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Getting There By Air:

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP)
Tel: (612) 726 5555.
Website: www.mspairport.com

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport ranks among the top 10 busiest airports in the country, with daily services to some 25 international destinations, as well as 175 US cities. The Lindbergh Terminal handles most scheduled flights, while the nearby Humphrey Terminal primarily handles charter flights. The airport is located south of the Twin Cities, on the state road, SR-5. Downtown St Paul is located 13.5km (8.5 miles) away, while Downtown Minneapolis is 19km (12 miles) north.

Approximate flight times to Minneapolis-St Paul: From London is 8 hours; from New York is 3 hours; from Los Angeles is 4 hours; from Toronto is 3 hours and from Sydney is 20 hours.

Airport facilities: Travelers Assistance booths (tel: (612) 726 5500), open daily 0800-2000, are located by the concourse entrances and on the baggage claim level. Volunteers provide information on airport services, tourist attractions, accommodation, transport, paging and translation services. Other airport facilities include ATMs, a barber and stylist services, arcade games, children’s play areas, Internet kiosks, Wi-Fi Internet, duty-free shopping, foreign currency exchange, lockers, lost and found, nursery, postal service, luggage repair and storage, as well as numerous restaurants and shops. Car hire is available from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The Pierson M Grieve Conference Center (tel: (612) 794 4500) provides a number of business facilities and services.

Transport to the city: Information on transport to hotels, which is often complimentary, is available on the baggage claim level of the airport. The Travelers Assistance booths also provide information on transport options. Super Shuttle USA (tel: (612) 827 7777 or 1 800 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com) meets all flights on request and provides inexpensive van shuttle service between the airport and Downtown hotels.

A light rail line, Metro Transit Hiawatha Line (route 55), also connects Downtown Minneapolis with the airport and the Mall of America.

MTC buses (see Public Transport section in Getting Around) run from the airport to both Downtown areas. Bus 7 runs to Downtown Minneapolis, approximately every 20 minutes during the day, while Bus 54D runs to Downtown St Paul every 30 minutes.

Taxi fares to Downtown St Paul are around US$25, while Downtown Minneapolis costs US$30-35. Driving times from the airport are about 20 minutes to Downtown Minneapolis or 15 minutes to Downtown St Paul.

Getting There By Road:

There is an extensive system of Interstate highways, which are the US equivalent of motorways. These are the fastest and most direct routes between locations and are designated by the letter ‘I’ followed by a number, such as I-55. Some of these routes are toll-roads. The speed limit on Interstate highways is 105kph (65mph) for cars, unless stated otherwise. There is also an extensive network of federal, state and local roads and highways. State roads are designated as ‘SR’ followed by a number, while highways are designated by the letters ‘Hwy’, followed by a number. Speed limits are 48kph (30mph) in towns and 88kph (55mph) on highways, unless otherwise indicated.

The legal driving age in Minnesota is 16 years. For UK nationals, a full UK driving license is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, which must be accompanied by a full driving license from their home country. Basic insurance is mandatory. Driving in the United States is on the right. The wearing of seatbelts by persons in the front seat and children under 11 years old is required by law. Children aged four years or under must be protected in car seats. Minnesota has strict laws against drinking and driving and driving while intoxicated is cause for arrest and a criminal charge. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving in 0.08%.

The American Automobile Association (tel: 1 800 222 1333; website: www.aaa.com) provides information and might offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service:
AAA 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP

Car hire companies generally provide a number for customers to call in the event of an emergency breakdown.

Routes to the city: The Twin Cities are served by an efficient interstate highway system. I-35 runs north-south (south to Omaha and Kansas City) and has two branches – I-35E runs through St Paul and serves its suburbs, while I-35W runs through Minneapolis and its adjoining suburbs. The two branches meet again north of the city center. I-94 runs east-west through both cities (on to Winnipeg, Chicago and Milwaukee) and intersects with both branches of I-35. The I-494 and I-694 form a large oval around the cities, called the ‘Belt Line’. This intersects with most of the major highways in the area. Other state roads into the metro area include highways 10, 52 and 55, which run roughly southeast-northwest, as well as SR-36, which enters St Paul from the east.

Approximate driving times to the city: From Milwaukee – 5 hours 30 minutes; Chicago – 6 hours 30 minutes; Omaha – 6 hours 30 minutes; Winnipeg – 6 hours 30 minutes; Kansas City – 9 hours.

Coach services: Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; website: www.greyhound.com) and Jefferson Bus Lines (tel: (651) 222 0508; website: www.jeffersonlines.com) provide intercity coach services to and from the Twin Cities to destinations around the USA and Canada, including direct services from New York, Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Chicago.

Both companies use the same terminals, which are located in the city centers. The Minneapolis Terminal, 29 North Ninth Street (tel: (612) 371 3325), is situated opposite the Orpheum Theater and is just two blocks away from city bus routes along Hennepin Avenue and Seventh Street and Eighth Street. The St Paul Terminal, 166 West University Avenue (tel: (651) 222 0508), is located near the State Capitol building.

Getting There By Rail:

Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245/USA RAIL; website: www.amtrak.com) is the national railway service provider, with comfortable and generally reliable services, although it is always a good idea for travelers to confirm reservations and check train times before departure.

The Amtrak Minneapolis–St Paul (MSP) railway station is located at 730 Transfer Road in St Paul’s Midway area, about 10 minutes from either Downtown area. Facilities at the station are basic, with an enclosed waiting area, parking, vending machines and public telephones.

Amtrak information centers are located throughout Downtown St Paul, including City Hall and Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, and the Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street. Tickets are available for purchase at the Amtrak station, on the website or can be reserved by telephone and picked up at the station – a photo ID is required for this service. National rail enquiries should be directed to Amtrak’s general number (tel: 1 800 872 7245/USA RAIL).

Rail services: The station is on a major east-west line, called the ‘Empire Builder’, which runs daily from Chicago and points further east to Portland and Seattle. Journey times by rail from Minneapolis to Chicago, Portland and Seattle are 8, 36 and 37 hours, respectively.

Transport to the city: MTC (tel: (612) 373 3333) bus 16 serves the train station. The taxi fare is about US$12 to St Paul and US$17 to Minneapolis.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
Metro Transit (MTC) (tel: (612) 373 3333; website: www.metrotransit.org), together with Suburban Bus Lines, operates over 100 bus routes and one light rail line throughout the Twin Cities area. Some routes operate 24 hours – the MTC office provides further information.

Single fares are available for purchase on the bus, in cash only, as drivers cannot make change. There is a set fare within the downtown districts.

Stored Value Cards are valid at any time of the day. A 31-Day SuperSaver pass is also available, offering unlimited use of the Metro Transit buses for 31 days from first use. Passes are available online or from Transit Outlet stores, located at 719 Marquette in Downtown Minneapolis, the Downtown St Paul Skyway, the Mall of America as well as through some supermarket chains.

The Hiawatha light rail line, the state’s first light rail line, is also operated by MTC (see above) and connects Downtown Minneapolis with the Mall of America via the airport. There are 17 stations on the line. Services operate between 0400 and 0110.

Skyways
Both Minneapolis and St Paul are famous for their skyways, a unique system of enclosed second-story walkways, which connect banks, department stores, office buildings and hotels in the city centers, enabling people to shop and do business without ever going outside to endure the inclement weather. Some 60 blocks in Downtown Minneapolis are interconnected in this manner. Measuring 8km (5 miles), the skyways comprise the longest skyway system in the world. General skyway hours are Monday-Friday 0630-2200, Saturday 0930-2000 and Sunday 1200-1800, although hours vary somewhat from building to building.

Taxis
There are designated taxi ranks at the airport, the Mall of America and in Downtown Minneapolis and St Paul. Taxis must be telephoned in advance for all other locations. There are surcharges for extra passengers or airport runs. Taxi companies include Airport Taxi (tel: (612) 721 0000), Rainbow Taxi (tel: (612) 332 1615), Blue & White Taxi (tel: (612) 333 3333) and Yellow (tel: (612) 824 4444). It is customary for passengers to tip up to 15% of the total fare.


Driving in the City
Minneapolis and St Paul are laid out on grid systems that extend from either side of the Mississippi River. The main streets in Minneapolis run north-south and include Hennepin, Lyndale and Nicollet Avenues. Major east-west thoroughfares include Broadway, University and Washington avenues, as well as Lake and Franklin Streets. In St Paul, Snelling and Hamline Avenues, Lexington Parkway and Wabasha Street are among the main north-south thoroughfares, while Seventh Street, University and Como Avenues are major east-west routes. With a good map, both cities are fairly easy to navigate.

Traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hours (Monday-Friday 0700-0900 and 1600-1900). Entry to the interstates is controlled by traffic lights during these times.

Winter conditions present the biggest challenge to drivers in the Twin Cities. Extreme cold and copious amounts of snow and ice make driving hazardous, especially for those who are not used to such conditions. During heavy snowfalls, parking is banned on many main streets, or only allowed on even- or odd-numbered sides of residential streets, to enable snow plowing. Vehicles parked in violation of the rules are swiftly towed away.

Metered parking, which costs from 50 cents per hour and often is free at the weekend, is available on Downtown streets. Meters take quarters (25-cent coins) only and parking time is often limited to two hours. Meters are strictly enforced and expired meters incur fines. There are also parking ramps (garages) and lots, which are more expensive.


Car Hire
To hire a car, drivers must be 25 years old and hold a major credit card. For UK nationals, a full UK driving license is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, which must be accompanied by a full driving license from their home country.

Service providers include Alamo (tel: (612) 726 5233 or 1 800 462 5266; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (612) 726 5220 or 1 800 331 1084; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (612) 726 5237 or 1 800 527 0700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: (952) 854 3003 or 1 800 800 3665; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (612) 727 3313 or 1 800 261 7331; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (651) 457 2788 or 1 800 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com), National (tel: (612) 725 6027 or 1 800 468 3334; website: www.nationalcar.com) and Thrifty (tel: (952) 854 8080 or 1 800 847 4389; website: www.thrifty.com).

Rates generally include the mandatory liability insurance but visitors should always enquire whether rates quoted include Collision Damage insurance, as this is not automatically included in American car hire rates. Drivers should also check whether the rate includes unlimited mileage, which is recommended for excursions outside the city.


Bicycle Hire
The Twin Cities have an extensive system of bike paths, including dedicated commuter lanes along some of the main thoroughfares, as well as 85km (53 miles) of paved, interconnected paths, called the Grand Rounds, which run through parks and recreational areas. In Minneapolis, bicycles can be hired at Calhoun Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 827 8000; website: www.calhouncycle.com). The Alternative Bike and Board Shop, 2408 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 374 3635), has a variety of hire options, including tandem bikes.

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Minnesota Airport Guides: Duluth International Minneapolis-St. Paul International Rochester International	Minnesota City Guides: Minneapolis-St Paul City Guide
Minnesota Attraction Guides:
Mall of America