Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
United States · Americas
About Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
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.
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport travel guide
Understand
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.
Getting around
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.
Buy
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.
Sleep
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+. (updated Aug 2018) 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).
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.