Folks are paying $4 to $65 to park downtown Minneapolis for 2 hours

After seeing one downtown Minneapolis ramp charging $65 for a parking spot on Friday night, I took to the streets to see what other parking ramps and lots are charging.

Fast facts:

• The cheapest ramp I found was $8, and it was underground parking, meaning your car would stay warm. The most expensive ramp I found on January 27 was charging $50.
  • A couple friends mentioned to me they parked at the University of St. Thomas ramp for $5.50. It’s located at 11th Street and Harmon Place.
• Municipal ramps were always cheaper.
  • On my Facebook page, Erin posted that she parked in one of the ABC ramps for $10. You should hop in the skyway to walk towards the IDS Center. Those ramps would be a great choice for those who need to take 394 or 94 westbound to get home! Learn more about the ABC ramps.
• If you’re thrifty and don’t mind walking, take the skyway! I would highly recommend taking the Second Avenue skyway, which actually starts north of Washington Avenue. Street parking near 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street was ample and $2 an hour. There’s a 2 hour max, but if you have the Minneapolis parking meters app, you can extend your stay from your phone.
• You don’t have to park downtown Minneapolis at all. Take the light rail. Or, if you’re going January 27, 28 or February 3, take Metro Transit’s Park and Ride coming in from five suburbs. Learn more here.

If you’re frugal but want to attempt parking downtown

The Minneapolis Central Library, at 4th Street and Hennepin Avenue, had underground event parking for $8. You’ll walk two blocks south to get to the northern fringe of Super Bowl LIVE. Remember you’ll need to walk back eight blocks back to your car if you want to see Super Bowl LIVE in its entirety. It’s a brisk 10-block walk to the Minneapolis Convention Center for the Super Bowl Experience.

Where to park if you’re okay forking over $20

There are a couple really good options if you’re willing to pay $20 for a spot.

The ramp at 12th and 2nd Avenue is across the street from the Minneapolis Convention Center and just two blocks from the southern entrance of Super Bowl LIVE. It’s run by the city. To get driving directions there, type 1117 Marquette Avenue South in your favorite maps app.

Within the same city block, the ramp at 1111 Marquette Avenue South is also $20. Neither ramp is underground.

A little further up Marquette, the ramp at 9th and Marquette is also $20, but traffic on Marquette was a bit stacked. It will put you at the middle of Super Bowl LIVE (you just have to walk west a block to Nicollet Mall).

If you’re coming from the north or west, park in the underground ramp at Gaviidae Common. You can access it on 6th Street between Nicollet Mall and Marquette. That’s also $20.

Where you don’t want to park

I would draw a perimeter with Hennepin Avenue on the west, 5th Street on the north, 10th Street on the south and 3rd Street on east. Anything in that zone is going to be expensive and hard to get to anyway. Remember that 8th Street is closed and lanes are closed on 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th Streets.

The RSM Plaza ramp near 8th and Marquette was at $35.

Want to park underneath the IDS Center? It’s $50, the most expensive ramp I found on January 27.

I saw on social media the ramp at Fifty South Sixth Street charged $65 for spots on the opening night of Super Bowl LIVE. on January 27, they were offering quite a discount: a single spot was $40.

Parking along Hennepin Avenue isn’t cheap. It’s actually more expensive. Lots between 7th and 4th Streets were charging $25 to $30.

Read my guide with multiple ways to get downtown Minneapolis, whether it’s by bus, rail or car.