Parking for flying out of the msp/st paul airport but not parking at the airport

August 13, 2010 7:46 AM

Where to park when flying out of Minneapolis/St Paul and I don't want to pay to park at the airport.

I'm driving 3 hours to the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport where I'll be out of town for 1.5 weeks and I'd rather not pay to park at the airport itself- been there, done that, bank account felt the affects.

I'm now looking to park at a mass transit station and hoping on the train, but am concerned about the a) safety of my car, b) not getting towed from being there so long, c) if the lots will be full, and d) logistically speaking where should I park? I am flying out of the main terminal at 9:00am and the most I've taken the MSP mass transit is the airport to MoA. Any suggestions on transit stations to park at where my concerns shouldn't be an issue?

[posted anon because I don't need certain people knowing I'll be out of town]

posted by MeProxy to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

Best answer: You'll be ticketed if you park at a park and ride overnight. You could maybe do street parking near the 46th or 38th st. stations, which is probably illegal but free. You could also use the Ramp Ride Fly program, which would be $34 or so for 10 days.
posted by miyabo at 8:07 AM on August 13, 2010

If you're flying out that early and driving 3 hours to get there, why not drive to Minneapolis the night before? Then you can use ParkSleepFly - you pay for a hotel room the night before your flight, and free parking at the hotel for the length of your trip (although I think it's capped at 10 days or something). I've done it out of Chicago and it works really well.
http://minneapolis.parksleepfly.com/
posted by captainawesome at 8:12 AM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]

I've done street parking for a week in the neighborhood by the 46th St. LRT station and gotten away with it; but I know other people who've tried it and gotten towed. So it's doable, but a gamble.

If you really wanted to play the percentages, you could park farther away in south Minneapolis (say, 46th and Lyndale area), take the 46 bus to the train station, and LRT into the airport. Kind of a pain in the ass, but I don't think they're as vigilant about parking if you're further away.
posted by COBRA! at 8:13 AM on August 13, 2010

There isn't an airport shuttle you could use?
posted by twblalock at 8:24 AM on August 13, 2010

I live within half a mile of the 46th St station and could be of assistance if you MeMail me.
posted by advicepig at 8:39 AM on August 13, 2010

If you are looking for the cheapest option then the Park 'n Go lots are the best. Sure it will be $100 or so but when you compare it to train/bus/taxi options it will still be better. You will not have to worry about the possibility of your car getting stolen or towed. You will not have to worry about trying to adapt to someone else's schedules. Especially with your flight so early you will hard pressed to make it any other way.
posted by JJ86 at 8:59 AM on August 13, 2010

Park at the Mall of America and take the train?
posted by matty at 9:59 AM on August 13, 2010

Best answer: I meant to link Ramp Ride Fly earlier. Basically we the people of Minneapolis spent an ungodly amount of money building one of the largest parking structures in the world downtown, on the theory that people would park there to go shopping. It didn't work so now the city is trying to get rid of empty spaces as $3/day airport parking. The train takes about 40 minutes to get from Ramp C to the airport, but it runs reasonably frequently and is comfortable.
posted by miyabo at 12:19 PM on August 13, 2010

Park at the Mall of America and take the train?

From their website: "Unfortunately, the City of Bloomington does not permit overnight parking on Mall of America premises." So, that sounds like it's out.
posted by gimonca at 2:29 PM on August 13, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks for all the help. Luckily, I found somebody who happens to also be going to The Cities around the same time so I'll just catch a ride with them this time around.
Still, I fly often enough that this will help in future endeavors and I think the Ramp Ride Fly is my answer to future similar situations.

There isn't an airport shuttle you could use?

There is, but the earliest it leaves my city is 7:30am so unfortunately using it for morning flights is out of the question.

And regarding the MoA, yea, I know somebody who got towed for trying to park there while flying. It's serious business!
posted by MeProxy at 8:30 PM on August 13, 2010