Transportation and Parking

Centrally located in North America, Saint Paul is the international gateway for air transportation in the Upper Midwest.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is only eight miles from downtown Saint Paul. The airport is a Delta Air Lines hub, operates an average of 1,250 flights daily and serves 163 markets (136 domestic, 27 international).

Plan for Major Road Work Around the Airport in 2020

Plan ahead for travel to, from or around the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport due to road construction. Major construction will be taking place as crews work to better the quality and safety on your route. Highway 5 (between 494 and Highway 62) will have closures and detours from April until October. Visit AroundtheAirport.com for more information and updates.

Metro Transit offers a network of bus routes for easy travel around Saint Paul and throughout the Twin Cities.

To reach downtown Saint Paul from the airport, take Metro Transit Route 54. Board the bus outside Terminal 1 Transit Station, on Level 1 of the Blue and Red parking ramps. From Terminal 1, passengers can access the Transit Station via the tram on the Tram Level or via the Concourse Connector between concourses C and G.

There is no Metro Transit bus service at Terminal 2 Terminal. Airline passengers arriving at Terminal 2 must take the METRO Blue Line (or another means of transportation) to Terminal 1 to access city buses. Trains operate 24 hours a day between airport terminals. Travel between airport terminal stations is free and no ticket is needed.
For bus fare and route information, speak to a transit representative at 612-373-3333 or visit Metro Transit’s website.

METRO Blue Line trains stop at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and connect travelers to over 17 stations, including downtown Minneapolis to the north and Mall of America to the south.

Frequency

The METRO Blue Line operates every 12 to 15 minutes from approximately 4 a.m. to midnight (southbound), seven days a week. Travel on the Blue Line between airport terminals is available 24 hours a day. The full schedule is here.

From the airport, trains can take you to Mall of America in about 12 minutes and to the Warehouse District in downtown Minneapolis in about 25 minutes. If you have a layover and plan to take the train away from the airport, please account for travel time.

Fares

Tickets are sold at ticket machines at rail stations and on the Metro Transit app. Light rail fares for adults are $2.50 during rush hours (Monday through Friday, 6-9 a.m. and 3-6:30 p.m.) and $2.00 at other times. Reduced fares are available for seniors, children and persons with disabilities. Children 5 and under ride free (limit 3) when accompanied by a paid fare. For more information, visit the Metro Transit website.

Inter-Terminal Travel

Use the LRT to travel between airport terminals. Trains operate 24 hours a day between airport terminals and no ticket is needed to travel between airport terminal stations.

For more information, speak to a transit representative at 612-373-3333 or visit Metro Transit’s website.

Transit Service by Train

The Union Depot, located in Lowertown, is a part of the Amtrak national train system and offers a variety of routes regionally and nationally. Saint Paul is the newest destination for the Borealis train from Chicago, Illinois, as of May 2024, making traveling across the Midwest region a breeze.

The Amtrak Ticket Office at the depot is open from 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and self-serve kiosks are available 24 hours.

For current information about routes and schedules, visit the Amtrak site.

Car Rental

Airport rental car counters at Terminal 1-Lindbergh are located on the second and third levels between the Blue and Red parking ramps. Passengers can take the underground tram to the Blue and Red parking ramps, and then take an elevator to the second or third floor.

At Terminal 2-Humphrey, airport rental car counters are located in the Ground Transport Center on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp directly across from the terminal building.

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National have counters at both terminals.

Evie Carshare & EV Spot Network

Evie Carshare is an all-electric, one-way carshare service made for the Twin Cities by the Twin Cities. Here to make the air cleaner, community closer, and future even brighter. Over 170 all-electric, renewably-powered vehicles in communities across Saint Paul and Minneapolis providing trips by the minute, hour, or day. Join now for $1 with code EvieMSP and get $25 drive credit. Valid through 7/1/22.

EV Spot Network

Taxicab service is available at both terminals.

Taxi service at Terminal 1-Lindbergh is accessible via the Tram Level (Level T). Signs direct passengers one level up to the taxi starter booth, where airport staff will assist passengers in obtaining a taxi.

At Terminal 2-Humphrey, taxi service is available at the Ground Transport Center, located on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp directly across from the terminal building.

Fares

Downtown Minneapolis is approximately 12 miles from the airport, with fares averaging $38-$49.

The distance to downtown Saint Paul is approximately 8 miles, with fares averaging $30-$37.

A $6.75 fare will be displayed on the Taxicab meter at the onset of your trip. This fee includes a $2.50 flag drop and a $4.25 airport access fee.

Scheduled bus, van and limousine service is provided by several companies at MSP. Ticket counters are located in the Ground Transport Center, one floor up from the Tram Level in Terminal 1. Advance reservations are highly recommended for out-of-town service. Please contact the individual companies directly for rates, routes and other information.

Lyft & Uber

The airport has designated pick up locations for Lyft, Uber and other app-based ride services. From Terminal 1-Lindbergh, pick up is available on Level 2 of the Green Parking Ramp, above the Ground Transport Center. From Terminal 2-Humphrey, pick up is available from the Ground Transport Center on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp. Directional signage will help you find the designated pick-up areas.