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South of Runway 12R/30L
- Fort Snelling National Cemetery hill. Inside the Fort Snelling National Cemetery there is a moderate size artificial hill which blocks noise from the airport. From inside the cemetery you can climb the hill and from the top view the south side of the airport. The hill overlooks the Post Rd and the spotters parking lot (see above) so it offers a similar view but without obstruction. On top of the hill you are over the height of the fences and you get a better view on the airfield. Please be respectful if you choose to visit here, this is a cemetery and was not built for spotters. This is not a good location to spot for long periods of time. If you’re on the hill for more than a half hour you can expect to be asked (or at least encouraged) to leave.
- Humphrey Terminal Parking Ramp.
The Humphrey Terminal’s parking ramps are a new structure on airport
property and the newest place to spot from. From the top of the
eight story you can get a good overview of the airfield, especially the
south side. The ramp is a long way from most of the important places
on the airfield but gives an unobstructed view. This location is the
only location that you can get a good view of the southwestern corner of
the airport. You can see the infield and southwest cargo aprons,
good views of Runway 4/22, and the construction site for Runway 17/35.
- From Highway 5: Follow the signs for the Post Rd. exit. Then
follow the signs, taking you north, to the Humphrey Terminal. You
can either follow signs to short-term or the general parking, depending on
how long you plan on staying at the parking ramps.
- From Interstate I-494: Follow the signs for the 34th Ave. S. exit.
Then follow the signs, taking you north, to the Humphrey Terminal.
You can either follow signs to short-term or the general parking,
depending on how long you plan on staying at the parking ramps.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
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Post Road parking lot. This is the most popular
spotting spot at the airport and is the only airport sanctioned place to
watch the airplanes come in. On the south side of Post Road is a long,
skinny parking lot with spots that face Runway 12R/30L. In the parking
lot you can watch the planes come in from your vehicle while remaining in
your vehicle, which is great for cold or wet days. The drawback is
that there is a large airport fence in front of you, and an airport blast
fence blocking some of the view.
- From Highway 5: Look for the Post Rd. exit. Follow the road to
the west (towards the airfield) until you see the parking lot on your
left. The turn in is at the western end of the long parking lot.
- From Interstate I-494: Follow signs for the 34th Ave. S. exit
(you can also follow signs for the Humphrey Terminal). Turn onto
34th Ave. going to the north. The Fort Snelling Cemetery will be
on right and Northwest Airlines buildings will be on your left.
Continue north, you’ll see the Humphrey Terminal on the left. Turn
right onto E. 70th St. which we’ll then turn into Post Rd. After
passing Signature Flight Support on the left the road curves slightly
and the parking lot will be on the right side of the road.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
- Taft Park.
If MSP is using the Runways 12R and 12L then Taft Park is a popular
place to spot and photograph planes on approach. The small
park here, complete with a pond and walking path, is a nice location
to watch planes on the final approach for Runway 12R. From
here its about 1/2 mile to the Runway 12R threshold.
- From Highway 77 south: Exit onto 63rd Street and take a right
(north) onto Cedar Ave S. Go about one block to the north and
there will be a parking lot off on the left hand side. You can
park here and walk into the park. Alternatively, you can keep
following Cedar Ave around the park until it meets up with Bloomington
Ave. Go left (south) onto Bloomington Ave and the main parking lot
for the park is on the left.
- From Highway 77 north: Exit onto 66th Street, cross over the
highway, and make a right turn (to the north) on Cedar Ave. After
about four blocks look for the small parking lot off on the left hand
side. To get to the main parking lot follow the road around until
it meets up with Bloomington Ave. Go left (south) onto Bloomington
Ave and the main parking lot for the park is on the left.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
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Taft Park web site (link to City of Richfield)
- Under approach path for Runway 30L.
Everyone likes to be under the big planes when they come in to land.
At MSP there is one place where you can get right under the final approach
path to watch the widebodies and other airliners fly over. This spotting location only
works well if Runway 30L is in use.
- From Highway 5: Follow the signs for the Post Rd. exit.
Follow the road to the east (away from the airfield), which then turns
into Snelling Lake Rd. Continue down the hill and park at the
parking lot at Fort Snelling State Park (for a fee). Then walk back
up the hill and line yourself up with the extended centerline of
Runway 30L. If you park your car at the top of the hill you
can expect to be asked by Airport Police to move.
Note: On the other side of the Hwy. 5, Northwest Drive runs under the
approach path to Runway 30L as well but closer to the runway.
Although this is a public road it is
a critical area and no stopping allowed. This road should not be
used for spotting.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
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Fort Snelling State Park web site (link to Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources)
Between Runway 12R/30L and Runway
12L/30R
- Dog Park. In the northwest corner
of the airport property there is a dog park which overlooks the approach
for Runway 12R. From here you can watch arrivals coming in on
Runway 12R as well as the line up of departures for 12R on Taxiway A and
B (although there is a large mound of dirt which partially obscures
ground activity). Arrivals/departures going into Runway 12L can be
seen at a distance from this spot. Photography for arrivals from
here is possible, however, if there is a strong backlight if the sun is
out, except in the mornings. It is also possible to photograph the
aircraft lining up for departure on the taxiway.
- From Highway 62: Follow the signs for to the 28th Street exit.
Turn south onto 28th Street, continue two to three blocks until you see
the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) building on the right
side of the street. There is a parking lot just before the dog
park associated with the MAC. The dog park is a large open
field on top a small hill on the right side of the street.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
- Edward C. Soloman Park. One of Minneapolis’ newest
parks (on land acquired from the Metropolitan Airports Commission) is a
place to view arrivals to Runway 12R. The best spot in the park is
a small hill located behind the 58 Club restaurant in the easternmost
portion of the park. A small hill here gives decent views of
landing aircraft on final approach to Runway 12R. Photography here
can be made difficult with light poles from Highway 62 and several
trees, however, it is doable. The best light here is during the
morning, before the aircraft become backlit.
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Lindbergh Terminal Parking Ramps.
Another favorite with airport spotters are the top of the Lindbergh (Main)
Terminal parking ramps. There are four parking ramps, two seven-story ramps
and two nine-story ramps, located here. These ramps are between the three
runways at MSP so they give an unobstructed view to all of the airfield
(although you can’t see the whole airfield at once). These are high up so
you can see almost all of the Lindbergh Terminal, however, the terminal
building sometimes blocks out part of the aircraft on the E and F Concourses.
- From Highway 5: Follow the signs to the Lindbergh Terminal and then to the public parking ramps. Choose either short-term or general parking depending on how long you plan to spend at the
airport.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
- Lindbergh Terminal Food Court. A good place to watch
planes from inside the terminal building in the main food court in the
Northstar Crossing area. However, after 9/11/01 the deck is off
limits unless your ticketed airline passenger. From the windows here
you get a nice close view of the airplanes in the alley between the E and
F Concourses. The windows here are often dirty making any
photography difficult. Unfortunately, the Metropolitan Airport’s
Commission (MAC) is planning to construct a baggage screening
building in front of these windows which will eventually block at least
part of the view
from this location.
- Lindbergh Terminal Observation Deck.
The Lindbergh Terminal’s observation deck has always been a favorite with
spotters and passengers alike. Like other areas inside the secure area
of the terminal, however, the observation deck is off
limits unless your ticketed airline passenger. The observation deck is
on top of the D Concourse and overlooks the north side of the airfield.
It has great view of Runway 12L/30R and the whole northern side of the
Lindbergh Terminal (from the E Concourse right to the regional terminal).
Photography is a little harder because you’re shooting through glass, but
some great shots are still possible.
- From inside the Lindbergh Terminal: After clearing the main security
checkpoints turn right and follow the signs to the D Concourse. The D
Concourse is just a small set of six gates all in one common are. To
reach the observation deck, watch for the steps on the left side just before
you enter the gate area. Walk up the steps to the enclosed observation
deck on the rooftop of the D Concourse.
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View a map of the D Concourse (link to mspairport.com)
North of Runway 12L/30R
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Bossen Park. Operations on Runway 12L/30R can
be tricky to spot. This location offers close view of the final
approach for Runway 12L. Its a City of Minneapolis park that has a
large open field so you can spot planes with few trees in the way.
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Fort Snelling Golf Course.
One of the only locations to view operations on the north side of the
airport is by the Fort Snelling Golf Course. The golf course is
publicly owned by the City of Minneapolis and extends right to the airport
fence. Its a great place for a round of golf (hole 1 border the
airport fence), however, the people following you on the course won’t like
it if you loiter. The other option is to wait by the fence on one of
the sides of the golf course. The eastern side of the
golf course is State Park property the western side borders of the Army Reserve’s property).
From here you should have a good view (through the fence) of the regional
terminal and Runway 30R operations.
Further Afield
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Big Rivers Regional Trail.
This site is great for some of Minnesota’s fine summer days. The spotting location is at the current end of the Dakota
County Big Rivers Regional Trail. This trail runs along the
Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers and offers some great views of the "big
rivers". At the southern end of the trail there is a lookout that
overlooks the Minnesota River with the airport in the background. The
airport is about three miles away at this point but the airfield slopes up
slightly away from the river so it’s an interesting vantage point.
It’s especially nice when Runways 30L/R are in operation because this
location is between the two approach paths.
- From Interstate I-494: Follow the signs to the Pilot Knob Rd.
Follow the road to the north until reaching Mendota Heights Rd. Turn
left and follow this road down to Highway 13. Cross Highway 13 and
you’ll see a small parking area and the overlook off to the left.
- From Highway 55: Turn onto Highway 13 and follow it a little ways
as it approaches the river. Look for a small road coming off to the
right side called the Sibley Memorial Highway. Turn right onto this
road and you’ll see a small parking area and the overlook off to the left.
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View a map of this location (link to
Google Maps)
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Big Rivers Regional Trail
web site (link to Dakota County Parks)
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Mall of America Parking Ramp. The approach
into Runway 35 goes right by the Mall of America. The eastern
parking ramp at the Mall of America looks out over the southern end of
the airfield and the approach to Runway 35. The parking ramp is
seven stories tall. Lighting for photography is the best in the
afternoon and early evening.
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