MSP into town
Dec 3, 2006 | 1:04 pm
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC/SYD
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MSP into town
Hi. I am coming in on a MR from ORD with about 4 hours before my scheduled return. Was wondering how far the airport is from town and if I could make it there and back in about 3 hours.
Dec 3, 2006 | 2:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
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No doubt the locals can give you more details if needed, but there is a light rail route from MSP to downtown Minneapolis. I think the ride takes about 30 minutes. If you take the light rail in the other direction, the Mall of America is only about 10 minutes from the airport.
Dec 3, 2006 | 3:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
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The larger question...
I have been to downtown Minneapolis many times and have yet to find anything worth seeing there. Downtown St. Paul with the capitol and the Mississippi is slightly scenic.
Dec 4, 2006 | 5:43 am
#4
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Most people on a transit that have been to MSP before just head to the Mall of America to burn some time. Heading into downtown MSP works, but eats up more time. Also, downtown MSP is mostly offices and some hi-rise residences; and besides some shopping and recognizing the benefits of being able to walk indoors across a large section of the commercial area downtown (i.e., via the skywalks) there's not much that would catch my fancy during 90-105 minutes downtown (especially given you'll need at least 75 minutes for transport roundtrip, perhaps should budget 30-45 minutes to clear security c. 15 minutes before departure and will need to get oriented to walk downtown and see much of anything). If the transit time was 6 hours, I'd be more comfortable heading downtown to explore (if I didn't know the city).
Dec 4, 2006 | 10:33 am
#5
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Indoor skating rink at the old Milw. RR Train Station, the "dome", Target Center and a great shopping mall and even the skywalk can be fun.
Well worth a visit.
Bob H
Dec 4, 2006 | 1:43 pm
#6
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Wouldn't that visit require closer to a 5-6 hour transit than a 4 hour transit?
Personally I think the extensive skywalk system make the city one of the more interesting places and worth checking out even if only to get a sense of how useful it is. To explore the skywalk system, I'd find 5-6 hours of flight-to-flight transit time more useful especially as the light rail system that goes from downtown MSP to the MSP airport is not available at the end of the walks closer to where the Minneapolis Hyatt is. (That is, to get back from the end of the walks closest to the Minneapolis Hyatt and back to the light rail would require either a walk back most all of the way, a cab ride back or jumping on a bus down Nic toward the light rail stop.
Jan 14, 2007 | 4:59 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 155
I've done the lightrail from MSP to the Mall of America and back. It's easy, clean and quiet! And 4 hours is enough time to enjoy it!
I haven't done downtown from MSP via lightrail. There are some nice restaurants there and some OK shopping but for just killing time, I'd take the MOA.
I haven't done downtown from MSP via lightrail. There are some nice restaurants there and some OK shopping but for just killing time, I'd take the MOA.
Jan 16, 2007 | 3:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 256
Slight thread hijack
Hi, while we're discussing leaving the MSP to go downtown or MoA, I plan on flying into MSP in the afternoon and then departing from MSP the following morning. I was hoping to leave my check-in luggage at MSP, in some sort of secure luggage storage, and just take my carryon downtown, where I plan on staying the night at the Hyatt, and enjoying all that downtown Minneapolis has to offer. 
Do any of you know if there is a secure luggage storage at MSP where I could leave my luggage overnight? If so, where is it and what does it cost?
Thanks for the info.
Do any of you know if there is a secure luggage storage at MSP where I could leave my luggage overnight? If so, where is it and what does it cost?
Thanks for the info.
Jan 16, 2007 | 3:37 pm
#9
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Hi, while we're discussing leaving the MSP to go downtown or MoA, I plan on flying into MSP in the afternoon and then departing from MSP the following morning. I was hoping to leave my check-in luggage at MSP, in some sort of secure luggage storage, and just take my carryon downtown, where I plan on staying the night at the Hyatt, and enjoying all that downtown Minneapolis has to offer.
Do any of you know if there is a secure luggage storage at MSP where I could leave my luggage overnight? If so, where is it and what does it cost?
Thanks for the info.
Do any of you know if there is a secure luggage storage at MSP where I could leave my luggage overnight? If so, where is it and what does it cost?
Thanks for the info.
Lockers
Storage lockers are available in secure areas of both the Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals. The locker dimensions are about 23" tall by 15" wide by 35" deep, and can accommodate carry-on-sized luggage. For security purposes, lockers are equipped with fingerprint technology to ensure only those who store the bags can retrieve them. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the first airport in the nation to use such locker technology. Locker rental costs $2 per hour, with a maximum daily charge of $6. The lockers are intended for storage of 48 hours or less, and are emptied by Smarte Carte after 48 hours.
At the Lindbergh Terminal, lockers are located in the following areas:
just inside security checkpoint 4
the Concourse C service center
near gate C2
near gate C5
Concourse D
hallway between concourses D and E
entrance to Concourse E
service center on E
entrance to Concourse F
between gates F2 and F4
near gate F6
At the Humphrey Terminal, lockers are available on the Second Floor across from gate H5.
Please note: For security purposes, lockers are not available for rent when the Department of Homeland Security's threat level for aviation at MSP is at Orange or Red.
Storage lockers are available in secure areas of both the Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals. The locker dimensions are about 23" tall by 15" wide by 35" deep, and can accommodate carry-on-sized luggage. For security purposes, lockers are equipped with fingerprint technology to ensure only those who store the bags can retrieve them. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the first airport in the nation to use such locker technology. Locker rental costs $2 per hour, with a maximum daily charge of $6. The lockers are intended for storage of 48 hours or less, and are emptied by Smarte Carte after 48 hours.
At the Lindbergh Terminal, lockers are located in the following areas:
just inside security checkpoint 4
the Concourse C service center
near gate C2
near gate C5
Concourse D
hallway between concourses D and E
entrance to Concourse E
service center on E
entrance to Concourse F
between gates F2 and F4
near gate F6
At the Humphrey Terminal, lockers are available on the Second Floor across from gate H5.
Please note: For security purposes, lockers are not available for rent when the Department of Homeland Security's threat level for aviation at MSP is at Orange or Red.
While I definitely don't suggest the following, I have heard that someone once left their checked luggage on the luggage claim belt until a NW rep took it in and then called up NW there to ask them to hold the luggage until they returned the following morning.
(That's asking for trouble if you ask me.)If taking the light rail from the airport to downtown to stay at the Hyatt, do note that the Hyatt hotel is on the opposite of the downtown area from the light rail station. From the light rail's terminating downtown station, you could take a bus up the road to get very close to the Hyatt or just take a cab from that station.
Personally, I'd take my luggage on the light rail to downtown and take a cab.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jan 16, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Jan 17, 2007 | 8:28 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 256
Thanks, GUWonder. I saw the same info on the MSP website but, as you point out, it won't work for larger luggage and it's also on the secure side of the airport. Since I plan on checking it as soon as I arrive back at the airport at the way too early time of 6 am, I was hoping to find somewhere to leave it without having to lug it downtown and back again. I know that some airports used to have luggage storage, much like coat storage, where you could leave your larger pieces of luggage while you explored the wonderland of the airport terminal.
I'll check at the airport when I arrive and see if there is such an option. Thanks anyway.
I'll check at the airport when I arrive and see if there is such an option. Thanks anyway.
Jan 21, 2007 | 12:40 am
#11
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Thanks, GUWonder. I saw the same info on the MSP website but, as you point out, it won't work for larger luggage and it's also on the secure side of the airport. Since I plan on checking it as soon as I arrive back at the airport at the way too early time of 6 am, I was hoping to find somewhere to leave it without having to lug it downtown and back again. I know that some airports used to have luggage storage, much like coat storage, where you could leave your larger pieces of luggage while you explored the wonderland of the airport terminal.
I'll check at the airport when I arrive and see if there is such an option. Thanks anyway.
I'll check at the airport when I arrive and see if there is such an option. Thanks anyway.
Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed the weather.
Jan 22, 2007 | 7:54 am
#12
Join Date: May 2005
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Like others have stated, I don't recall any "legal" luggage storage on the non-secure side at the main terminal - for items that were checked. I don't know if the situation is the same at the HHH terminal, which is closeby.
Feb 22, 2007 | 2:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Taking your luggage onto the lightrail to go to a downtown hotel isn't that big a deal. People do it all the time. There are extensive bus connections from the light rail stops downtown, and of course cabs-a-plenty, but many of the downtown hotels are very easily walkable from one of the light rail stops. It may look far on the map, but it's usually not that bad. I wouldn't bother with a cab for a hotel less than 6-8 blocks away, but that's just me, I guess. 
Feb 24, 2007 | 10:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,335
That said, I don't know that that in itself would necessarily be an attraction worth a trip downtown from the airport, especially with limited time. I love Minneapolis, but in my opinion its beauty really doesn't lie in the core downtown area.
On the other hand, if one has the time, why not?
Feb 24, 2007 | 10:34 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: St Paul 02/04...not flying Delta
Posts: 2,326
As a current local
...downtown is nothing special. Of course a good meal is a possibly. But not worth the stress of missing your flight. I work minutes from MSP. Unless you have a burning desire to see the statue of Mary Tyler Moore tossing her hat in the air, I'd hit the Mall or have meatballs at IKEA.