The Light Rail train is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to get from the MSP airport to downtown Minneapolis. Known as the Hiawatha line, the Route 55 train runs every 7-15 minutes (except between 1am and 5am). The full schedule is available at the Metro Transit website.

There are two easy ways to get to the Light Rail station in the MSP airport's Lindbergh Terminal. Refer to this Lindbergh Terminal map, and this guide will take you through the routes. (Humphrey Terminal also has the same train, but Humphrey is very small and the outdoor platform is obvious. This guide is for Lindbergh Terminal.)

Airport Navigation, Route #1

If you arrive on concourses A, B, C, or G and don't need to go to Baggage Claim, there is a short-cut. You can go to the Skyway Security Checkpoint (labeled with a blue 10 in the middle of the map) and take the elevator or escalator directly down to the Mezzanine level. If you are coming from a gate through the Skyway Security Checkpoint, you will be starting on level 2. Don't be confused by the so-called "Transit Center" (aka bus and car rental center) on level 1; go all the way down to M.

The elevator will take you all the way down to M, or the escalator will take you to 1 and you will need to keep turning to the right and taking escalators down to T and then M. Then jump to the "Light Rail Transit" part of the guide.

Airport Navigation, Route #2

If you arrive on concourses D, E, F, or need to visit Baggage Claim, you will want to take the Hub Tram through the center of the airport to make your trip to the LRT station shorter.

Baggage Claim is on level 1 of the Lindbergh terminal. Follow the signs for Ground Transport, taking either an escalator or an elevator down to level T. If you're looking for a taxi, there are signs at this point.

Level T. Go to the right of the information desk towards the Hub Tram.

Level T. The Hub Tram goes back and forth between Baggage Claim and the T level of the parking structure.

Level T. This is what you see when you get off the tram and go right.

Light Rail Transit

Whether you take the Hub Tram (which runs on level T) or go down directly from the Skyway Security Checkpoint, you need to go below level T down to level M.

Level T. You have a choice of escalator (left) or elevator (right) to take you from T down to M.	Level M. Bottom of escalator or forward from elevator. Ticket machines are forward through doors.	Level M. This elevator goes down to the LRT platform
Level M. One of three ticket machine on Mezzanine level. Takes cash up to $20 or card. A ride is currently $1.75 (non-rush) or $2.25 (rush hours), but more info can be found on the Metro Transit site.	Looking down the escalator. Minneapolis side of the platform is on the left.	When going from the airport to Downtown Minneapolis, wait on the left side of the platform, as signed.
Comfy seating while you wait.	Don't take the train that arrives on the right side of the platform and says "Mall of America".	Take the train on the left which says "Downtown" alternating with "Minneapolis".
Note the people with their luggage, which fits easily in the interior of the train.	Enjoy the views for 23 minutes! You'll be disembarking at the Nicollet Mall station.	Pulling in to Nicollet Mall station. Exit the train and turn right, moving forward along the platform in the direction the train was going.

Downtown Minneapolis

This map shows how to get from the Nicollet Mall station to the Radisson Plaza hotel. The station is at the green arrow, 5th and Nicollet. You follow Nicollet for two blocks and then turn right on 7th. The hotel is at the pink "A" indicator.

The train runs on 5th Street. Go forward on the platform to the intersection. Take a left across the tracks onto Nicollet Mall. Avoid airport/mall-bound trains.	For those who do not wish to walk the two blocks along Nicollet Mall, a paid train fare allows transfer to the bus and vice versa. Any Nicollet Mall bus headed in the correct direction will do.	Nicollet Mall between 5th (where the train is) and 6th. Only bus, taxi, police, and other such vehicles can drive on this street, making it nice for a short stroll.
6th and Nicollet! Half-way there!	The next cross-street is 7th. You will need to cross Nicollet at this point, if you have not done so already. You will be taking a right on 7th. Joe is pointing the way.	Take a right onto 7th Street. There is a Macy's on the corner, and you want to be on that side of the street.
Right after the Macy's, you will see the Plaza VII office tower. The car pictured is exiting the Radisson's parking ramp. If you come by car, that is one place you can park. Notice the Radisson flags.	Right past the parking is the front of the hotel. You've arrived!

Accessibility

Nicollet Mall station, accessible like all LRT stations. Train headed for the airport, on the right side of the platform.

Each car has a roomy area for wheelchair users.

Easy to roll from the platform (yellow) onto the train (grey).

Returning to Airport

From Nicollet Ave, take a right onto 5th and proceed along the right side of the platform to go to the airport.	Nicollet Mall station ticket machine.	Arriving on the airport (Lindbergh Terminal) platform.
Either head up the escalator...	...or go past the escalators to the elevator.