Book Flights to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis -- the larger of the Twin Cities, with Saint Paul across the Mississippi -- is the cultural, economic, and transportation capital of the Upper Midwest. The city is defined by contradictions: it has some of the most brutal winters of any major US metro, yet consistently ranks among the most livable cities in the country. Its parks, museums, music scene, and food culture (James Beard Award winners per capita rival cities twice its size) have made it a destination in its own right.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is Delta's dominant hub with service to virtually every US city plus direct transatlantic and transpacific routes. FareOptic compares Delta, United, American, Southwest, Sun Country, Spirit, and Frontier to find the cheapest MSP fare.
Cheap Flight Deals to Minneapolis
*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
Recommended for your next trip
Based on popular routes and current airfare deals
Why Visit Minneapolis, Minnesota?
City of Lakes, Prince and First Avenue, Mall of America, world-class museums, Minnesota State Fair
Mall of America
The Largest Mall in the US -- 5.6 Million Square Feet in BloomingtonThe Mall of America in Bloomington -- 10 minutes from MSP by light rail -- is the largest mall in the United States by total area: 5.6 million square feet containing 520+ stores, a 7-acre indoor theme park (Nickelodeon Universe), an aquarium (SEA LIFE Minnesota), a mini golf course, a comedy club, and over 50 restaurants. The mall receives 40 million visitors per year -- more than Disney World -- and has no state sales tax on clothing and food.
Why Minnesota Has No Sales Tax on Clothing
Minnesota is one of only five US states that exempts most clothing and footwear from state sales tax -- a policy dating to 1967, rooted in the argument that clothing is a basic necessity. The exemption applies to most apparel priced under $100 per item (garments over $100 are taxed on the excess above $100). This makes Mall of America particularly attractive for clothing shopping; the combination of the largest mall in the US and no clothing tax draws visitors from across the Midwest and Canada.
Minneapolis Lakes and the Chain of Lakes
City of Lakes -- Swimming, Kayaking, and Running in the Urban CoreMinneapolis has more shoreline per capita than any other major US city: the Chain of Lakes (Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, and Lake Nokomis) forms a connected network of urban lakes in the southwest portion of the city with 13 miles of continuous parkway trail, swimming beaches, sailing centers, canoe rentals, and bandshells. The Minneapolis Park System is consistently ranked among the best urban park systems in the United States.
Bde Maka Ska -- The Return of a Dakota Name
Lake Calhoun -- the largest of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes -- was renamed Bde Maka Ska in 2018, restoring the original Dakota Sioux name that means 'White Earth Lake.' The lake was named Calhoun in 1817 after John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, who authorized a military expedition to survey the region. The renaming was part of a broader effort by the Minneapolis Park Board and the Minnesota DNR to restore Dakota place names to the region. The Dakota people lived in the Minneapolis lakes area for centuries before Euro-American settlement; the city of Minneapolis itself sits on Dakota homeland at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.
First Avenue and the Minneapolis Music Scene
Where Prince Recorded Purple Rain -- America's Greatest Small VenueFirst Avenue -- the music venue at 701 N. First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis -- is one of the most historically significant music clubs in the United States. Prince filmed Purple Rain (1984) here; the venue's star-studded exterior wall lists every artist who has headlined, from Prince and Bob Dylan to the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Atmosphere. Minneapolis has one of the most vibrant independent music scenes in the US for a city of its size, producing artists across country, hip-hop, indie rock, and electronic music.
Prince and Minneapolis -- The Most Important City in Rock History (After Liverpool and Detroit)
Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016) was born in Minneapolis, recorded in Minneapolis (Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen), died in Minneapolis, and was more inseparable from his city than almost any major artist in rock history. The Minneapolis Sound -- the dense, synthesizer-driven funk-pop that Prince pioneered on Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), 1999 (1982), and Purple Rain (1984) -- drew its character from the Minneapolis music scene's isolation from New York and Los Angeles, which allowed Prince to develop his style without industry pressure. Paisley Park Studios (now a museum in Chanhassen, 20 miles southwest of Minneapolis) received 175,000 visitors in 2023.
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and the Walker Art Center
World-Class Art in the Midwest -- Two of America's Best Free MuseumsMinneapolis has two world-class art institutions within two miles of each other. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) -- free admission -- holds a collection of 90,000+ objects spanning 5,000 years, including outstanding Asian art, European paintings, and American decorative arts. The Walker Art Center -- adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (home of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture) -- is one of the premier contemporary art museums in the world, with a collection focused on post-1960 art in all media.
The Spoonbridge and Cherry -- Minneapolis's Most Photographed Sculpture
The Spoonbridge and Cherry (1985-1988), by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, is a 52-foot-long aluminum spoon with a 1,200-pound maraschino cherry balanced at its bowl, set in a reflecting pool in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It is the most photographed public art installation in Minnesota and one of the most recognized public sculptures in the United States. The sculpture was commissioned for the Walker Art Center's outdoor garden in 1985; water sprays from the cherry's stem in summer and the sculpture is lit at night. Oldenburg and van Bruggen chose the spoon-and-cherry motif in part as a gentle parody of the dessert culture of the American Midwest.
How to Find Cheap Flights to Minneapolis
Delta Dominates MSP -- Check United and Southwest for Competition
Delta's MSP hub concentration means Delta fares set the floor, but United (via ORD) and Southwest (direct) offer real competition on leisure routes. For transcontinental routes (LAX, SFO, SEA), Delta's MSP nonstops are often competitive; for Florida and mountain west destinations, Southwest's no-fee pricing is worth comparing.
Visit in Summer for the State Fair and Lake Season
Minnesota State Fair (late August, 12 days) is the largest state fair in the US by daily attendance, drawing 2 million+ visitors. Late June through August is peak for outdoor activities on the Chain of Lakes. Winters (December-February) are very cold (-20 to -5°C) but Minneapolis has the world's most extensive indoor skyway system (8 miles of connected walkways) so winter visitors can navigate downtown without going outside.
Light Rail Connects MSP to Downtown and Mall of America
The Metro Green Line and Blue Line light rail connect Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport directly to downtown Minneapolis (25 min, $2.50), the University of Minnesota, and Mall of America (12 min from the airport). The system runs frequently and is the most convenient airport-to-city connection in the Midwest.
Book Early for Super Bowl or Final Four If Minneapolis Is Hosting
Minneapolis has hosted the Super Bowl (2018) and NCAA Final Four (2019) and regularly bids for major events. When a major sporting event is scheduled at US Bank Stadium (Vikings) or Target Center (Timberwolves/Lynx), MSP fares and hotels book out months in advance. Check the sports calendar before pricing your trip.
Airlines Serving Minneapolis (MSP)
Delta Air Lines
MSP Hub -- Delta's Largest Midwest Fortress HubMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is one of Delta Air Lines' most important hubs, offering extensive nonstops to both US domestic and international destinations. Delta operates more flights from MSP than any other carrier by a wide margin, with nonstops to Atlanta, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Denver, Miami, and dozens of other US cities, plus international service to Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), London (LHR), Tokyo (NRT), and major Canadian cities.
Key Routes
MSP to Atlanta ATL (2h 30m nonstop); MSP to Los Angeles LAX (3h 30m nonstop); MSP to New York JFK (2h 30m nonstop); MSP to Amsterdam AMS (8h 30m nonstop); MSP to Tokyo NRT (12h nonstop); dozens of domestic nonstops
United Airlines
Chicago and Denver Hubs -- Star Alliance Access from MSPUnited Airlines serves Minneapolis from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Denver (DEN), plus direct service to Washington Dulles (IAD), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), and San Francisco (SFO). United's Star Alliance connections through ORD and IAD provide MSP travelers access to international routes not served by Delta.
Key Routes
MSP to Chicago ORD (1h 20m nonstop); MSP to Denver DEN (2h 20m nonstop); MSP to Washington Dulles IAD (2h 10m nonstop); MSP to Houston IAH (3h nonstop)
American Airlines
Charlotte and Dallas Hubs -- Oneworld Network from MSPAmerican Airlines connects Minneapolis through Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT), providing access to American's domestic network and Oneworld international alliance. American Eagle regional jets handle some MSP routes. Phoenix (PHX) is also a key American connection from MSP.
Key Routes
MSP to Dallas DFW (2h 45m nonstop); MSP to Charlotte CLT (2h 20m nonstop); MSP to Phoenix PHX (3h nonstop); connections to all American and Oneworld routes
Southwest Airlines
No-Fee Carrier -- Florida, Mountain West, and Texas RoutesSouthwest Airlines serves Minneapolis with no bag fees, no change fees, and competitive fares to leisure destinations: Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Houston Hobby (HOU), Kansas City (MCI), and other Southwest hubs.
Key Routes
MSP to Denver DEN; MSP to Las Vegas LAS; MSP to Orlando MCO; MSP to Tampa TPA; MSP to Dallas Love DAL; no bag fees on all Southwest routes
Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Essential Info for Your Minneapolis Trip
State
Minnesota (MN)
Currency
USD — US Dollar
Time Zone
CST (UTC-6) / CDT (UTC-5) in summer
Airport Code
MSP — Minneapolis-Saint Paul Intl (13 km south of downtown)
Population
~430,000 city; ~3.7 million Twin Cities metro area
Top Attractions
Mall of America, Chain of Lakes, First Avenue, Paisley Park, Mia, Walker Art Center, Guthrie Theater
Airport to Downtown
25 min by Blue Line light rail ($2.50); 20-30 min by rideshare
Emergency Number
911
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Minneapolis
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Minneapolis, Minnesota
What airport serves Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (IATA: MSP) serves the Twin Cities, located approximately 13 km south of downtown Minneapolis and 10 km southwest of downtown Saint Paul. MSP is a major hub for Delta Air Lines (Delta's dominant presence makes it one of Delta's most important hubs outside Atlanta and New York). The airport is also served by United, American, Southwest, Sun Country, Spirit, and Frontier. The Blue Line light rail connects MSP directly to downtown Minneapolis (25 min) and Mall of America (12 min).
What is Minneapolis known for?
Minneapolis is known as the City of Lakes (Chain of Lakes urban park system), for being the birthplace and home of Prince (Paisley Park Studios in nearby Chanhassen), for the Mall of America in Bloomington (largest mall in the US), for a vibrant arts scene (Mia, Walker Art Center, Guthrie Theater, First Avenue), for the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, and for its remarkably livable downtown despite one of the harshest winter climates of any major US city.
When is the best time to visit Minneapolis?
Late June through early September offers the best outdoor experience: warm temperatures (24-30°C), full lake season, outdoor concerts, and the Minnesota State Fair (late August). May and October offer mild weather and lower hotel rates. November through March brings intense cold (-20 to -5°C January average) and heavy snow; Minneapolis is fully functional in winter thanks to the 8-mile enclosed downtown Skyway system, but outdoor activities are limited. The State Fair (late August) and summer lake season are the peak draws.
How do I get from MSP to downtown Minneapolis?
The Metro Blue Line light rail runs directly from MSP Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stations) to downtown Minneapolis in approximately 25 minutes, with stops at the US Bank Stadium, Target Field, and the Nicollet Mall/Government Center area. The fare is $2.50 (rate). The line runs approximately every 10-15 minutes, 5am-1am daily. Rideshares (Uber/Lyft) take 20-30 minutes to downtown depending on traffic; taxis and car rentals are also available at the airport.
Is Minneapolis walkable?
Downtown Minneapolis is highly walkable in good weather, with the Nicollet Mall pedestrian corridor, the Mississippi riverfront, and the North Loop district all within comfortable walking distance of the main hotels. Minneapolis also has the world's most extensive enclosed downtown skyway system -- 8 miles of elevated, climate-controlled pedestrian walkways connecting 80 city blocks -- which makes downtown navigation weather-independent in any season. The Chain of Lakes (southwest Minneapolis) has 13 miles of continuous biking and running trails.
24/7 Post-Flight Booking Assistance
With our 24/7 Post-Flight Booking Assistance, you will never have to manage travel challenges alone. Our highly trained travel experts are available day and night to support you with any changes, cancellations, or additional services you may require. From updating passenger details to securing special requests, we make the process smooth and stress-free.
Should your plans shift, we will walk you through every step of the cancellation and refund process, ensuring clarity and timely resolutions. In today's unpredictable travel environment, flexibility is essential, and we pride ourselves on delivering expert solutions quickly. Contact us anytime and travel with confidence knowing we will handle the details while you focus on what matters most — your journey.