World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
International airports: Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) (website: www.mspairport.com) is 16km (10 miles) from the cities (which are contiguous). A US$2.6 billion expansion plan is underway to accommodate the growing number of passengers, expected to reach 40 million per year by the time the improvements are completed in 2010; the airport currently deals with around 32 million passengers annually and international passenger numbers increased by 10 per cent in 2002. There is a free shuttle bus between terminals, and Airport Express shuttles run to hotels in Minneapolis and St Paul, while buses connect with cities in the surrounding area. An airport limousine service and taxis are available, as are all major car hire companies.

Approximate flight times
From Minneapolis/St Paul to London is eight hours, to Los Angeles is four hours, to Miami is three hours 30 minutes, to New York City is two hours 40 minutes and to Salt Lake City is two hours 50 minutes.

Rail
Minneapolis/St Paul is on the Amtrak Chicago–Seattle line (tel: (800) 872 7245 (toll-free); website: www.amtrak.com); for approximate travel times, see the Illinois section. The station is at a location equidistant to Minneapolis and St Paul, at 730 Transfer Road.

Road
Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424 (toll-free); website: www.greyhound.com) provides a long-distance bus service. Terminals are located in both downtown Minneapolis (950 Hawthorne Avenue) and St Paul (166 West University Avenue). Approximate driving times: From Minneapolis/St Paul to Duluth is three hours, to Madison is five hours, to Fargo is five hours, to Sioux Falls is five hours, to Omaha is seven hours, to Chicago is eight hours, to Winnipeg is eight hours, to St Louis is 11 hours, to Rapid City is 11 hours, to Denver is 17 hours, to Dallas is 19 hours, to New York is 25 hours, to Seattle is 34 hours, to Miami is 35 hours and to Los Angeles is 41 hours. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.

Approximate bus travel times
From Minneapolis/St Paul to Duluth is three hours 20 minutes, to Fargo is five hours 30 minutes, to Milwaukee is eight hours, to New York City is 18 hours, to Miami is 43 hours and to Los Angeles is 44 hours.

Urban
Local bus services in Minneapolis/St Paul are operated by Metropolitan Transit (website: www.metrotransit.com). Trolleys serve the downtown locations in both Minneapolis and St Paul.