Overview
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the major airport of the Twin Cities region, 7 mi south of downtown Minneapolis and 7 miles southwest of Saint Paul. It's a major hub for Delta Air Lines, and the largest and busiest airport in the nearest 6 states in the upper Midwest and Great Plains.
9 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Minneapolis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 0 mi away (major hub). Directions
- STC Saint Cloud Regional Airport, Saint Cloud — 61 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Most of the food in Terminal 1 is concentrated in the central airport mall. While this is fairly central to most Concourses (except for far-flung Concourses A and B), it means you're unlikely to find much food near your gate, unless you order take-out and carry it to your next gate.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Delta Air Lines is the dominant airline operating at MSP, transporting around 75% of all MSP passengers. While it's not a major international gateway, the airport has a lot of destinations served nonstop, third only to Atlanta and Denver in U.S. cities with the most nonstop markets served.
Get around
It's rare to have to transfer between Terminals 1 and 2, as no airlines serve both. If you do, you must exit the secure area and take the METRO Blue Line; passengers that are only riding between the two terminals do not need to pay a fare and it operates 24/7. You'll then have to re-clear security in the other terminal.
Terminal 1 is very large, and there is little to speed you on your way. A tram runs along the length of Concourse C, which by itself is a staggering half-mile (0.8 km) long; this brings Concourses A, B, and C closer to the central airport mall, from which the other concourses sprout. There are some moving sidewalks as well, but otherwise you have to walk to get around, and it can be a long journey; the farthest gates are just over 1 mile (1.6 km) apart, which will take 20 minutes or more at a brisk pace, or slightly less if you can use the tram.
Buy
Shopping at MSP is best in Terminal 1, especially in the central airport mall, which has the airport’s largest concentration of stores. Expect the usual mix of bookstores, newsstands, travel-essentials shops, tech and luggage retailers, clothing and accessories, plus several gift and souvenir shops. Across both terminals, the airport has more than 100 shops, restaurants, and services, but Terminal 1 is the stronger option, by far, for browsing.
For something more local, Terminal 1 includes several Minnesota-oriented stores, including shops focused on regional gifts, outdoor gear, books, and even Prince merchandise. Duty-free shopping is also available for eligible international travelers. For a well-curated selection of bestsellers, travel reads, and local interest books, consider visiting Open Book in the central airport mall.
Terminal 2 has a more limited retail selection, geared more toward convenience shopping than leisurely browsing, with a smaller set of newsstands and airport retail outlets. More shops are being added to Terminal 2, albeit at a slow pace.
Eat and drink
Terminal 1
Most of the food in Terminal 1 is concentrated in the central airport mall. While this is fairly central to most Concourses (except for far-flung Concourses A and B), it means you're unlikely to find much food near your gate, unless you order take-out and carry it to your next gate.
Eat Angel Food Bakery
Donuts and breakfast.
Eat Black Sheep
Local chain serving coal-fired pizzas.
Eat Holy Land Deli
Local chain offering Middle Eastern and Mediterranean favorites: gyros, schwarma, and falafel.
Eat LoLo American Kitchen
Korean barbecue tacos.
Eat Smack Shack
Lobster rolls and chowder.
Terminal 2
Eat Cocina del Barrio
Mexican plates and a wide variety of tequilas.
Sleep
Stay InterContinental Hotel
This is the only hotel on the airport grounds. The hotel has a skyway connection to a TSA checkpoint at Terminal 1's Concourse C. The TSA checkpoint is open 5:15AM-6:45PM daily and is only for passengers without checked baggage; access from the terminal to the hotel through the skyway is open 24 hours a day, but also only for those without checked baggage. The hotel also offers shuttle service to Terminals 1 and 2.
Many of the hotels along the I-494 corridor (especially Bloomington and Richfield to the west, but also Eagan and Mendota Heights to the east) offer free airport shuttles. Hotels in Downtown Minneapolis are easy to access via the METRO Blue Line, as are some of the hotels in northeast Bloomington directly south of the airport (east of or next to the Mall of America).
Flights
The airport is divided into two completely separate buildings: the very large Terminal 1 (consisting of concourses A-G) and the small Terminal 2 (consisting only of concourse H), with most flights arriving at Terminal 1.
If you're beginning your trip at MSP, make sure you know which terminal you will depart from; Terminal 2 is mostly used by several discount airlines, while Terminal 1 serves all others.
- Terminal 1–Lindbergh is named for Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), the Minnesota aviator whose 1927 solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris marked a turning point in aviation history.
- Concourse A: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse B: Delta Air Lines, Denver Air Connection
- Concourse C: Delta Air Lines, WestJet
- Concourse D: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse E: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines
- Concourse F: Delta Air Lines
- Concourse G: Air France, Delta Air Lines, Discover Airlines, KLM
- Terminal 2–Humphrey is named for Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978), the Minnesota senator who served as vice president of the United States.
- Concourse H: Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines
Ground transportation
By light rail
The METRO Blue Line links the airport with Downtown Minneapolis, South Minneapolis, northeastern corner of Bloomington (including the Mall of America), and offers connections to buses to other parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The trains are convenient, fast, and clean. Fare is $2.00-2.50 depending on time of day. The light rail has stations at both terminals.
By bus
Route 54 buses link the airport with Downtown Saint Paul, West 7th Street, and the Mall of America in Bloomington. The bus only stops at Terminal 1; passengers flying into or out of Terminal 2 can use the METRO Blue Line to complete their journey.
By car
Terminal 1 is off Minnesota Highway 5. Terminal 2 is along 34th Avenue north of Interstate 494/Highway 5.
Wait
Lounges
Place Delta Sky Club
Place
Place
Place
Place United Club
Nearby
Richfield
City / town · 11 listings · 3 mi away
Eagan
City / town · 20 listings · 5 mi away
Bloomington
City / town · 35 listings · 5 mi away
Edina
City / town · 8 listings · 7 mi away
Minneapolis
City / town · 19 listings · 7 mi away
St. Louis Park
City / town · 6 listings · 8 mi away
Saint Paul
City / town · 81 listings · 8 mi away
Burnsville
City / town · 3 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
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