A Minneapolis taxi from MSP airport to downtown averages US$39 to US$49 on the meter, according to the airport. Uber and Lyft set their price in the app at the moment you request, with surge when demand is high. The METRO Blue Line costs US$2 and takes about 25 minutes. A pre-booked Elly8.net business sedan is a fixed US$150, with the chauffeur waiting inside the terminal.
So the taxi, the app and the train are cheaper for many trips, and this guide says so plainly. What they do not offer is a fixed price set in advance, a person waiting for you inside, or one vehicle for a group with winter luggage. Below are the published numbers for the airport and around town, how waiting works for each option, and a straightforward way to decide.
Is a taxi or rideshare cheaper in Minneapolis?
For one or two people, a taxi or app ride is usually cheaper than a pre-booked car, and the light rail is cheapest of all at US$2. MSP taxis to downtown Minneapolis average US$39 to US$49. A fixed chauffeur costs more, from US$150 in a sedan, but includes meet and greet, flight tracking and no surge.
The gap narrows as the group grows. A taxi in Minneapolis seats up to seven by the City's licence definition, but most are standard cars that carry four with limited luggage. Five people with ski bags may need two cabs or an XL-type app vehicle, while a business SUV on Elly8.net carries six with six bags for US$195 from MSP to downtown.
See Minneapolis prices and reserve
The published fares, side by side
Here is what is published for the most common trip, MSP to downtown Minneapolis, about 12 mi (20 km) and roughly 22 minutes on a clear road.
| Option | Price | Pickup at MSP | Wait | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| METRO Blue Line | US$2 adult, valid 2.5 hours | Stations below the T1 ramps and beside the T2 Orange Ramp | Every 15-20 min, about 5 am to midnight | Solo, light bag, hotel near a station |
| Taxi | averages US$39-49, metered | T1 via Tram Level, T2 Ground Transport Center | Staffed 6 am to 1 am, self-service after | One or two people, walk-up |
| Uber, Lyft | set by the app, surge applies | T1 GTC Level 1 Green/Gold ramps, T2 Purple ramp Level 2 | Depends on drivers nearby | Off-peak, flexible plans |
| Elly8.net business sedan | US$150 fixed, all-in | Inside arrivals, name board | Chauffeur already there | Late flights, meetings, fixed budget |
| Elly8.net business SUV | US$195 fixed, all-in | Inside arrivals, name board | Chauffeur already there | Families and groups of up to 6 with bags |
The taxi and pickup details come from the airport's pages on taxi service, app-based rides and light rail. The meter at MSP starts at US$6.50, which includes a US$2.50 flag drop and a US$4.00 airport access fee. A US$23.50 zone fare applies between the airport and Mall of America. To downtown St. Paul, taxi fares average US$31 to US$38.
How the taxi works in Minneapolis
The City of Minneapolis licenses taxi drivers, taxi companies and individual taxicabs, and it defines a taxicab as a vehicle that carries passengers for a fee and seats seven or fewer; limousines do not need that licence (minneapolismn.gov). The City also runs a complaint process for taxi rides that go wrong.
At the airport, taxis are the most organised walk-up option. At Terminal 1, signs from the Tram Level lead one level up to the taxi starter booth; at Terminal 2, taxis wait at the Ground Transport Center on the ground level of the Purple Ramp. Airport staff help passengers into cabs from 6 am to 1 am, and outside those hours the rank is self-service.
Around town, taxis are less visible than in some larger cities. Hotels can usually call one, and app rides have taken much of the street demand. For a downtown hotel at 5 am, ask the front desk the night before.
How rideshare works, and why the price moves
App rides are convenient and often the cheapest door-to-door option for one person. At MSP, they pick up in the parking ramps, not at the curb: the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of the Green/Gold ramps at Terminal 1, and the second level of the Purple ramp at Terminal 2. The airport requires app drivers to hold an airport permit and show a decal, and it advises riders to confirm the plate and have the driver say their name before getting in.
Rideshare companies do not publish fixed fares, so there is no honest number for "Uber from MSP to downtown". The price rises when many people request at once: when a bank of flights lands, when a Vikings game ends at U.S. Bank Stadium, when the Minnesota State Fair closes for the night, or when a snowstorm slows every trip. If your plans are flexible, waiting twenty minutes for demand to settle can make a real difference.
Light rail: the honest winner for many trips
Metro Transit is good value and simple to use. An adult fare is US$2 on local buses and METRO lines at all times, valid for two and a half hours; an all-day pass is US$4; and inside downtown the Downtown Zone fare is 50 cents, with rides on Nicollet Mall free (metrotransit.org).
Two lines matter most to visitors. The METRO Blue Line links both airport terminals with Mall of America to the south and downtown Minneapolis to the north, reaching the Warehouse District in about 25 minutes. The METRO Green Line has run between Target Field in Minneapolis and Union Depot in St. Paul since 2014 (metrotransit.org), which makes it a sensible way between the two downtowns for one person.
Where the train is weaker: late at night after service winds down, with heavy or awkward luggage, with small children and car seats, and for addresses a long walk from a station in January.
When to book a car instead
A pre-booked chauffeur is not the cheapest option, and it does not need to be. It wins in particular situations:
- Late and early flights. Landing after the trains have slowed, or leaving for a 6 am flight, with a fixed price and a chauffeur already there. See our MSP car service guide for the pickup routine.
- Groups and winter gear. Six people with bags fit one business SUV for US$195; up to twelve fit an Executive Sprinter for US$390.
- Families. Child seats are available on request and fitted before pickup.
- Meetings. Going straight into a meeting in downtown or the suburbs, when a long wait for an app driver is not an option. An hourly chauffeur from US$95 an hour, 3-hour minimum, keeps one car with you between appointments.
- Event nights. A Twins game at Target Field or a show at First Avenue ends with everyone requesting a ride at once. The Evening out & event night package, from US$475 in a sedan, keeps the car waiting at an agreed point.
- Expense reports. One fixed, all-in receipt, or monthly invoicing on a corporate account.
For the general trade-offs, see chauffeur vs taxi and chauffeur vs Uber and Lyft.
Game nights and late finishes
The hardest moment to get any ride in Minneapolis is the ten minutes after a big crowd leaves. U.S. Bank Stadium on the east side of downtown, Target Field and Target Center on the west side, and clubs such as First Avenue all release thousands of people onto the same few streets. App prices rise, taxis are already taken and the light rail platforms fill.
Three habits help whichever option you choose. Walk a few blocks away from the venue before requesting an app ride, so the driver is not stuck in the closure. If you take the train, buy the ticket or load the app before the event ends. And if you have booked a car, agree the pickup point with the chauffeur in advance rather than at the final whistle. Our sports event transportation page explains how we stage pickups near stadiums, and the Minneapolis limo rental prices guide shows what an evening package costs per head.
Four Minneapolis scenarios
A solo traveller, Tuesday noon, carry-on, North Loop hotel. Take the Blue Line to the Warehouse District for US$2. Nothing else comes close on value.
Two colleagues, Thursday 7 pm, two cases, meeting in St. Paul. A taxi to downtown St. Paul averages US$31 to US$38 and is perfectly reasonable. Book a car only if you want a fixed price and someone waiting.
A family of five, Saturday 11 pm in February, ski bags and a car seat. Book a business SUV at US$195. A standard taxi will not take the bags, and a late Saturday in winter is when app waits and prices are hardest to predict.
Ten friends for a Vikings game. An Executive Sprinter on the Evening out & event night package is US$950, about US$95 each, with drop-off and pickup at agreed points near the stadium. Our guide to Minneapolis limo bus rental covers larger groups.
What a fixed price includes
Every Elly8.net fare includes the chauffeur, the vehicle, taxes, standard gratuity and, at the airport, meet and greet with flight tracking. Tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. The same fixed fare applies from downtown to MSP, and our airport transfers page explains how flight tracking and waiting work in every city we serve. Rides in Minneapolis are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk.
How to book
Enter the pickup and drop-off, with a flight number for airport trips, choose the vehicle, and press Reserve now or use the web booker for any address. Confirmation arrives by email. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup; 72 hours or less costs 10%, 48 hours or less 50%, and 24 hours or less or a no-show 100%, refunded to the original card. All fares are on the Minneapolis car service page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from MSP to downtown Minneapolis?
The airport says taxi fares to downtown Minneapolis average US$39 to US$49 for the roughly 12-mile trip, on the meter. The meter starts at US$6.50, including a US$2.50 flag drop and a US$4.00 airport access fee. To downtown St. Paul, fares average US$31 to US$38.
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at MSP?
At Terminal 1, in the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of the Green/Gold parking ramps. At Terminal 2, on the second level of the Purple parking ramp. App drivers must carry an airport permit and decal, and the airport advises checking the plate and the driver's name before you get in.
Is the light rail practical with luggage?
The METRO Blue Line is a practical choice with a carry-on and one case, and it runs every 15 to 20 minutes from about 5 am to midnight. With several large bags, small children or a late arrival, a taxi or pre-booked car is easier. The fare is US$2 for adults.
Are there taxis waiting at MSP all night?
Taxi service at MSP is staffed by airport personnel from 6 am to 1 am daily, and outside those hours it continues as a self-service option. If you land very late and want certainty, a pre-booked car with flight tracking means the chauffeur is waiting whatever the time.
When is a pre-booked car worth it over a taxi?
For groups and families with luggage, late or early flights, child seats, meetings you cannot be late for, event nights and winter arrivals. A business SUV carries six with six bags for US$195 from MSP to downtown, which can cost less than two separate cabs plus the hassle of splitting up.
Can I book a car between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul?
Yes. Enter both addresses in the web booker for a fixed, all-in price. For one person, the METRO Green Line between Target Field and Union Depot is the cheapest way at US$2. A car makes sense for groups, luggage, evening events or a schedule with several stops.
