Guide to Minneapolis Driving, Parking and Public Transportation

Helping you get to and fro with ease - explore our guide to Minneapolis transportation.

Minnesota Vikings fans ride the Light Rail Train to U.S. Bank Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis for a Vikings game.
Driving
Parking
Public Transportation
Driving
  • Minneapolis drivers come in all shapes and sizes. There are petrified slow drivers, there are terrifying fast drivers and everyone in between. Stay alert, obviously, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
  • NOTE: It’s illegal to text and drive in the State of Minnesota even at stoplights. This includes reading texts, composing emails and looking at websites. A first offense means a $50 fine, plus court fees. A second offense is a $225 fine, plus court fees. Nearly 6,000 drivers were cited for texting and driving in 2016.
  • As of 2019, it is also illegal to drive while talking on a cellphone (hands-free hardware required!), so look make sure you've got a phone dock or the car is in park before making or answering any calls. Teens driving on permits cannot use cellphones at all.
  • Most of Minneapolis’ streets are plotted on a delightfully intuitive grid system with a large number of streets being numbered. This makes navigation relatively easy. There are, however, a few quirks to keep in mind while you’re cruising the streets.
  • Nearly all the streets in downtown Minneapolis are one-way. Not a day goes by when someone from out of town doesn’t take an impulsive turn only to find themselves facing a wall of oncoming traffic. Don’t be that person!
  • Unlike many other cities, cars are not allowed to drive down the city’s light rail tracks. Train operators will often lean on the horn if they see someone driving on the tracks for, like, a really long time, which can be embarrassing (we hear).
  • Beware of drifting out into the intersection during a green light if there’s gridlock ahead of you. It doesn’t matter whose fault it is, if you get caught in the intersection after the light turns red, also known as “blocking the box,” you can be fined. Make sure there’s enough room for you to completely cross before entering an intersection.
  • Traffic agents are often in the streets in downtown Minneapolis during rush hour. Any directions one of these agents gives you overrides traffic signals and signs. Also, be extremely careful while passing these brave folks, so as not to injure them with your car.
  • Minneapolis is a year-round cycling city. When crossing over a bike lane, be especially alert that there isn’t a cyclist in your path.
  • If you’re not accustomed to driving on snow and ice, we can’t stress this enough, patience is key. There’s no such thing as “too slow” when driving on un-plowed streets or through a winter storm. If you’re here in the dead of winter (January-March), though it doesn’t happen frequently, it’s a good idea to familiarized yourself with the phenomenon of black ice and how to safely navigate it.
Parking
  • Minneapolis street parking rules can vary from one street to the next. Take a moment to look around for signs stating parking restrictions before leaving your car, especially in business districts.
  • Parking meter enforcement hours also vary from street to street. Hours of enforcement are listed on each parking meter or parking spot number post — check this before you pay. Unfortunately, these can be difficult/impossible to see without getting out of your car.
  • Some spots have rush hour parking restrictions. Any parking restrictions will be shown on the spot number post or meter with a red background, and you won’t be able to pay for parking during restricted hours. Rush hour parking restrictions are enforced regularly and frequently.
  • In winter, if a snow emergency is declared after heavy snowfall, it kicks off a rolling, three-day parking restriction schedule. For details on snow emergency restrictions, click here. There are a number of ways to find out if a snow emergency is in effect, including calling (612) 348-SNOW (7669) or visiting www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow.
  • While accumulated snow drifts can begin to creep off sidewalks into the street, obstructing the available space to park your car, be aware that parking your car too far out in the driving lane can earn a fine. If you’re unsure about whether or not your car is parked safely, it’s probably a good idea to find another spot.
Public Transportation
  • We’re especially proud of our public transportation system. It’s inexpensive, comprehensive, reliable and in 2016 the American Public Transportation Association named it the Transit System of the Year.
  • Single ride fares for buses and trains are $2, except during rush hour (6-9 a.m. and 3-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) when the fare is $2.50. Each single ride pass is good for 2 1/2 hours on any train or bus (not including suburban express buses), going in any direction. Fares can purchased at light rail stations, on buses or through the Metro Transit app (iOS and Android)
  • The METRO Blue Line, composed of 19 stations connecting downtown Minneapolis to Mall of America via the airport. The METRO Green Line, composed of 23 stations connecting downtown Minneapolis to downtown St Paul via the University of Minnesota campus. Trains run roughly every 12-15 minutes from around 4 a.m to 11:30 p.m.

Food, uncovered beverages, smoking and alcohol are not allowed on buses or trains.

Resources:

For more information, visit metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333.