Car Rentals in Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a prime tourist destination for those visiting the Midwest, not to mention a rapidly growing high tech hub for the region. Lying on the banks of the beautiful Mississippi, the best choice to enjoy this city to the fullest is by car. Book a rental and go exploring in the state that is home to 10,000+ lakes! Finding a Discount Rental Car in Minneapolis The City of Lakes is the largest in the state and spread out over multiple districts; visitors can find most of the main tourist attractions downtown, but there is a lot of interesting things to see in the Northeast and Southeast zones. For those who are flying into the international airport, it would make sense to book your Minneapolis car rental right upon arrival. Picking Up Your Rental Car in Minneapolis Right Aways To ensure passengers have convenient access to an ample selection of vehicles, the facility features on-site rental car counters in both Terminal 1 and 2 (Lindbergh and Humphrey). All of the main national chains located at the airport have offices in each terminal, and these currently consist of Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Off-Site Rentals
Keep in mind that only Hertz and National are open 24-hours a day, with the remaining agencies providing various hours of operation. Make sure your flight arrival is properly coordinated with your Minneapolis rental car pick-up, otherwise you could be sitting in the terminal for a few hours.
The most popular off-site rental agencies in Minneapolis are Payless and Sixt. The airport offers shuttle bus rides to these locations out of the Transit Center in Lindbergh Terminal. You may save a bit of money on the airport’s surcharge fee by going this route instead.
Driving Rules in the Mini Apple (and Fun Stuff)
Interstate travel is the most efficient way to navigate the Twin Cities; 35W and 94 are main ones to get accquainted with, as they divide it into north-south and east-west respectively.
The I-494/694 beltway connects to both. Be advised that rush hour (7-9 AM and 3-7 PM) traffic can be severe at times, so avoid the main freeways during these times if you are able to.
Multi-colored street signs are a unique and helpful driving aspect of Minneapolis, as they distinguish what direction the roads run in, as well as if they grant access to nearby scenic parkways. As for parking, there are 17 ramps, 7 lots, and a lot of electronic meters throughout Minneapolis multiple districts.
Explore the Twin Cities via Day Trips
Most of the outdoorsy attractions near Minneapolis can be accessed inside of a one hour drive. The ever-scenic views of Lake Minnetonka are always worthy of a trip. This, St. Croix, Red Wing, Stillwater, and Taylor Falls are all excellent escapes from the bustling inner city metropolis.
If you are really adventurous, buy a ticket for one of the many steamboat tours in Excelsior, or go bike riding on the trails at Menomonie! Wherever the road may lead you, a discount rental car in Minneapolis is a bargain not to pass up.
