Minneapolis-St Paul Getting There By Road

There is an extensive system of Interstate highways, which are the US equivalent of motorways. These are the fastest and most direct routes between locations. Some of these routes are toll-roads. The speed limit on Interstate highways is 105kph (65mph) for cars, unless stated otherwise. Speed limits are 48kph (30mph) in towns and 88kph (55mph) on highways, unless otherwise indicated.

The legal driving age in Minnesota is 16 years. For UK nationals, a full UK driving licence is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, which must be accompanied by a full driving licence from their home country. Basic insurance is mandatory. Driving in the United States is on the right.

The American Automobile Association (tel: 1 800 222 1333; www.aaa.com) provides information and might offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service
AAA 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP

Car hire companies generally provide a number for customers in the event of an emergency breakdown.

Routes to the city
The Twin Cities are served by an efficient interstate highway system. I-35 runs north-south (south to Omaha and Kansas City) and has two branches – I-35E runs through St Paul, while I-35W runs through Minneapolis. The two branches meet again north of the city centre. I-94 runs east-west through both cities (on to Winnipeg, Chicago and Milwaukee) and intersects with both branches of I-35.

The I-494 and I-694 form a large oval around the cities, called the ‘Belt Line’. This intersects with most of the major highways in the area. Other state roads into the metro area include highways 10, 52 and 55, which run roughly southeast-northwest, as well as SR-36, which enters St Paul from the east.

Approximate driving times to the city
From Milwaukee – 5 hours 30 minutes; Chicago – 6 hours 30 minutes; Omaha – 6 hours 30 minutes; Winnipeg – 6 hours 30 minutes; Kansas City – 9 hours.

Coach services
Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) and Jefferson Bus Lines (tel: (651) 222 0508 or 1 800 767 5333; www.jeffersonlines.com) provide intercity coach services to and from the Twin Cities to destinations around the USA and Canada, including direct services from New York, Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Chicago.

Both companies use the same city centre terminals. The Minneapolis Terminal, 950 Hawthorne Avenue (tel: (612) 371 3325), is opposite the Orpheum Theatre and is close to city bus routes along Hennepin Avenue and Seventh Street and Eighth Street. The St Paul Terminal, 166 West University Avenue (tel: (651) 222 0507), is located near the State Capitol building.