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MSP

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

Minneapolis, United States

Where to start
METRO Blue Line light rail / rideshare from the terminal pickup zone

The METRO Blue Line stops at both terminals and reaches downtown Minneapolis in about 25 minutes. At Terminal 1 the station is below the parking ramps — take the tram from the Tram Level, one level below baggage claim. At Terminal 2 it's on the north side of the Orange Ramp via the skyway. Rideshare picks up at the Ground Transportation Center at Terminal 1 and on the second level of the Purple ramp at Terminal 2.

Ride Options

METRO Blue Line

transit

Lowest-cost, traffic-proof route to downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America

AvailabilityEvery 15–30 minutes from roughly 3:30 a.m.; free between the two terminals
Pickup NoteT1 — station below the Red/Blue/Silver ramps, reached by tram from the Tram Level. T2 — north side of the Orange Ramp via the skyway from Level 1. For downtown Saint Paul, transfer to the Green Line at US Bank Stadium.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
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Uber

rideshare

Door-to-door with luggage or in bad weather

AvailabilityCommonly available; surges sharply during snow events
Pickup NoteT1 — Ground Transportation Center, Level 1 of the Green/Gold ramps, zones A/B/C. T2 — second level of the Purple ramp.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
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Lyft

rideshare

Alternative rideshare

AvailabilityCommonly available
Pickup NoteSame terminal-specific zones as Uber.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
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Minneapolis Licensed Taxi

taxi

No app needed; reliable in winter weather when rideshare supply thins

AvailabilityDedicated stands at both terminals
Pickup NoteT1 — north end of the Ground Transportation Center, opposite the rideshare zones. T2 — signed taxi stand at the terminal.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
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SIXT Ride — Pre-booked Airport Transfer

Private Transfer

Fixed-rate pre-booked door-to-door transfer

AvailabilityAvailable at Minneapolis–Saint Paul — book via SIXT app or website
Pickup NoteDriver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed price, flight tracking, up to 60 min free waiting.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Book Transfer

Pickup Guidance

Rideshare

Terminal 1 — the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of the Green/Gold parking ramps, one level down from the old Departures Drive location and reached via the Terminal 1 tram. Your app will direct you to Zone A, B or C inside the centre. Terminal 2 — the second level of the Purple parking ramp. (Note: the Purple Ramp's ground level is used by accessible and Quick Ride shuttles, not app-based rides.)

Taxi

Terminal 1 — the north end of the Ground Transportation Center, opposite the rideshare zones. Vans, limousines and hotel shuttles use the south end, sharing the east roadway with taxis. Terminal 2 has its own signed taxi stand.

Shuttle

Hotel and off-site parking shuttles use the ground transportation level at both terminals. Between terminals, the Blue Line is free and faster than any shuttle.

Transit

METRO Blue Line. Terminal 1 station sits below the Red and Blue ramps — from the Tram Level, one level below bag claim, take the tram to the ramps and follow signs to the station. Terminal 2 station is on the north side of the Orange Ramp — from Level 1 near Ticketing, take the elevator or escalator up to the skyway, then down one level to the platform. Trains run roughly every 15–30 minutes from around 3:30 a.m. Buses are separate again — Metro Transit route 54 and MVTA route 495 use the Transit Center on Level 1 of the Silver Ramp at Terminal 1.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked cars and meet-and-greet drivers work from the ground transportation level at both terminals. Given the terminal separation and winter road conditions, confirm terminal and meeting point explicitly.

Travel Extras

Need a SIM?Need a lounge?Need a hotel?

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Local Tips

  • The Blue Line between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is free — no ticket needed for that hop.
  • For downtown Saint Paul, ride the Blue Line to US Bank Stadium and transfer to the Green Line eastbound; total journey is roughly an hour.
  • The Mall of America is only a few minutes from Terminal 2 by Blue Line, and a short ride from Terminal 1 after the inter-terminal hop.
  • In a snowstorm, road times lengthen substantially and rideshare pricing rises steeply. The light rail is unaffected by road conditions and is often the more predictable choice.
  • Terminal 1 is Lindbergh (Delta and most legacy carriers); Terminal 2 is Humphrey (Sun Country, Southwest, Frontier, Icelandair). Baggage claim, security and ground transport are entirely separate.

Tarmyq local tip

The Blue Line is genuinely competitive here, not a budget fallback. In winter especially, a train that ignores snowbound roads beats a car that doesn't — and it stops inside both terminals' ramp structures, so you're indoors nearly the whole way.