$2.00 bus to North Minneapolis if you’re counting every dollar
Route 5 is Metro Transit’s 24-hour local bus linking MSP with Chicago Ave, South Minneapolis, and North Minneapolis, with a one-way fare of $2.00 off-peak and $2.50 rush hour. It’s the rock-bottom option from the airport, but you trade time and comfort for price: MSP to the north end of the line can run 40–60+ minutes because the bus stops often.
The 5 serves both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, using the airport’s ground transportation/bus areas signed for Metro Transit; check the platform signs for “Route 5 Chicago Ave / Brooklyn Center Transit Center.” Daytime frequency is roughly every 10–20 minutes, but riders report 20–30 minute gaps when buses bunch or a trip no-shows, so don’t cut it close if you have a 8:00 a.m. meeting on the North Side.
Overnight, only select Route 5 trips come into MSP, even though the line is marketed as 24-hour. After midnight you might see roughly hourly service to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and locals on Reddit call the late runs “busy, loud, and kinda chaotic,” especially on the Chicago Ave segment. If your flight lands at 1:30 a.m., build in the possibility of a 45–60 minute wait on the curb.
Fares work the same as other Metro Transit buses: $2.00 off-peak, $2.50 rush hour, with 2.5-hour transfer rights printed on your paper Go-To ticket or stored on a Go-To card. You pay at the front door, board through the first set of doors only, and tap or insert cash before walking back. Hold onto your ticket if you’re planning to switch to another bus in North Minneapolis or along Chicago Ave within that 2.5-hour window.
Locals who ride the 5 daily say it’s fine if you know the corridor, but they often steer first-time visitors to the Blue Line light rail plus a transfer instead, especially after dark. One rider mentioned they board at Terminal 1 and sit in the first few rows near the driver at night rather than in the rear, especially on trips after 9:00 p.m. If the bus feels packed or rowdy, waiting 15 minutes for the next one can be the less stressful move.
Step-by-step: using Route 5 from MSP
- 1. At Terminal 1 or 2, follow signs for “Buses / Public Transit” until you reach the Metro Transit stops marked for Route 5.
- 2. Check the posted timetable or phone app to confirm the next 5 to your direction (Chicago Ave / North Minneapolis / Brooklyn Center) and note the scheduled time, especially late at night.
- 3. Have $2.00–$2.50 in cash ready or a loaded Go-To card, then board at the front door and pay or tap before moving down the aisle.
- 4. Pick a seat toward the front if it’s after dark, keep your bags close, and expect 40–60+ minutes if you’re riding all the way into North Minneapolis.
- 5. Pull the yellow cord or press the stop button 1 block before your stop, then exit through the rear doors; if you’re transferring, use your 2.5-hour transfer window printed on the ticket.
One tip: if your arrival is after 11:30 p.m., check real-time tracking in the Metro Transit app at the gate before you walk to the stop; if the next 5 is 45–60 minutes out, you may want to switch to the Blue Line or rideshare instead.