Everything You Need to Know About MSP Airport
Most airports are a means to an end: places to be navigated, tolerated, and escaped as quickly as possible. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is different. Consistently ranked among the best airports in North America, MSP has earned J.D. Power’s highest passenger-satisfaction ranking among mega airports three times in four years, including in 2025.
It gets all the basics right while still finding ways to remind travelers that they are unmistakably in Minnesota.
For arriving passengers, that personality announces itself before the first suitcase hits the carousel, with the loon call that signals luggage is on the way. Elsewhere, it carries through terminals filled with public art, live music, local restaurants, Minnesota-made souvenir shops, and bathroom stalls roomy enough for both a traveler and a roller bag. That may sound like hometown pride talking, but even Gayle King has gone on record raving about the restrooms.
MSP isn’t content to rest on its laurels, either. A recently completed Terminal 1 renovation refreshed six concourses and dozens of Delta gate areas, while major expansions on Concourse G and at Terminal 2 are adding the things busy airports always need more of (seating, natural light, breathing room).
The changes are practical, but they reinforce what MSP already does well: make the airport experience feel a little more human. Nearly 50 new dining and retail options are also expected to roll out by 2029 through a new concessions RFP, which aims to balance national brands with emerging local businesses.
Whether you’re flying out, flying in, connecting through, or meeting someone at arrivals, here’s how to make the most of MSP.
MSP at a Glance
MSP has two terminals, and knowing which one you need is the first rule of making your transit easier. Terminal 1 is the larger of the two, home to the airport’s central mall and Concourses A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. It serves most major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, United, American, Alaska, Air Canada, and Lufthansa. Terminal 2 is smaller and more streamlined, with Concourse H serving Frontier, Icelandair, Southwest, and Minnesota’s own Sun Country Airlines.
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 sit on separate roadways, so drivers should confirm their terminal before heading to the airport. If you find yourself needing to move between them, Metro Transit’s light rail connects the terminals and runs frequently; the same line also links MSP with downtown Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul, and the Mall of America.
Where to Eat and Drink at MSP
Like any major airport, MSP has no shortage of national chains. The pro move, however, is to sleuth out local and regional options that give travelers a taste of Minnesota before takeoff. Terminal 1 has the deepest roster, including outposts of several Twin Cities staples: Red Cow for burgers and cheese curds; Blue Door Pub for wings, totchos, and its molten cheese-stuffed Juicy Blucy; Shoyu for sushi and dumplings; and Holy Land Deli for Mediterranean staples like hummus, falafel, shawarma, and kabobs.
For something especially Minnesotan, head to Stone Arch, a full-service restaurant and bar near the entrance to Concourses F and G, where the chicken wild rice soup is steaming hot and the tap list is dedicated to local craft brewers. For breakfast all day — or a proper malt shake — you can’t go wrong at the decidedly retro Hi-Lo Diner.
Angel Food Bakery tempts sweet teeth with its gourmet donuts and cupcakes, while T-Rex Cookie is the family-dream finale: half-pound cookies in flavors like sea salt caramel chocolate chip and peanut butter.
Terminal 2 has a smaller footprint, but it still delivers a few local touchpoints. Caribou Coffee, founded in Minnesota, is the home-state caffeine fix, while the hockey-themed Minnesota Wild Bar and Restaurant pairs sports-bar energy and airfield views with fish and chips made with fried, breaded walleye.
What to Do Before and After Flights
Since 2008, Arts@MSP has turned the airport into a sprawling gallery and performance space, with rotating exhibitions, permanent installations, short film screenings, and live music woven throughout both terminals. One of the most dramatic works greets arriving passengers in Terminal 1’s baggage claim: “The Aurora,” a 29-foot-tall interactive sculpture by artist Jen Lewin that translates local weather data into shifting color and light, with floor-level “lakes” that ripple as travelers step across them.
Inside security, the best arts stop is see18, a 24-hour screening room near Gates C18 and C19 that shows short films and documentaries. Live music is another MSP signature, with pianists, harpists and other performers regularly playing throughout the terminals. You may also hear music playing on one of the airport’s public pianos, which are open to any traveler who feels inspired to tinker with them.
For travelers with time to spare, PGA MSP offers simulator bays with dozens of famous courses, plus a virtual driving range, putting green, and pro shop. Portal Lounge, located between Concourses C and D, is an even splashier new arrival: a first-of-its-kind video game lounge with 17 stations equipped with Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and custom-built gaming PCs, plus more than 25 games spanning casual, competitive, and multiplayer formats.
Where to Shop Local at MSP
MSP’s shopping goes well beyond emergency headphones and neck pillows. In Terminal 1, the official Prince store is the obvious first stop, with purple apparel, accessories, and books galore. Open Book is the better bet for travelers who like their gifts more literary, stocking books, cards, journals, and artful paper goods with a connection to the eponymous Minneapolis literary center.
Other airport shops channel Minnesota’s outdoorsy, maker-driven side. Minnesota State of Nice carries gifts and specialty foods, from wild rice to sweets, while Adventure North is geared toward travelers who want one last hit of lake-country energy before boarding. Hammer Made, an Eden Prairie-headquartered menswear brand, is a useful stop for polished shirts and last-minute wardrobe fixes, and Aveda, also founded in Minnesota, covers beauty and hair care.
What to Do with Kids at MSP
MSP is unusually good at remembering that children also must survive airport days. Terminal 1 has a playground near Concourse C with a mock airplane, air traffic control tower, slide, and a Snoopy statue; Terminal 2 has a second play area near Gate H5. Both give kids a place to move around before boarding, which can make all the difference between a manageable flight and a miserable one.
Families will also find lactation rooms throughout both terminals, with deep sinks, soft lighting, and comfortable seating. In Terminal 1 baggage claim, an arcade with a photo booth and kid-friendly games gives arriving families something to do while they wait for luggage — yet another example of MSP’s knack for making even the least glamorous parts of travel feel considered.
Where to Relax at MSP
The airport is full of small mercies for travelers who need a breather. Terminal 1 has designated Quiet Seating Areas on the mezzanine overlooking the Airport Mall, with space set aside for reading, resting, meditation, or prayer. The airport’s Animal Ambassadors — registered therapy dogs and their handlers — also roam the terminals offering comfort to nervous fliers and anyone else in need of a few nuzzles from a very good dog.
For more hands-on relief, Chiroport specializes in chiropractic care and trigger-point massage. Aveda adds a lighter touch with free walk-in rituals such as a stress-relieving neck-and-shoulders treatment. None of this can make a delayed flight board faster, but it can make the wait feel a little less punishing.
Where to Work or Wait During a Layover
As a major Delta hub, MSP has multiple Delta Sky Clubs in Terminal 1, including the airline’s newest and largest lounge near Gate G18. Opened in 2023, the 21,000-square-foot club has seating for 450 guests and an open buffet with chef-curated dishes. For non-Delta loyalists, Escape Lounge in Terminal 1 is open to passengers flying any airline, with food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and complimentary access for American Express Platinum cardholders. Military travelers and their families can also use the Armed Forces Service Center, a free, volunteer-run lounge near the entrance to Concourses A and B.
Travelers who need to take a call, print a document, or get actual work done can head to the Airport Conference Center on the mezzanine level above Concourse F; it has meeting rooms and private workstations. For overnight layovers or red-eye flights, the InterContinental Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport is the only hotel directly connected to Terminal 1, with restaurants, meeting space, a 24-hour shuttle to both terminals, and skyway access near Gate C25.
What to Know Before You Go
Before heading to MSP, confirm your terminal and check the airport’s website for current security wait times and parking availability. Travelers can also reserve a free screening time through MSP RESERVE, which offers access to a dedicated TSA lane during select hours.
If you’re driving, prebooking parking online guarantees a spot and can unlock better rates; official options include terminal parking, value parking at Terminal 2, and the Quick Ride Ramp, an on-airport park-and-ride option with a free 24/7 shuttle to both terminals.
