Sleeping in Minneapolis Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Minneapolis Airport, you might be wondering if sleeping in the airport is possible. Our guide to sleeping in Minneapolis airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Minneapolis Airport

Locations & Seating

There’s a good amount of seating throughout the airport, but it tends to have armrests. Terminal 1 is large, so there are many nooks and crannies that offer some quieter floor sleeping spots. In general, Terminal 2 has less foot traffic, especially at night, so it tends to be calmer.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

Terminal 1 – Airside, Mezzanine Level, Level 3. Two designated quiet areas have comfortable seats without armrests.
Terminal 1 – Airside, Gates A13-14 and B13 may be quieter, especially at night.
Terminal 1 – Airside, Concourse D. The observation deck may offer some peace and quiet
Terminal 1 – Airside, Concourse E. Some benches without armrests are spread throughout this concourse.
Pay massage chairs are located randomly throughout the airport, and you may be able to rest in them without paying for a massage.
Terminal 1 – Baggage Claim, Landside, in T1’s Baggage Claim area, has some semi-private carpet patches behind the escalators.

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Rest Zones

Minneapolis Airport offers two designated quiet seating areas where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time in comfortable, armrest-free seating. Locations: Terminal 1, airside, Mezzanine Level above the Airport Mall.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good, solid sleep between flights, the Intercontinental Minneapolis Airport is connected to the Lindbergh terminal, and there are many nearby hotels within a 10-minute drive. Most offer free shuttle service. See the hotel section of our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Minneapolis Airport.

Lounges

While Minneapolis Airport has a few lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Minneapolis Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – Reviewers mention cold temperatures in the airport, particularly overnight. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about brightness in the terminal. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements, commotion from busy concourses, TVs, and music playing loudly. It does seem to quiet down at night, particularly in Terminal 2, but earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones will help you get some decent rest.

Flight Delays & Cancellations

Minneapolis Airport sees more than its fair share of flight cancellations, mainly due to winter weather, but this means they are usually more prepared than other airports. When mass cancellations happen at Minneapolis Airport, a limited supply of sleeping mats and blankets are available for stranded passengers who opt against getting a hotel room. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone with access to this information. These locations have been sent to us in the past: Terminal 1, landside Mezzanine and airside at the Airport Mall in Concourse C and near Gates G1-G6.

Note: these sleep mats cannot be reserved in advance. They are specifically used when mass cancellations occur, not simply because you chose to stay in the airport before your flight.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors: Camden Food Co. (Terminal 1, Concourse F) and McDonald’s (Terminal 1, Concourse D).

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Location: XpresSpa at the entrance to Concourse D in T1. Open daily from 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM; $40 for 30 minutes.

Security & Safety

Airport staff seem to tolerate airport sleepers, particularly during mass delays or cancellations. If you’re inside the airside zones, you can stay there overnight, but security staff may not allow you through the night before an early-morning flight. In that case, you may have to remain in the landside/public zones.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Minneapolis Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.