MSP? What airport is that? Where is it? Our diligent detectives have been hard at work to find out. Read on to know what they discovered!
Located 10 miles from Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown Saint Paul lies Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, famous as MSP Airport. This joint civil-military airport is the biggest and busiest in the Upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. MSP Airport is the busiest and the biggest one in Minnesota. Therefore, getting to the airport won’t be easy if you don’t plan your travel bookings in advance. Yes, public transportation services and other transportation services connect the airport well with the city center. There’s also the option of driving down since there are ample onsite parking options at the airport. Here we have the info you need to know about getting to the airport and MSP Airport parking!
Airlines at MSP
What Airport is MSP
Minneapolis Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US and the world, with annual passenger traffic of around 37 million. The airport had passenger traffic of around 14 million in 2020, making it the 17th busiest in the US. MSP Airport sprawls over an area of around 2,930 acres. Minneapolis Airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and a home airport for Sun Country Airlines. The airport has two terminals (1&2) that are located on two different roadway systems. The terminals have a total of 131 gates.
Address: 4300 Glumack Dr, St Paul, MN 55111
Phone: (612) 726 5555
Getting to MSP Airport
The city center and other places connect well to Minneapolis Airport via public transportation and taxi/rideshare services. As the airport is just around 10 miles from the city center, driving to the airport can also be a good option.
Public transportation services
Light rail transit (LRT) and City bus service are the two public transportation services you can use to commute to the airport.
Light Rail Transit: This train service has stops at both terminals and connects Downtown Minneapolis to MSP Airport. LRT also provides service from Mall of America and many other destinations. You can locate the Terminal 1 station below the Red, Blue, and Silver parking ramps and Terminal 2 station to the north side of the Orange Ramp. The service operates 24/7 from 3.36 a.m.-11.46 p.m. All LRT trains run every 10 minutes during peak hours and 10-15 minutes at other times.
City bus service: Managed by Metro Transit, Route 54 bus connects the city to MSP Airport. The passenger drop-off and pick-up location are at Transit Center on Level 1 of the Silver ramp. The service has no pick-up at Terminal 2.
Taxi/Rideshare services
Taxi services are expensive while traveling to MSP Airport. A trip from Downtown Minneapolis to the airport will cost you between $39-49. At the same time, hiring a taxi from Downtown Saint Paul to the airport charges you anything between $31-38.
The fare varies depending on the ride types you choose and the time of travel. Hiring an Uber service can cost you anything between $16-65 while traveling from Downtown Minneapolis to the airport. Traveling from Downtown Saint Paul to MSP Airport costs you between $18-50. If you’re using Lyft, a ride from Downtown Minneapolis to the airport charges you between $40 and $93. Lyft service can cost you anything between $40-101 while traveling from Downtown Saint Paul to Minneapolis Airport. The rate can surge high if you’re traveling during peak hours or seasons.
Driving to the airport
It is an ideal option if you’re leaving the city for a few days. It is better to drive to the airport if you’re traveling with family or have a lot of baggage. But be aware that the route from the city center to the airport can be crowded during peak hours or seasons. So, the chances are high that you may get stuck in the traffic and reach late for the flight. The safer option is to reserve a parking spot in advance. It will help you to avoid circling the MSP Airport parking lots at the last minute. For that, you need to be well aware of the onsite parking lots.
Getting an MSP Airport parking
Onsite MSP Airport parking is available via these main parking lots – Terminal 1: Hourly, Terminal 2: Hourly, Value, Daily Parking, and Quick Ride Ramp.
Hourly Parking lots
These MSP Airport parking lots are suitable if you’re spending less than four hours at the airport. You can locate the Terminal 1 lot at Level 3 of the Gold Ramp. Both these terminal lots offer covered parking. The parking lots connect to the respective terminal via a skyway. Parking for the first hour costs you $5. The rate increases by $3 per hour till it reaches the daily maximum rate of $30.
Value Parking lot
You can locate this lot at Terminal 2. This lot connects to Terminal 1 via light rail. Getting a parking spot in this lot for the first 60 minutes costs you $10. The parking rate increases by $3 per hour till it reaches the daily maximum rate of $19. EV charging stations are available on Level 7 of the Orange Ramp.
Daily Parking Lot
This parking lot is suitable for long-term parking. The Green, Gold, Blue, Red, Pink, and Brown ramps offer daily parking at Terminal 1. MSP Airport parking at this lot for the first 60 minutes costs you $5. The parking rate surges by $3 per hour till it reaches the daily maximum rate of $30. Enclosed skyways on Level connect Terminal 1 to Green and Gold parking ramps. Terminal 1 connects to Red, Blue, Pink, and Brown Parking Ramps through Level T. EV charging stations are available at Level 8 of Blue and Red ramps.
Quick Ride Ramp
You can locate this lot at Highway 5 at the Post Road exit at 5315 Northwest Drive. The lot offers free round-trip shuttle services to the terminal. Using a parking spot for the first hour costs you $3. Long-term parking can cost you a maximum of $15 per day.
How much is Valet parking at MSP Airport?
Using the Valet parking service costs you $10 for the first hour. Parking costs you $3 for every additional hour till it reaches the daily maximum rate of $45. The service is only available at Terminal 1.
How can you guarantee an MSP Airport parking spot?
Enroll in the ePark Elite program. This program ensures you have an MSP Airport parking spot always. You will be guaranteed a parking spot whenever you drive up the parking lot, irrespective of the parking lot status.
Is there free parking at MSP Airport?
Yes, only when you use the Cell Phone Lot. You can locate this lot on Post Road.
Minneapolis Airport Parking Rates
| Location | Time | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1: Hourly | First hour Every additional hour Per day | $5 $3 $30 |
| Terminal 2: Hourly | First hour Every additional hour Per day | $5 $3 $36 |
| Value Parking | First hour Every additional hour Per day | $5 $3 $23 |
| Daily Parking | First hour Every additional hour Per day | $5 $3 $30 |
| Valet parking | First hour Every additional hour Per day | $10 $3 $55 |
| Way uncovered parking | Per day | $4.50 |
| Way covered parking | Per day | $14.90 |
| Way valet parking | Per day | $18.10 |
Tip: Do you want to know how to have hassle-free parking at MSP Airport? Do read our blog on 5 ways to make your MSP parking experience smoother.
Offsite parking near the airport
MSP Airport parking is expensive, and a parking spot isn’t guaranteed without pre-booking. Do you want to ensure a cheap long-term parking spot while flying out of MSP Airport? Then it is always better to check out the offsite garages and lots. Most offsite garages and lots offer long-term parking starting at rates as low as $4 per day. Always book via the Way.com app or the website to get great Minneapolis Airport parking at affordable rates!
| Extended Stay America Minneapolis Airport Parking South | $4.50 per day | Book Now |
| Hampton Inn MSP Airport Parking | $7.45 per day | Book Now |
| Envision Ascend Hotel MSP Airport Parking | $6.95 per day | Book Now |
| Microtel Inn & Suites By Wyndham MSP Airport Parking | $6.99 per day | Book Now |
How far is the Hilton from Minneapolis Airport?
The Hilton is 3 miles from Minneapolis Airport.
How far is Embassy Suites from Minneapolis Airport?
Embassy Suites is 1.7 miles from Minneapolis Airport.
How far is the Great Wolf Lodge from Minneapolis Airport?
The Great Wolf Lodge is 3 miles from Minneapolis Airport.
Tips for MSP Airport travelers
- The airport is located 10 miles from Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown Saint Paul.
- Using the Light Rail Transit will be the ideal option to reach the airport. It takes nearly 25-30 minutes to reach MSP Airport.
- The Value Parking lot offers the cheapest onsite daily parking rate.
- Use the Cell Phone Lot if you want free MSP Airport parking while picking up a passenger.
Check out more blogs on the best parking spots in your city, the most affordable insurance for your car, and top-rated car washes near you.
