Airport Review: MSP Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Terminal 1 (hub, sweet hub)

MSP Airport Review: A Smooth, Traveler-Friendly Hub in the Midwest

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is consistently ranked among the best in North America- and for good reason. Located just 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis, MSP offers a clean, efficient, and well-designed experience for everyone. I promise you; it's more than just a Delta hub (Futurama, anyone?)!

Ease of Navigation

Terminal 1 is incredibly easy to navigate. Clear signage, intuitive layout, and well-labeled tram (the red line in the photo below) make moving between gates super easy. Security lines are generally pretty short (you can check the times here: Security Wait Times | MSP Airport), with both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR available.

MSP Airport, Terminal 1

Pro Tip- If you're being picked up from MSP, arrange with your ride to be picked up at the Departures level- you can exit the secure area at the departure level next to the shoe shiner between the South and North checkpoints (the red boxes in the photo above). This will help you avoid the traffic in the Arrivals area.

Dining & Amenities

Terminal 1 has a lot of food options. While there are healthy and gluten-free choices, I usually go for the pizza right next to the North security checkpoint. If you like to shop, retail options include everything from high-end brands to Minnesota-made gifts.

Workspace

Full disclosure- MSP is my home airport I do not work there, ever. In fact, I usually get to the airport 30 minutes before my flight (thank you, PreCheck). I can tell you there are plenty of workstations in the middle of the airport (the yellow map marker in the photo above) and charging outlets in the seating areas at the gates. For those with long layovers OR if you like to get to the airport early, it’s a solid space to stay productive.

Transportation & Parking

Parking is ample but terribly expensive at the terminal ($30 per day). For personal travel I suggest the Quick Ride Ramp ($19 per day, and you can book online!) if you want to be close to the terminal for a more reasonable price.

Quick Ride Ramp | MSP Airport

Final Thoughts

MSP is my home airport and that makes me so happy. It’s clean, efficient, traveler-focused, and offers a pleasant start or finish to any trip. If you’re flying through MSP, consider yourself a lucky person.