Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
A number of airlines offer flights to Minneapolis-St Paul including Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM and US Airways.
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP)
Tel: (612) 726 5555.
Website: www.mspairport.com
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport offers daily services to 25 international destinations, as well as 175 US cities. The Lindbergh Terminal handles most scheduled flights, while the nearby Humphrey Terminal 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, pet boarding services, postal service, luggage repair and storage, as well as restaurants and shops. Car hire is available from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. 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.
Super Shuttle USA (tel: (612) 827 7777 or 1 800 258 3826; www.supershuttle.com) provides inexpensive van shuttle service to 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 bus 54 runs to Downtown St Paul every 30 minutes.
Taxi fares to Downtown St Paul are around US$28-34, while Downtown Minneapolis costs US$34-44. 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. Some of these routes are toll-roads. The speed limit on Interstate highways is 105kph (65mph) for cars, unless stated otherwise. 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 American Automobile Association (tel: 1 800 222 1333; www.aaa.com) provides information and might offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.
Emergency breakdown services
AAA 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP Car hire companies generally provide a number for customers 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, while I-35W runs through Minneapolis. 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.
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; www.greyhound.com) and Jefferson Bus Lines (tel: (651) 222 0508 or 1 800 767 5333; 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 city center terminals. The Minneapolis Terminal, 950 Hawthorne Avenue (tel: (612) 371 3325), is opposite the Orpheum Theater and is close to city bus routes along Hennepin Avenue and Seventh Street and Eighth Street. The St Paul Terminal, 166 West University Avenue (tel: (651) 222 0507), is located near the State Capitol building.
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
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. 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. Facilities at the station are basic, with an enclosed waiting area, parking, vending machines and public telephones.
Rail Operators
Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245/USA RAIL; www.amtrak.com) is the national railway operator, with comfortable and generally reliable services. Travelers should confirm reservations and check train times before departure. 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, online or can be reserved by telephone and picked up at the station – a photo ID is required for this service. Journey times by rail from Minneapolis to Chicago, Portland and Seattle are 8, 36 and 37 hours, respectively.
Transport
Metro Transit (tel: (612) 373 3333) bus 16 serves the train station. The taxi fare is approximately US$15 to St Paul and US$20 to Minneapolis.
Getting Around in Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota
Public Transport
Metro Transit (MTC) (tel: (612) 373 3333; www.metrotransit.org) and Suburban Bus Lines operate over 100 bus routes and one light rail line throughout the Twin Cities. Single fares are available for purchase on the bus, in cash only. There is a set fare within the downtown districts.
Stored Value Cards and Go-To Cards are valid at any time of the day. A 31-day SuperSaver pass offers unlimited use of the Metro Transit buses. Passes are available online or from Transit Outlet stores, located at 719 Marquette in Downtown Minneapolis, the Downtown St Paul Skyway as well as some supermarket chains.
The Hiawatha light rail line 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 city center, second-story walkways, which connect banks, department stores, office buildings and hotels, enabling people to avoid the inclement weather. Measuring 8km (5 miles), the skyways are open Monday-Friday 0630-2200, Saturday 0930-2000 and Sunday 1200-1800, although hours may vary.
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). Tip are around 15% of the total fare.
Driving in the City
Minneapolis and St Paul are laid out like a grid. With a good map, both cities are fairly easy to navigate. Traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hours.
Winter present the biggest challenge to drivers. 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.
Metered parking, which costs from 50 cents per hour and often is free at the weekend, is available on Downtown streets. Parking time is often limited to two hours. 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, accompanied by a full driving license from their home country.
Car rental companies include Alamo (tel: 1 800 462 5266; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1084; www.avis.com), Budget (tel:1 800 527 0700; www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 3665: www.dollar.com) and Enterprise (tel: 1 800 261 7331; www.enterprise.com).
Bicycle Hire
The Twin Cities have extensive bike paths, including dedicated commuter lanes along some of the main thoroughfares, plus 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; www.calhouncycle.com) or The Alternative Bike and Board Shop, 2408 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 374 3635; www.altbikeboard.com).
