Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) is the major airport of the Twin Cities region, 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Minneapolis and 7 miles southwest of Saint Paul. It's a major hub for Delta Air Lines, and the largest and busiest airport in the nearest 6 states in the upper Midwest and Great Plains.
Understand
[edit]Delta Air Lines is the dominant airline operating at MSP, transporting around 75% of all MSP passengers. While it's not a major international gateway, the airport has a lot of destinations served nonstop, third only to Atlanta and Denver in U.S. cities with the most nonstop markets served.
Flights
[edit]The airport is divided into two completely separate buildings: the very large Terminal 1 (consisting of concourses A-G) and the small Terminal 2 (consisting only of concourse H), with most flights arriving at Terminal 1.
If you're beginning your trip at MSP, make sure you know which terminal you will depart from; Terminal 2 is mostly used by several discount airlines, while Terminal 1 serves all others.
- Terminal 1–Lindbergh is named for Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), the Minnesota aviator whose 1927 solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris marked a turning point in aviation history.
- Concourse A: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse B: Delta Air Lines, Denver Air Connection
- Concourse C: Delta Air Lines, WestJet
- Concourse D: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse E: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines
- Concourse F: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse G: Air France, Delta Air Lines, Discover Airlines, KLM
- Terminal 2–Humphrey is named for Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978), the Minnesota senator who served as vice president of the United States.
- Concourse H: Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines
Ground transportation
[edit]By light rail
[edit]The METRO Blue Line links the airport with Downtown Minneapolis, South Minneapolis, northeastern corner of Bloomington (including the Mall of America), and offers connections to buses to other parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The trains are convenient, fast, and clean. Fare is $2.00-2.50 depending on time of day. The light rail has stations at both terminals.
By bus
[edit]Route 54 buses link the airport with Downtown Saint Paul, West 7th Street, and the Mall of America in Bloomington. The bus only stops at Terminal 1; passengers flying into or out of Terminal 2 can use the METRO Blue Line to complete their journey.
By car
[edit]Terminal 1 is off Minnesota Highway 5. Terminal 2 is along 34th Avenue north of Interstate 494/Highway 5.
Get around
[edit]It's rare to have to transfer between Terminals 1 and 2, as no airlines serve both. If you do, you must exit the secure area and take the METRO Blue Line; passengers that are only riding between the two terminals do not need to pay a fare and it operates 24/7. You'll then have to re-clear security in the other terminal.
Terminal 1 is very large, and there is little to speed you on your way. A tram runs along the length of Concourse C, which by itself is a staggering half-mile (0.8 km) long; this brings Concourses A, B, and C closer to the central airport mall, from which the other concourses sprout. There are some moving sidewalks as well, but otherwise you have to walk to get around, and it can be a long journey; the farthest gates are just over 1 mile (1.6 km) apart, which will take 20 minutes or more at a brisk pace, or slightly less if you can use the tram.
Wait
[edit]Lounges
[edit]- Delta Sky Club.
- (Terminal 1, airport mall, near entrance to Concourse F). 4:15AM-10:15PM daily.
- (Terminal 1, gate C12). 6AM-10PM daily.
- (Terminal 1, Gate G17 and G18). 6AM-10PM daily..
- United Club (Terminal 1, gate E6). Su-F 5AM-7:PM, Sa 5AM-5:30PM.
- Escape Lounge (Terminal 1, airport mall, above the entrance to Concourse E (mezzanine level)), toll-free: +1-844-413-7227. 4AM-9PM daily. Common-use lounge open to passengers of any airline for a fee. $45 entrance fee, $40 if pre-booked online. Free access for American Express Platinum Card members.
Eat and drink
[edit]Terminal 1
[edit]Most of the food in Terminal 1 is concentrated in the central airport mall. While this is fairly central to most Concourses (except for far-flung Concourses A and B), it means you're unlikely to find much food near your gate, unless you order take-out and carry it to your next gate.
- Angel Food Bakery (Terminal 1, gate E5). 5AM-11AM daily. Donuts and breakfast.
- Black Sheep (Terminal 1, airport mall center). Local chain serving coal-fired pizzas.
- Holy Land Deli (Terminal 1, gate E4). 5AM-7PM daily. Local chain offering Middle Eastern and Mediterranean favorites: gyros, schwarma, and falafel.
- LoLo American Kitchen (Terminal 1, gate E11). 5AM-6:30PM daily. Korean barbecue tacos.
- Republic (Terminal 1, airport mall near Concourse D). 5AM-9PM daily. Burgers and beer.
- Smack Shack (Terminal 1, airport mall center). 10AM-8PM daily. Lobster rolls and chowder.
- Salty Tart (Terminal 1, gate E4). Pastries.
- Stone Arch (Terminal 1, airport mall near Concourse F). Microbrewery.
Terminal 2
[edit]- Cocina del Barrio (Terminal 2, gate H8). 4:30AM-9:30PM daily. Mexican plates and a wide variety of tequilas.
Buy
[edit]Shopping at MSP is best in Terminal 1, especially in the central airport mall, which has the airport’s largest concentration of stores. Expect the usual mix of bookstores, newsstands, travel-essentials shops, tech and luggage retailers, clothing and accessories, plus several gift and souvenir shops. Across both terminals, the airport has more than 100 shops, restaurants, and services, but Terminal 1 is the stronger option, by far, for browsing.
For something more local, Terminal 1 includes several Minnesota-oriented stores, including shops focused on regional gifts, outdoor gear, books, and even Prince merchandise. Duty-free shopping is also available for eligible international travelers. For a well-curated selection of bestsellers, travel reads, and local interest books, consider visiting Open Book in the central airport mall.
Terminal 2 has a more limited retail selection, geared more toward convenience shopping than leisurely browsing, with a smaller set of newsstands and airport retail outlets. More shops are being added to Terminal 2, albeit at a slow pace.
Connect
[edit]Free Wi-Fi is available on the airside of both terminals; look for the network MSP Free Wi-Fi. Sessions last for two hours, but once they expire you can connect again free of charge.
Cope
[edit]- Lost and Found (Terminal 1 ticketing lobby, near the Frontier Airlines counter), ☏ +1 612 726-5141, [email protected]. M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa Su 8AM-3PM. The airport's lost and found office deals with items lost at the airport, excluding items lost at security checkpoints or on aircraft. If calling the lost and found office after hours, leave a message and they will get a hold of you on the following business day.
- For items lost at security checkpoints, contact TSA Lost and Found at ☏ +1 612 486-6176 (phone line open M-F 8AM-4:30PM).
Sleep
[edit]- 1 InterContinental Hotel, 5005 Glumack Dr, ☏ +1 612 725-0500. This is the only hotel on the airport grounds. The hotel has a skyway connection to a TSA checkpoint at Terminal 1's Concourse C. The TSA checkpoint is open 5:15AM-6:45PM daily and is only for passengers without checked baggage; access from the terminal to the hotel through the skyway is open 24 hours a day, but also only for those without checked baggage. The hotel also offers shuttle service to Terminals 1 and 2. $289+.
Many of the hotels along the I-494 corridor (especially Bloomington and Richfield to the west, but also Eagan and Mendota Heights to the east) offer free airport shuttles. Hotels in Downtown Minneapolis are easy to access via the METRO Blue Line, as are some of the hotels in northeast Bloomington directly south of the airport (east of or next to the Mall of America).
Nearby
[edit]| Routes through Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport |
| Downtown Minneapolis ← South Minneapolis ← | N  S
|
→ Bloomington → END |