Minneapolis Airport Luggage Storage & Ideas for Long Layover

Not sure about storage but we have family in the area and have visited multiple times. But this June, it was the first time I visited St. Paul Cathedral. Truly stunning inside and out!

Which time of year will that be? Do you have TSA pre-check/Clear? I always go through security for domestic flights only (but have connected there multiple times). It was pretty quick but I have been randomly selected for manual screening.

Airport website says there are no storage lockers in the airport.

There is an Inter-Continental hotel on the airport grounds, although it looks like
a bit of a stroll from the terminal, so you might have to take a shuttle. Or take
the light rail and store them either at the mall or some hotel downtown.

Side note - if your art supplies are that fragile and important, I would be a bit
cautious of leaving them anywhere away from you. Maybe 3-4 hours in the
lounge would be another option? (that's probably what you really have if
the layover is 7 hours total).

Side note - if your art supplies are that fragile and important, I
would be a bit cautious of leaving them anywhere away from you. Maybe
3-4 hours in the lounge would be another option? (that's probably what
you really have if the layover is 7 hours total).

Ditto this comment. You might also check dayuse.com for potential hotel respites near the airport. A quick search shows at least 6 or 7 options, including the Hilton Garden at Mall of America.

Plenty of MSP locals in this forum to comment on the time to go back through security, but my hunch for an international flight is at least 2.5 hours if your luggage is checked through. Last time I flew to London via MSP preboarding for our flight started about an hour ahead of departure.

I can’t help you with the storage issue but I do have a restaurant alternative to the mall of America. Mandarin Kitchen is maybe a 15 minute drive from the airport. It serves dim sum that rivals NYC or San Francisco. You would probably have to uber or taxi there.

You could take the blue line (light rail, fare over 65/$1) to Mall of America, 8 minutes away from MSP. Mall of America has lockers of various sizes. In your situation, I'd be more inclined to use a locker than luggage storage with person stowing it. There are some nice restaurants as well as L.L.Bean, Nordstrom and Macy's department stores and a variety of other shops. There is an amusement park in the middle of it. Sometimes there are exhibitions. IKEA is across the street of MOA if that is of interest.

I'm not much of a shopper, but I do enjoy an occasional visit to MOA. Many, including myself once and a while, walk it.

The blue line also goes into downtown Minneapolis.

Compared to other airports, TSA lines at MSP are typically quite short, like 20 minutes. Precheck is even shorter. I've never had that long of a layover, but, I don't believe you would have to check in as you would have checked in at the start of your trip. You just should be at your gate at boarding. So, conservatively, I'd get back to the airport about two hours before your flight. I feel the airport is quite easy to navigate, but you might familiarize yourself with the airport map.

Thanks, everybody! This is for next Tuesday.

I have been to the Minneapolis airport countless times, visiting family in Iowa, etc. I could probably draw the airport map just visualizing it - ha! Last time I was at the Mall of America was in 2024 when my husband & I had an unexpected overnight in Minneapolis because of fog at the Spokane airport and went over to the mall to walk around. We had a hotel, so I appreciate your details.

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Japanese Garden are less than half an hour from the airport by taxi. Sorry, no lockers there either. If I was in town and wasn't such a chicken driver, I'd come get you myself! But I'm not and I am.....

It seems to me that you could take your carry-on through the conservatory with no problem, but maybe not the Japanese Garden. The conservatory is free but likes to have a couple dollars donation at the door.

Darn Saturday night wine! I'm just now seeing that you said BESIDES MOA. Except, I can't think of a place to store fragile items, elsewhere. Further, are you willing to taxi/uber? Nancy has a great idea in the Conservatory/Japanese Garden/Zoo, but there is not luggage storage and you'd have to taxi/uber to get there.Otherwise, look at options along the blue line and in downtown Minneapolis where again the difficulty is the luggage storage. Downtown St. Paul is a wonderful place to hang out, the Landmark Center, Science Museum, Public Library, River, but the problem is your luggage storage and the difficulty getting there. You'd have to transfer from the blue line to the green line unless again, you are willing to taxi/uber.

A short taxi/uber from the airport would be to Historic Fort Snelling. It is a historical site at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. It is a large site with the visitor center and fort itself is extensive. https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling

The Science Museum in St. Paul has lockers. You can use them regardless of whether you will visit the museum. Right by the lockers is a small Mississippi National Park visitor Center (free) with some interesting exhibits. A block from the science museum is the beautiful Landmark Center and the St. Paul Hotel. There are some small, pretty parks near both. (Landmark Plaza) https://smm.org/visit/ Bus 54 from the Intercontinental Hotel or MOA goes directly to the Science Museum.

BTW, the Intercontinental is walking distance from the terminal though I believe there is an airport tram. You could see if they could store your items though, again, my preference would be a locker over something manned by a person.

The blue line was down for 2 months for track work but is operating again as of Thursday. $1 ticket for any trips up to 2-1/2 hours.

It’s a haul to get to the light rail, lots of transitions, about 10 minutes from most gates.

I haven’t seen TSA lines greater than 10 minutes except early morning like 6 am. Usually it’s 5 minutes or less. For the Delta Dublin flight you want “South Security Checkpoint” for the F concourse, it always leaves from F.

It’s going to be a beautiful day. Between MSP and MOA is a national wildlife refuge which is just OK but there are exhibits and short wooded walks (no mud, we are in drought). It’s 2 blocks from blue line stop American Blvd.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley/visit-us/locations/minnesota-valley-national-wildlife-refuge-headquarters-and-bloomington-education-and-visitor-center

Ft Snelling is a good idea, 6 blocks or so from blue line.

It’s a long shot but the Traveler’s Assistance booth next to LeeAnn Chin restaurant might take your bag for free if you explain what it is and why you can’t check it. They are pretty helpful, will supply for free diapers, masks, bandages.

Thank you for all of these wonderful ideas! I am bookmarking this because I fly through Minneapolis often, and occasionally my sister & son-in-law like to meet me for a weekend at a location where they can drive from Iowa instead of fly.

FYI - my 2-wheel carry on weighs 24 pounds because of the weight of the wooden art pochade box & tripod, so it’s not going too far during these connection hours,

Ft Snelling is closed Monday/Tuesday. So is the national wildlife refuge visitors’ center.

The Intercontinental is connected to Terminal 1, by skyway with its own security, just to clarify, and has no bus service. If you want to go to St Paul on the 54 bus it leaves from Silver parking (above the light rail) where the rental cars are, ask for reduced $1 fare, transfer good for 2-1/2 hours for return. This is really just for the Science Museum, a few blocks, since the Capitol and Cathedral are pushing too far to walk. It’s possible to transfer in downtown St Paul for the green line up to the Capitol (beautiful, free tours) but this part of downtown St Paul is uncomfortably scruffy.

24 pounds???

Since it appears you fly a lot (with this carryon?), you probably know that there are
weight limits on a lot of airlines for carryons.

Maybe not a big deal domestically, but, if you are flying internationally on an airline
which you don't have status on and are boarding near the end, they could make
you check the bag.

JEANWhat time do you land?

Jean, as cumbersome as your luggage is, it may be difficult to find something. There are some luggage storage places downtown and through various parts of the city (Bounce is one of them), but their locations are not that convenient for you, and I don't know if it would be worth traveling there and then going someplace else to spend your time. If you did want to get out, then just head to the mall and go to the luggage storage by Nickelodeon. I can't remember how big they are, though, so I don't know if it would fit your luggage or not. At least then you could relax a bit and get something to eat at the mall and wander around.

If it were me, though, I would probably just stay at the airport and have a nice long lunch or dinner there. There are some really good restaurants at the airport in Terminal 1; many of them local restaurants, like LoLo American Kitchen, which I love (the original is in Stillwater), or Blue Table (known for their Juicy Lucy burger). A few others I can think of are Hi-Lo diner, Stone Arch and Red Cow (burgers). All have their original counterparts in the cities and they all have good food.

And if you're there in the morning (or even if you're not), definitely make a stop at Angel Food bakery. Their donuts are incredible!

And for future reference, given that you are bookmarking this, I would recommend the following places if you're ever here for a weekend or something.

The American Swedish Institute, which is in an incredible building and has some really wonderful exhibits there. Their gift shop is one of the best I've ever seen. It's really a fun place to visit. And while you're in the neighborhood, the Minneapolis Art Institute is nearby and has free admission.

There is also the Museum of Russian Art, which is a small but wonderful museum that has some really lovely Russian art there. It's less than 10 miles from the Art Institute. And the Rose Garden, near Lake Harriott, both of which are worth a visit.

Is it just the pastel crayons that are fragile, and can these be carried separately?

Here’s another option, using the blue line to Minnehaha Falls and eating at Sea Salt Eatery outside, taking advantage of the nice day. About 10 minutes for each stage: walk to blue line, ride on blue line, walk to Sea Salt.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XsXBoU1inVHLGUxK6?g_st=ic

I volunteer at the information booths at the airport every week. Let me add a few comments to the suggestions above.

There is no storage for luggage anywhere in the airport. This has been true at least since 9/11. While I agree that Travelers Assistance is very helpful (they’re the ones who run the volunteer program - some 500 volunteers and counting!), they are highly unlikely to agree to store luggage. The airport is understandably very sensitive about security and volunteers are instructed not to touch, move or open passenger bags.

You might call the Intercontinental Hotel to see if they would store a bag. You can walk to this hotel if you do NOT leave the secured area of the airport. Follow the signs to Gate C25 (some of these signs will also show the hotel’s name) and go across the skyway (bridge) to the hotel. If you happen to leave the secured area, you would need to follow signs for hotel shuttles on the ground transportation level and take their shuttle. To return to the check-in area from the hotel, it’s best to take their shuttle.

I go through security a lot and the lines are rarely longer than 15-30 minutes, usually much shorter. International flights begin boarding about one hour before departure, domestic flights 30-45 minutes before departure. So giving yourself two hours should be fine, assuming you’ve already checked in and have your boarding pass.

I know you asked for ideas other than the MOA. But this is the most commonly used and easiest location for passengers on long layovers. They have lockers of various sizes. Besides shopping, they have a movie theater, amusement park rides, an aquarium, miniature golf and more. If you want a table service restaurant that doesn’t feel like it’s in a mall, try Twin City Grill. It’s kind of dark and “clubby,” with a full bar.

The light rail transit is the cheapest way to get to MOA or downtown Minneapolis, but a taxi or uber might be easier with luggage. The fare is $2, but seniors can ride for $1 with the right kind of ID (check metro transit’s website). There are ticket machines at the light rail stations. Be sure to buy a ticket before boarding. You cannot buy a ticket onboard and, if caught without one, the fine is steep. Another place along the route that might be of interest would be Minnehaha Park. There is a popular seafood restaurant there (Sea Salt Eatery) and you can see Minnehaha Falls (of course, there’s still the problem of luggage). Take the light rail towards downtown and get off at the 50th Street/Minnehaha Park stop.

From the airport, you can get to downtown Saint Paul on Bus Route 54. This bus stops at the airport in the large parking lot next to the Silver parking ramp (and the rental car counter area). It seems to run about every 10 minutes on a weekday. The fare is the same as on the light rail.

OOh, yes, Minnehaha falls is a great suggestion. I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. Sea Salt is a wonderful restaurant and there is an excellent ice cream counter next to Sea Salt. The area is fairly busy, there are some gardens, its a great place to people watch. I think you could easily manage your luggage. There doesn't have to be much walking.

If Intercontinental would store your luggage, you could take bus 54 from there into St. Paul.

I feel St. Paul, Minnehaha Falls and MOA are your best options. Another restaurant at MOA that doesn't feel like its in a mall is the Nordstrom's restaurant. There are huge windows. Its a place I'd feel very comfortable on my own.

Laurie Beth, I will send you a PM.

There's no confirmation the Intercontinental will store luggage. TSA security back into the terminal from the hotel here closes 10 am. It is possible to walk outside to the bus/train from the hotel, it's not far and there's a sidewalk, but it is not common to do this. On the other hand waiting for and taking the hotel shuttle to T1 departures and working nearly all the way back to the bus/train will take much longer. If walking the postal service building is in the way, have to walk around it, then across a street and into the dark underneath the Silver parking structure (local terminology is "parking ramp" but this is not a standard American term and it puzzles many), and can also enter doors here at the bus stop to access the light rail underneath you.

You could just go from washroom to washroom and admire the cleanliness
https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/the-airport-bathroom-rankings-how-us-and-uk-airports-compare.html

Note there is a lot of art, some outside security. https://www.airportfoundation.org/current-exhibitions

The tram on concourse C goes to the skyway to the Intercontinental. However, I certainly wasn't suggesting Jean show up at the hotel and ask them to store her bag. If she is interested in that option, my advice would be to contact them in advance. I have been able to store bags at hotels that I haven't stayed at.

Wow, I appreciate all of your replies! I bookmarked this and will refer to it on subsequent trips, also!

A forum friend & I are going to have fun together for a few hours! : )

That's a great question, I learned so much about what's near Minneapolis airport, book marked for future reference. I hope you have a fabulous pastel art course in Ireland & safe travels!