Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP  ^IATA) is the major airport of the Twin Cities region, 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Minneapolis and 7 miles southwest of Saint Paul. It's a major hub for Delta Air Lines, and the largest and busiest airport in the nearest 6 states in the upper Midwest and Great Plains.

Delta Air Lines is the dominant airline operating at MSP, transporting around 75% of all MSP passengers. While it's not a major international gateway, the airport has a lot of destinations served nonstop, third only to Atlanta and Denver in U.S. cities with the most nonstop markets served.

The airport is divided into two completely separate buildings: the very large Terminal 1 (consisting of concourses A-G) and the small Terminal 2 (consisting only of concourse H), with most flights arriving at Terminal 1.

If you're beginning your trip at MSP, make sure you know which terminal you will depart from; Terminal 2 is mostly used by several discount airlines, while Terminal 1 serves all others.

• Terminal 1–Lindbergh is named for Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), the Minnesota aviator whose 1927 solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris marked a turning point in aviation history.
  • Concourse A: Delta Air Lines
  • Concourse B: Boutique Air, Delta Air Lines, Denver Air Connection
  • Concourse C: Delta Air Lines
  • Concourse D: Aer Lingus, Delta Air Lines
  • Concourse E: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, KLM, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines
  • Concourse F: Delta Air Lines
  • Concourse G: Air France, Delta Air Lines
• Terminal 2–Humphrey is named for Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978), the Minnesota senator who served as vice president of the United States.
  • Concourse H: Condor, Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines

It's rare to have to transfer between Terminals 1 and 2, as no airlines serve both. If you do, you must exit the secure area and take the METRO Blue Line; passengers that are only riding between the two terminals do not need to pay a fare and it operates 24/7. You'll then have to re-clear security in the other terminal.

Terminal 1 is very large, and there is little to speed you on your way. A tram runs along the length of Concourse C, which by itself is a staggering half-mile (0.8 km) long; this brings Concourses A, B, and C closer to the central airport mall, from which the other concourses sprout. There are some moving sidewalks as well, but otherwise you have to walk to get around, and it can be a long journey; the farthest gates are just over 1 mile (1.6 km) apart, which will take 20 minutes or more at a brisk pace, or slightly less if you can use the tram.

Free Wi-Fi is available on the airside of both terminals; look for the network MSP Free Wi-Fi. Sessions last for two hours, but once they expire you can connect again free of charge.

• Lost and Found (Terminal 1 ticketing lobby, near the Frontier Airlines counter), ☏ +1 612 726-5141, [email protected]. M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa Su 8AM-3PM. The airport's lost and found office deals with items lost at the airport, excluding items lost at security checkpoints or on aircraft. If calling the lost and found office after hours, leave a message and they will get a hold of you on the following business day. (updated Jan 2019)
• For items lost at security checkpoints, contact TSA Lost and Found at ☏ +1 612 486-6176 (phone line open M-F 8AM-4:30PM).
• Storage lockers are available in Terminal 1, but only on the secure side, and they're intended for carry-on luggage (locker dimensions are 23 inches high by 15 inches wide by 35 inches deep). Rental fees are $4 for the first four hours or $8 per day, with a maximum rental time of 48 hours, after which the lockers are emptied. The lockers are equipped with fingerprint technology, so baggage can only be retrieved by the same person who rented the locker. Lockers are near gates C2, C13, and the entrance to Concourse F. There are no lockers available in Terminal 2.

• 44.87967-93.201181 InterContinental Hotel, 5005 Glumack Dr, ☏ +1 612 725-0500. This is the only hotel on the airport grounds. The hotel has a skyway connection to a TSA checkpoint at Terminal 1's Concourse C. The TSA checkpoint is open 5:15AM-6:45PM daily and is only for passengers without checked baggage; access from the terminal to the hotel through the skyway is open 24 hours a day, but also only for those without checked baggage. The hotel also offers shuttle service to Terminals 1 and 2. $289+. (updated Aug 2018)

Many of the hotels along the I-494 corridor (especially Bloomington and Richfield to the west, but also Eagan and Mendota Heights to the east) offer free airport shuttles. Hotels in Downtown Minneapolis are easy to access via the METRO Blue Line, as are some of the hotels in northeast Bloomington directly south of the airport (east of or next to the Mall of America).