By GALA Expert
May 29, 2023
Minneapolis offers multiple ways to move around the city during Festival 2024.
Landing at MSP Airport
The Minneapolis-St.Paul airport is relatively easy to navigate. There is a light rail that connects the two terminals (one in Minneapolis, one in St Paul) and information booths are staffed daily from 6am to Midnight. There are several moving sidewalks throughout both terminals. Handicap Seating is plentiful and service carts to take you around run frequently – just have a seat and wait for the next cart; see the MSP Accessibility page for details.
The airport is 13 miles from Downtown Minneapolis (a 20-minute drive). The Metro light rail Blue Line connects the airport to Nicollet Mall downtown, near the Westin. Other ground transportation includes Taxis, Uber, Lyft, and Super Shuttle. The Terminal 2 Ground Transport Center is located on Level 1.
Busses and Light Rail
Minneapolis is well served by affordable public transportation. The local transportation network is MetroTransit, and you can pay cash per ride or purchase a pass. If you’re just riding within the prescribed Downtown Zone, it will only cost 50 cents. The base fare during non-rush hours is $2, with an additional 50 cents during peak hours. The discounted base fare for seniors, disabled persons and students is $1. There is also a free shuttle that runs up and down Nicollet Mall.
MetroTransit has a great mobile app, through which you can purchase, store, and present tickets, view schedules, plan trips, and check on bus locations. Download the free phone app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Golf Cart
Two golf carts will be running a loop from Nicollet Mall and 12th Street past the Convention Center and Central Lutheran Church to assist those with mobility issues. The golf carts will not be permitted to travel to the hotels.