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Travel to Minneapolis St Paul

Flying to Minneapolis St Paul

A number of airlines offer flights to Minneapolis-St Paul including Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM and US Airways.

Flight times: 

From London - 8 hours; New York - 3 hours; Los Angeles - 4 hours; Toronto - 3 hours; from Sydney- 20 hours.

Travel by road

Summary:

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:

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.

Driving times:

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.

Coaches:

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.

Travel by rail

Services:

The Amtrak Minneapolis–St Paul (MSP) railway station is located at 730 Transfer Road in St Paul’s Midway area, about 10 minutes from either Downtown area. The station is on a major east-west line, called the ‘Empire Builder’, which runs daily from Chicago and points further east to Portland and Seattle. Facilities at the station are basic, with an enclosed waiting area, parking, vending machines and public telephones.

Operators:

Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245/USA RAIL; www.amtrak.com) is the national railway operator, with comfortable and generally reliable services. Travellers should confirm reservations and check train times before departure.

Amtrak information centres are located throughout Downtown St Paul, including City Hall and Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, and the Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street. Tickets are available for purchase at the Amtrak station, online or can be reserved by telephone and picked up at the station – a photo ID is required for this service.

Journey times by rail from Minneapolis to Chicago, Portland and Seattle are 8, 36 and 37 hours, respectively.

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