A Northstar commuter train stopped at the platform below Target Field, the ballpark's limestone facade rising behind it

Getting to Target Field

The quick read

Target Field sits inside downtown Minneapolis, and the ballpark’s own light rail station is built into the site. Two METRO lines share one platform a few steps from the gates, so most fans never need a car for the last mile. Rideshare picks up whoever isn’t near a station. Driving still works for a group riding together, though the North Loop ramps and lots fill on a big night.

The METRO

METRO is the light rail brand run by Metro Transit, the Twin Cities’ public transit agency. Two of its lines, the Blue Line and the Green Line, both stop at Target Field Station, which sits right against the ballpark on 5th Street. Riders arriving that way come out closest to Gate 6 (Oliva) and Gate 29 (Carew). The Blue Line runs south toward the Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Green Line runs the other direction, into downtown St. Paul and past the University of Minnesota.

Landing at MSP and heading to a game, the Blue Line normally runs straight to Target Field Station with no transfer, roughly a 30 to 40 minute ride. Metro Transit does run construction reroutes that swap buses in for trains on stretches of the line, so check the Blue Line’s status before you count on a one-seat trip from the airport.

Fares run through the Metro Transit app, the agency’s mobile ticketing app, or a Go-To Card, a reloadable fare card sold at station machines and area retailers. As of this draft: a standard adult ride runs $2.00 off-peak, rising toward $3.25 at rush hour, and includes transfers for two and a half hours. Reduced fare is $1.00 for youth 6 to 12, seniors 65 and up, and Medicare cardholders. An All-Day Pass runs $4.00 on weekends and $4.00 to $5.00 on weekdays, good until 2 a.m. the next day, which is the simplest option for a game plus the trip back. A trip that stays inside the downtown core is a flat $0.50 Downtown Zone fare.

Rideshare

Pickup and drop-off for rideshare sit in designated zones near the ballpark. On a full house, expect a walk from the curb to your driver rather than a door-side stop, and expect surge pricing after the last out same as any sellout crowd leaving downtown at once.

Driving and parking

Driving is a real option, especially for a group splitting one car. The ABC ramps and Target Field’s own lots sit closest to the gates, with more capacity in the downtown ramps a few blocks out. On a weeknight against a middle-of-the-pack opponent, arriving 45 minutes ahead is plenty. On a weekend or a marquee opponent, the close-in ramps and lots can fill well before first pitch, and the downtown ramps become the fallback.

By bike

A staffed bike corral runs near Gate 6 and Target Field Station on game days, free to use. For a downtown ballpark with a light rail platform built into the site, riding in and locking up close to the gate is a legitimate way to skip both the ramps and the rideshare line entirely.

Gate strategy

Go to whichever gate is closest to where you’re arriving. Light rail riders land closest to Gate 6 (Oliva) and Gate 29 (Carew), right off the Target Field Station platform. Drivers coming from the ABC ramps or Target Field’s own lots are usually closer to Gate 3 (Killebrew) or Gate 14 (Hrbek). Gate 34 (Puckett), the largest of the five, opens onto Target Plaza and the statue lineup, worth knowing if a pregame stop there is part of the plan rather than a detour from it.