Car hire Minneapolis

Introduction

Minneapolis isn't Minnesota's capital, that would be the adjoining St. Paul. Together they are known as Twin Cities. The name Minneapolis is derived from the Indian word 'minne' (meaning 'lake') and the Greek word for 'city'. Minneapolis therefore means: City of Lakes, which refers to the more than twenty natural lakes surrounding the city.

Population

Almost 400,000 people live in Minneapolis making it the largest city of the American state of Minnesota.

Location

Minneapolis is located in the north of the United States, where the Minnehaha Creek discharges into the Mississippi. Many lakes surround the city; some jewels are those that form a chain: Cedar, Isles, Calhoun, Harriet and Nokomis.

Economy

Minneapolis isn't only known as the City of Lakes but also as Mill City. The city grew around milling and processing grain from the Great Plains. There's also medical industry and a large number of financial corporations are based in Minneapolis. The city also has the largest shopping center of the United States, the Mall of America. Approximately 45,000 students live in the Twin Cities, attending the University of Minnesota.

Airports

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is situated 11 kilometers south of the city center. It's easily reachable by rental car as it's surrounded by freeways: State Highway 5, I-494, State Highway 77 and State Highway 62. From the city center the I-35W leads to the airport; the way is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

The city has an extensive system of city buses, but for a newcomer the schedule can be confusing. It's also not always indicated which buses stop where and where they go. It'll help to study the map well (available in buses and at many government institutions). There's also a light-rail line from the center to the airport.

Traffic and Parking

It's not difficult to find your way around Minneapolis and there are several parking garages in the center where you can park your rental car. Locations are signposted. Winters in this northern American city are severe and affect the roads. Especially in spring you need to watch out for potholes in the roads. The city council repairs the roads as quickly as possible, but can of course not be everywhere at once.

Hotels

Minneapolis has a good and varied choice of accommodations. Most hotels are found Downtown, but there are also accommodations (mainly midrange) near the university grounds. Backpackers will have a harder time finding a suitable room; there's only one backpacker's hostel, near the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

External Sources

For more information about Minneapolis, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Minneapolis
• Official website Minneapolis
• Tourist Information Minneapolis