It can feel so overwhelming to fly from an airport you are visiting for the first time, almost like being stuck in a confused place. But if you are flying from MSP Airport, you won’t have to worry. From navigating terminals and security checkpoints to finding airport amenities, parking spots, and nearby hotels and attractions, everything is covered in this guide. You can go through this guide to make your next journey from MSP Airport a breeze.
About MSP Airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), less commonly known as Wold-Chamberlain Field, is a civil-military public airport both owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and the home airport for Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines. MSP serves over 34 million passengers annually and has two terminals.
MSP Airport History
From 1919 to 1948
- In 1919, MSP Airport started as Speedway Field, and on June 1, 1928, the Minneapolis Park Board took control of Speedway Field.
- After a year, passenger services began, and in 1944, the site was renamed “Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Airport/Wold-Chamberlain Field.”
- It was after four years that the airport got its present name, i.e., Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.
From 1962 to 2001
- The construction of Terminal 1 was completed on January 13, 1962, and started its operations on January 21.
- Concourses G and C were built in 1971 and 1972, respectively.
- After several years, on June 1, 2002, Concourses A and B were opened.
- It was in 1986 that MSP Terminal 2 was built, and it was later rebuilt in 2001.
After 2021
- In a 2022 J.D. Power survey, MSP Airport received a score of 800 on a 1,000-point scale created based on traveler satisfaction, making it the best airport in the US and Canada.
- After a year, the airport was recognized as the world’s most punctual international airport due to its high on-time departure and arrival rates.
Where Is MSP Airport?
MSP Airport is located 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. Its exact location is 4300 Glumack Dr, St Paul, MN 55111.
MSP Airport Map
You can check the MSP Airport map given below to easily locate the airport terminals, parking facilities, and transportation options.
MSP Parking
If you are flying from Minneapolis Airport and need to park your car, you can choose one of the onsite or offsite parking lots. Onsite lots offer parking near the airport terminals. Since MSP Airport is a busy airport, these parking spots usually get filled up very fast. To offer safe, affordable, and convenient MSP Airport parking, Global Airport Parking offers multiple parking options near the airport.
Ground Transportation at MSP Airport
Local Public Transportation
METRO Blue Line Train
- Location: Terminal 1 – Below the Red, Blue, and Silver parking ramps; Terminal 2 – On the north side of the Orange Ramp.
- Operating Hours: From 3:30 a.m. or 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and it operates every 15 to 20 minutes.
- You can get your tickets from the ticket machines at the rail stations and the Metro Transit app.
- You can travel between the airport terminals for free.
Public Bus Service
City Bus Service
- Route 54 offers a city bus service that picks up and drops off at the Transit Center, which is on Level 1 of the Silver ramp.
- If you arrive at Terminal 2, you should take the METRO Blue Line to Terminal 1 to get the city buses since there is no city bus pick-up at Terminal 2.
Other Bus Services
- Scheduled bus services are provided through Jefferson Lines. Pick-up and drop-off are at Terminal 1 in the Transit Center, which is on Level 1 of the Silver Ramp.
- Route 495 offers the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority bus service to the airport every two hours, seven days a week. The pick-up and drop-off are at Terminal 1 in the Transit Center, which is on Level 1 of the Silver Ramp.
- Southwest Transit offers services on demand. The pick-up is at Terminal 1 in the Transit Center, which is on Level 1 of the Silver Ramp, and Terminal 2 in the Ground Transportation Center, which is on Level 1 of the Purple Ramp.
- Charter Buses pick up and drop you off at the Silver Ramp at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at the Ground Transportation Center.
Cars and Shuttles
App-Based Ride Services
At Terminal 1
Pick-up location – Ground Transportation Center, which is located on Level 1 of the Green/Gold Parking Ramps.
At Terminal 2
Pick-up location – Ground Transport Center, which is on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp.
Taxi Service
At Terminal 1
Pick-up location – Accessible via the Tram Level (Level T).
At Terminal 2
Pick-up location – Ground Transport Center, which is on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp.
Van and Shuttle Services
You can find the ticket counters for van and limousine services in the Ground Transportation Center, which is on Level 1 of the Green/Gold Parking Ramps.
To get to the pick-up location, you need to follow the wayfinding signage for Uber/Lyft, Taxis, and Shuttles from Level T.
Car Rentals
To get to the rental car counters at Terminal 1, you should catch the underground tram to the ramp and then follow the wayfinding signs pointing to the rental area. The rental car counter at Terminal 2 is located on the ground level of the Purple Ramp. Several rental car companies operate at MSP Airport.
How to Reach MSP Airport
From Minneapolis to Terminal 1
- First, take I-35W south and then turn to I-494 east.
- You can then travel east on I-494 to the Highway 5 exit.
- MSP Terminal 1 is located directly off Highway 5.
- You should follow the highway signs leading to Terminal 1.
- You can see the exit on the left, beyond the Post Road exit.
From Minneapolis to Terminal 2
- First, take I-35W south and then turn to I-494 east.
- You should then travel east on I-494 to the 34th Avenue exit.
- From the Exit 34th Avenue, turn left (north) at the traffic light.
- You should then follow the signs leading to Terminal 2.
MSP Airport Hotels
If you wish to reach the airport early before your flight time or prefer to stay a day or more after your trip, you will surely need a place to stay. Have a look at some of the hotels near the MSP Airport:
InterContinental Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hotel
Address: 5005 Glumack Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55450
Distance from the airport: 0.5 miles
Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport
Address: 7901 34th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 1.2 miles
Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport
Address: 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 1.3 miles
Hampton Inn Suites Minneapolis St Paul Arpt
Address: 2860 Metro Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 1.7 miles
SpringHill Suites Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
Address: 2870 Metro Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 1.8 miles
Hilton Garden Inn MSP Airport
Address: 1601 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 3 miles
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bloomington/Minneapolis
Address: 801 E 78th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
Distance from the airport: 3 miles
Radisson Blu Mall of America MSP Airport
Address: 2100 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425
Distance from the airport: 3 miles
Quality Inn & Suites MSP Airport
Address: 814 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55420
Distance from the airport: 3 miles
Super 8 by Wyndham Bloomington/Airport
Address: 7800 2nd Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
Distance from the airport: 4 miles
You can book your space now and park at any of the nearby hotels!
MSP Airport Lounges
Looking for a place to rest inside MSP Airport? You can go through these different lounges at the airport.
| Lounge | Location |
| Delta Sky Club | Terminal 1
Next to Gate C12, At Concourse C At MSP Mall, near the entrance to Concourse F Across from Gate G18, Concourse G |
| Escape Lounge | Terminal 1
At MSP Mall, above the entrance to Concourse E (mezzanine level) |
| United Club | Terminal 1
Located near Gate E6, Concourse E |
MSP Airport Food and Dining
For those who are looking for food options at MSP Airport, here are some:
At Terminal 1
- Angel Food Bakery
- Auntie Anne’s
- Bruegger’s Bagels
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Caribou Coffee
- Chick-fil-A
- Custom Burgers
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Hissho Sushi
- Ike’s Clubhouse
At Terminal 2
- Caribou Coffee
- Cocina Del Barrio
- Farmer’s Fridge
- Minnesota Wild Bar and Restaurant
- MSP MKT
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Surdyk’s Flights
These are just a few food spots at Minneapolis Airport, but there are several others.
MSP Airport Shops and Stores
Want to do some shopping at MSP Airport? Here are a few shops and stores at MSP Airport:
At Terminal 1
- Adventure North
- Atelier
- Frivolous
- Hjem + Home
- JetSet News
- Johnston & Murphy
- Kiehl’s
- MSP Shopping by Dufry
- The North Mercantile
- Prairie Market
At Terminal 2
- Hudson News
- L’etoile Market
- Mpls. St. Paul News & Gifts
- MSP Shopping by Dufry
MSP Airport Amenities
Various amenities you can find at Minneapolis Airport are:
- Airport conference center
- Airport customer communications office
- Airport Mall
- Armed Forces Service Center
- ATM/Cash machines
- Children’s play area
- Currency exchange
- FedEx and USPS drop boxes
- Lactation centers
- Nursing mothers room
- Passenger assistance desks
- Pet relief areas
- Postal stamps and package delivery services
- Quiet seating area
- Travelers assistance program
- Water refill stations
- Wi-Fi
MSP Airport Fun Areas for Kids
Considering the interests of the kids, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has included two children’s play areas. You can find these play areas on Concourse C at Terminal 1 and inside security at Terminal 2.
Accessibility at MSP Airport
MSP Airport offers multiple specialized programs and accessibility services. Some of the accessibility services are accessibility services maps, accessible ground transportation, accessible parking, Aira airport network, airline accessibility information, hearing loops, and many more. You can contact the airline representative for any assistance.
MSP Airport Check-in Time
You need to check in at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport at least two hours before your domestic flights and three hours before your international flights to allow enough time for the security screening process.
Security at MSP Airport
As part of the security check, the MSP has TSA checkpoints, TSA PreCheck lanes, Global Entry, CLEAR, and MSP RESERVE.
TSA Checkpoints at Minneapolis Airport
At Terminal 1
North and South checkpoints
Location: Ticketing level
Operating Hours: 24 hours per day
Checkpoint #7
Location: Concourse G (only for international connecting travelers)
At Terminal 2
Checkpoint 1
Location: Near the Orange and Purple Parking Ramp skyways
Operating Hours: From 4:00 am until the last scheduled departure
Checkpoint 2
Location: Near the Orange and Purple Parking Ramp skyways
Operating Hours: Only used for peak travel periods
TSA Wait Time
The average TSA wait time at MSP Airport is 31 minutes, and it can vary.
TSA PreCheck
Travelers who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck screening should move through the PreCheck lanes for security checks.
Global Entry
Global Entry is available at both Terminals 1 and 2. The Global Entry interview area at Terminal 1 is near baggage carousel #11 on the baggage claim level.
CLEAR
North Checkpoint
Clear enrollment open from 4:30 am to 8:00 pm
South checkpoint
Clear enrollment open from 4:30 am to 9:00 pm
MSP RESERVE
You can get free security appointments at select airport locations using this program.
Places to Visit near MSP Airport
Theatres such as Guthrie Theatre, State Theatre, and Orpheum Theatre
Distance from the airport: Around 12 miles
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Distance from the airport: Around 7 miles
Children’s Theatre Company
Distance from the airport: Around 10 miles
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Distance from the airport: Around 10 miles
The Walker Art Center
Distance from the airport: Around 12 miles
Shops and restaurants along Hennepin Avenue and the Nicollet Mall
Distance from the airport: Around 12 miles
Como Zoo
Distance from the airport: Around 9 miles
Minnesota Zoo
Distance from the airport: Around 13 miles
The Science Museum of Minnesota
Distance from the airport: Around 7 miles
Valley Fair amusement park
Distance from the airport: Around 20 miles
MSP Airport FAQs
Where is MSP Airport located?
MSP Airport is located within 10 miles of downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. The airport address is 4300 Glumack Dr, St Paul, MN 55111.
How big is MSP Airport?
MSP Airport covers about 3,400 acres and serves over 34 million passengers annually, making it one of the 20 busiest airports in North America.
At what time does MSP Airport open?
MSP Airport is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At the same time, the operating hours of security checkpoints and ticket counters will vary. Hence, you need to contact your specific airline to know about the exact times of operation.
Who owns MSP Airport?
MSP Airport is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
Is smoking allowed in the MSP Airport terminals?
No, MSP Airport terminals are smoke-free. There are designated areas for smoking on both the Arrivals and Departures levels at Terminal 2 and at curbside & in the parking ramps (at a minimum distance of 20 feet from any door) at Terminal 2.
