4 hr airport layover

Next month we will have a 4 hour layover at the Minneapolis airport. Is there someplace we could take a taxi to and visit within that time frame. We%26#39;ll be getting in at 9:30 am and leaving at 1:30pm. Thanks

4 hr airport layover

take the light rail from the airport, four stops south to the megamall.

should be less than 20 min ride

here%26#39;s a map

metrotransit.com/rail/Hiawatha_mapfreq.pdf

the airport station is one floor below the luggage carrousels.

walk all the way to the end of the hallway for the light rail signs

4 hr airport layover

I think the Mall of America is a good stop for that amount of time. There is a lot to see and do.

Mall of America is the most obvious option, yes. because it%26#39;s a short ride and it%26#39;s a common attraction. Just make sure you leave ample time to re-check through security.

If the weather cooperates, you could take the light rail the other direction (toward downtown) and stop at 50th Street/Minnehaha. From there you could grab a bite of pretty good barbecue at Cap%26#39;s (right at the stop) or cross the main road there and enter Minnehaha Park and check out the falls. 45-foot waterfall over a limestone cliff into a pool. Stone bridges, old trees. Nice green space. That time of year the falls should be gushing from all the snow melt.

The train ride is about the same distance as the one to the mall.

Four hours may sound like a lot but factor in an allowance for wait time for a train to actually show up. Always seems that you get to a station 5 minutes after one has departed meaning a lot of sitting around waiting for the next one. Same for the return to the airport except that a train will likely be there....sitting. Then allow time for re-entry through security. This can be reduced somewhat by avoiding the one closest to Delta/Northwest. Checkpoints 2 %26amp; 3 frequently seem to be less used. Then depending on the departure gate it may take awhile to get there if it is far out at the end of a concourse. Also there are storage lockers for carry-on luggage in the C concourse and at the entrance to the E %26amp; F concourses.

We came home once to find a dead battery in our car in the airport parking ramp. It was in need of replacement anyway. Hopped on the train to MOA, bought a battery at Sears and rode back to the airport. Took about 90 minutes for the R/T including waiting for trains. Figure the time to buy the battery was about the same as security would be there might be 2 hrs to look around the Mall.

The only other caution I would offer is be careful if you%26#39;re departing on an international flight - I believe you need to be at the airport at least two hours prior.

Thanks every one. Minnehaha park sounds really neat, but we%26#39;re traveling the first weekend in March and will probably need to watch the weather. I didn%26#39;t realize MOA was so close. May try that option. I%26#39;ll post after the trip and let you all know how to goes!

the MOA via the train is a nightmare. Friends were here a couple months ago %26amp; had 4 hr layover. By the time they got to where the train is located at MSP %26amp; got to the mal they had wasted almost 1.5 hrs time. They had time to meet us for a VERY fast meal %26amp; take right off again to make it for thier plane, which they nearly missed since they had to go back through security again. If going to the mall take a cab its faster.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;the MOA via the train is a nightmare. Friends were here a couple months ago %26amp; had 4 hr layover. By the time they got to where the train is located at MSP %26amp; got to the mal they had wasted almost 1.5 hrs time.%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Must have gone by way of West St Paul.....................

I find the ';nightmare'; comment hard to believe, except maybe the person didn%26#39;t know exactly where to catch the light rail from the main terminal. Yes, I agree, that can be tricky for the first timer.

I think I could get to the mall, from stepping off the plane, in 30 min, if by myself and just a carry-on to tote around.

I could see someone having trouble if they refused at every turn to either plan ahead by learning the basic layout and route to the train station or refused to ask someone. If you just wander around, then yeah, it could take some time.

There is a primitive layout map on the airport web site so you get a basic idea of where the station is (perhaps the airline can let you know which concourse you%26#39;ll arrive at).

Or when you get off the plane, hit up an information rep or even someone who works at the airport in some capacity.

And look for the ';LRT'; or ';Metro Transit'; or ';Hiawatha Light Rail'; signs. It%26#39;s an underground station that requires an escalator down.

Buy the ticket at the vending machine before you board. It%26#39;s good for 2 hours so if you%26#39;ll be there longer, you can get the 6-hour pass to avoid the hassle of buying another. The difference in cost is negligible to buying two 2-hour tickets.

The ride would take maybe 10 minutes to the mall.