Do You Need a Car in Minneapolis? (Local’s Perspective in 2023)

Are you visiting the Twin Cities and wondering, do you need a car in Minneapolis? Good question!

There are many ways to get around, but most people enjoy using their own car because it provides a sense of freedom and ease.

But if you don’t have your own car, you’ll need to find an alternative option for getting to work, the grocery store, and other places around the city.

With Minneapolis being such a large city, there are so many great options for transportation, so you may not have to worry about it!

I’m a Minnesota native and have spent plenty of time within the Twin Cities, and have plenty to share with you about driving here.

In this post, I’ll dive into some of the questions that you might have about driving in Minneapolis and what the best ways to get around are.

Do You Need a Car in Minneapolis, MN?

Whether you’re visiting Minneapolis or considering living here, it may have crossed your mind whether or not you can get away without a car.

There are multiple reasons that you might not want to purchase or rent a car, including the cost or hassle of storing it.

So the answer to this question varies on what you’d like to do during your time in the city because if you’d like to go out of Minneapolis this answer might change.

But, yes, it is possible to live in or visit Minneapolis without a car, you will just need to be a bit more flexible and recognize that you might not have as much freedom to go where you want, when you want.

There are tons of public transportation options from buses to light rail to Uber, so it’s possible to get around Minneapolis.

But the thing that you’ll need to know, is that some of the transportation options only operate on certain days, within certain areas, and within certain time frames.

So if you’re planning to go without a car, I’d recommend doing plenty of research beforehand, and having a good understanding of what you can and can’t do without one!

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Is Minneapolis a Walkable City?

Yes, Minneapolis is a very walkable city, and in fact, is one of the most walkable cities in Minnesota!

Most of this is thanks to its skyway system, which covers 80 city blocks and nearly 10 miles of skyways.

These above-ground, enclosed pedestrian bridges connect many popular buildings that allow you to get from place to place without going outside.

This becomes really handy during the winter months when the weather is unbearably cold!

Along with walking, Minneapolis is also a great city for biking, and there are bike and scooter share stations all around the city that allow you to rent equipment.

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What is the Best Way to Get Around Minneapolis?

The ideal and best way to get around Minneapolis is by car, whether it be a rental or your own, but that isn’t required.

You can most definitely get around without one, and you can solely use public transportation on your visit or while you live here.

But, if you want to have your own freedom and be able to travel around when you want, then having a car is best.

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Can You Live in Minneapolis Without a Car?

It is possible to live in Minneapolis without a car, because there are so many public transportation options.

But, it will limit you to where you can go, since some public transport only goes to certain places.

Some of the public transportation options only go within certain parts of the city.

For example,  the light rail system only operates within a certain area of Minneapolis and doesn’t go any further than the end stops.

So if you want to go outside of the city, you will need to find another means of transportation.

But it is totally doable to live in Minneapolis without a car if you’re determined to do so.

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Best Transportation Options in Minneapolis

There are multiple transportation options available to the public within Minneapolis, so if you need a way to get around, these are your best options!

Light Rail

Minneapolis has two light rail systems that operate throughout the city, the Blue Line and the Green Line.

Light rails are a form of train that is driven electrically with power from an overhead cable, and typically operate on their own lane in the road.

The Blue Line has 19 stops throughout Minneapolis and drives all the way from the Mall of America to the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood near Downtown.

The two stations that it travels between are the Mall of America Transit Station and the Target Field Station.

Along the route, you’ll find three park-and-ride lots, where you can leave your car and hop on the light rail to get to your destination.

The Green Line has 23 stops and travelers throughout St. Paul, traveling from Target Field Station to the Union Depot.

You won’t find any park-and-ride stations along this route, so you’ll need to find a way to the station or pay to park.

You’ll need to pay for your ticket before you’ve boarded, and you can find payment kiosks at the station.

Rental Car

Rental cars are always a great option for getting around a city, and is one of the most popular ways to explore.

Having a rental car allows you a bit more flexibility, as you’ll be able to travel around on your own time, rather than waiting for the bus, light rail, or Uber.

Although a rental car is the most convenient option, they are also more expensive than some of the other options.

But if you have some extra money to splurge on your Minneapolis visit, then I recommend getting yourself a rental car!

Ride Share Apps

Another great choice for getting around Minneapolis is by using ride-share apps such as Uber and Lyft, which are both abundant in the Twin Cities.

You can find rides from neither anywhere via Uber or Lyft, and the fares are fairly affordable if you need short rides.

If you’re going to be booking rides often or taking long-distance drives, then the costs are going to add up quickly.

Because you’ll need to pay the standard fee, and then tip your driver, so these transportation options can become spendy.

Buses

Along with light rail, there are also buses in Minneapolis that make for a good option for getting around the city.

Metro Transit buses are one of the most common ways that people get around, from going to work to appointments to the store and to home.

There are also several park-and-ride spots around the Twin Cities metro where you can park your car for free and catch the bus. This helps avoid having to pay expensive parking fees.

And parts of the bus routes are within a ‘High-Frequency Network,’ which means that they arrive at a stop every 15 minutes or sooner, so you won’t have to wait very long.

Some of the buses in Downtown Minneapolis offer free rides. All you need to do is look out for the buses labeled ‘Free Ride’ near Nicollet Mall.

Taxis

Taxis are another way to get around, although they’ve become increasingly less popular as Uber and Lyft have sort of taken over.

You can often find taxis in Downtown Minneapolis, or you can book a ride by calling or using one of the many taxi service apps.

Especially if you’re coming from or going to the airport, taxis are a handy way of getting around Minneapolis, MN.

Park and Ride

Parking in lots can become very expensive quickly when you’re visiting Minneapolis, so using park and ride is a great way to save some cash.

There are park-and-ride locations spread out all over the Twin Cities metro area, and you can park at them for free and then catch the bus to your location.

Within Minneapolis itself, you can find the park and ride lots at the North and South Fort Snelling Stations.

While this isn’t entirely a new type of transportation in Minneapolis, it’s a nice way to get from place A to place B without spending money on parking.

Biking

Minneapolis is also a great city for biking with 16 miles of protected bikeways along the streets.

There are also nearly 100 miles of bike lanes and 100 miles of off-street bikeways to adventure on and get from place A to place B.

There is a bike share program, Nice Ride, where you can grab a bike and use it to get around. There’s even a monthly rental option where you can have it for an entire month.

Scooter Shares

Something that has become popular in recent years is the use of shared scooters to get around a city.

You may have seen green or blue scooters scattered around a city, and these are all available to the public to ride.

It’s usually as simple as downloading the scooter company’s app, uploading your license information, entering the number of the scooter, and paying for it.

Walking

Of course, one of the other options for getting around the city is just by walking, but this can be iffy in some locations.

The best place to get around on foot is Downtown Minneapolis, where you’ll find many of the activities within a short distance of one another.

Plus, Minneapolis is home to an incredibly expansive skyway system that connects many buildings together so you can get from place to place without going outside.

It’s the largest contiguous system of skyways in the world and covers 9.5 miles over 80 city blocks.

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Best Place to Live & Visit in Minneapolis Without a Car

If you aren’t going to have a car in Minneapolis, then it’s best for you to either live or visit somewhere that makes getting to public transportation easy.

I would recommend Downtown Minneapolis, because you’ll find many opportunities to find public transport, like the light rail system and Ubers or Lyfts.

You can also walk around and easily get to many of the best attractions, like First Avenue, US Bank Stadium, Target Field, and many great shops and restaurants.

Plus, some of the best hotels are located here, from luxury boutique hotels to cheap rooms.

And if you were to need to go anywhere besides Downtown, there are ways to get outside of it, like the light rail.

The North Loop, Uptown, and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods are the best places to be.

But all in all, this part of the city is very walkable, has bikes and scooters to rent, and lots of public transportation and things to do!

So overall, if you’re going to be moving to Minneapolis or are visiting, I recommend choosing Downtown Minneapolis.

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Best Things to Do in Minneapolis Without a Car

Now that you have the answer to your question, do you need a car in Minneapolis, you can start planning your itinerary!

Below are some of the best activities that you can do without a car and just by using public transportation!

Wander Around Downtown Minnepolis

As I mentioned above, Downtown Minneapolis is the best place to be when you don’t have a car, since many of the attractions are close by.

If you book a hotel and stay within downtown, you can easily get to places like First Avenue, US Bank Stadium, and many great places to eat.

The Armory and First Avenue are great places to catch a concert, and some of the best sports stadiums are in Downtown.

Plus, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Walker Art Center are nearby, which are great places for seeing artist’s work.

Minneapolis is filled with unique dining experiences, from local restaurants to high-end eateries, and many are found in Downtown!

Whatever you do, this area is very walkable, and there are also bikes, scooters, Ubers, Lyfts, and the light rail system to help you get around.

Go to a Sports Game

Sports games are popular places for people without cars because many of the buses and the light rail system stop right near them.

Whether you’re interested in football, hockey, soccer, or otherwise, there’s an easy way to get to the stadium, arena, field, or court without a car.

For example, the Green Line makes a stop at US Bank Stadium, and the Blue Line stops at Target Field.

But you could also catch a bus, taxi, or ride share such as Uber or Lyft to any of them.

Go to the Mall of America

Visiting the Mall of America is another great option since many public transportation services stop at the mall.

You can wander around inside and spend a whole day here, as there are over 500 shops, multiple restaurants, an indoor amusement park, a movie theater, and more.

The METRO Blue Line makes its final stop at the Mall of America, so this is the perfect way to get there without a vehicle.

Go to a Concert or Show

Another nice option is to go to either a concert or show, as there are often many around the city, all within accessible locations.

For instance, First Avenue is found right in Downtown Minneapolis, and is one of the most popular and unique venues in the city.

At the Xcel Energy Center, you’ll find larger-name artists performing, and again, you can easily get here from Downtown St. Paul.

If you’d prefer to see something like a Broadway production, you can head to the Orpheum Theater, which is located in Downtown Minneapolis.

Most of these are reachable by walking from Downtown or by catching a bus or Uber.

Walk Along the Mississippi River

If you’d prefer to spend some time outside during your visit, you can check out the Mississippi River banks.

The mighty river flows right through the Twin Cities, separating Minneapolis and St. Paul.

You can wander along the river, check out the Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls, or head into the Mill City Museum.

Either way, there are plenty of sidewalks and areas to go without a vehicle.

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FAQs

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Wrap-Up: Do You Need a Car in Minneapolis?

Having a car is something that many people like to have, but it honestly isn’t always necessary, depending on where you’re living or visiting.

So the question, do you need a car in Minneapolis, is a great one to ask before spending the money on either your own or a rental!

Luckily for us, there is a lot of great public transportation in Minneapolis that makes getting around the big city easy.

So if you’re going to the Twin Cities and want to get around within Downtown or other nearby areas, you really may not even need a car!

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