapolis Skyway System in the city has made traveling through the entire city during winters smooth and comfortable. Extending over 11 miles, 69 blocks of Downtown Minneapolis connects various buildings, offices, retail stores, restaurants and banks to Nicollet Mall, Target Center, Target Field and Block E Entertainment District. For more information on the Skyway system, please
click here.
Minneapolis Taxi/Shuttle ServicesMinneapolis Yellow Cab
http://www.yellowcabmn.com/Phone: 612-888-8800
Airport Taxi
www.airporttaximn.comAddress: 5010 Hillsboro Avenue North, New Hope, MN 55428
Phone Number: 612.888.8888
Avis Rent-A-Car
www.avis.comAddress: 2240 Airport Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55450
Phone Number: 651.202.8348
Blue & White Taxi
www.blueandwhitetaxi.comAddress: 1400 Van Buren St NE, Suite # 120, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone Number: 612.333.3333
Carey Limousine Minneapolis/St. Paul
www.carey.comAddress: 302 Industrial Boulevard NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone Number: 612.623.0565
Eclipse Global Transportation
www.eclipsecars.comAddress: 44 Moreland Avenue East, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Phone Number: 651.293.1111
Executive Transportation
www.executivecarmn.comAddress: 212 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone Number: 612.618.1884
Premier Transportation
www.premiertrans.comAddress: 999 American Blvd, East
Minneapolis, MN 55420
Phone Number: 612.331.7433
Star Transportation
www.limostar.comAddress: 1299 Eagan Industrial Road, Eagan, MN 55121
Phone Number: 952.895.0095
Suburban Taxi - Green & White Taxi - Diamond Taxi
www.suburbantaxi.comAddress: 1907 Charles Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone Number: 612.522.2222
SuperShuttle
www.supershuttle.comAddress: 4500 Glumack Drive, Suite 1300, St. Paul, MN 55111
Phone Number: 612.827.7777
A Complete Map Guide on Getting Around in Minneapolis
