The automobile-racing era
Snelling Speedway and the Twin City Motor Speedway venture occupied land that would later become MSP Airport. The racing venture failed, opening the way for aviation development.
Taxi Minnesota · MSP Airport History
MSP Airport history, awards & taxi reservations.
From an unsuccessful automobile speedway to an internationally connected airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has a remarkable Minnesota story. Explore its aviation milestones and 2026 recognition, then plan prearranged airport transportation with Taxi Minnesota.
Taxi Minnesota provides independently arranged, 24-hour prearranged passenger transportation, subject to accepted reservations, driver availability and advance payment. Trips can connect MSP with eligible Minnesota communities and approved destinations in neighboring states.
An Airport With a Minnesota Story
Before the terminals and runways, there was a racetrack.
The site of today's MSP Airport began as an automobile racing venture. The property became an airfield, expanded into a major passenger gateway, and now connects Minnesota with the country and the world. That history matters to travelers arriving for business, family visits, tourism, and the next leg of a longer journey.
1914
Snelling Speedway occupied the future airport site,
according to MSP's official history.
1920
Speedway Field gained a wooden hangar and an early airmail role.
1948
The airport adopted its Minneapolis–Saint Paul
International Airport name.
2026
MSP ranked No. 1 among North American mega airports
for customer satisfaction.
Historical milestones and the 2026 ranking are attributed to MSP Airport and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, not to Taxi Minnesota.
MSP Airport History · Timeline
How a failed speedway became an international aviation gateway.
The airport's history spans more than a century of transportation changes, from automobile racing and airmail to passenger flights, international service, new terminals, and expanded runways.
Speedway Field takes flight
The site became known as Speedway Field. A wooden hangar supported early aviation and airmail activity on the former speedway property.
Wold–Chamberlain Field
The airfield was renamed to honor Ernest Wold and Cyrus Chamberlain, Minnesota aviators who died in military service during World War I.
Airmail expands
Northwest Airways won an airmail contract and established an important early connection to the developing airport.
Passenger service begins
MSP's official history identifies 1929 as the beginning of passenger service at the airport, an important step beyond its airmail origins.
A regional airport authority
Minnesota established the Metropolitan Airports Commission to guide airport operations and long-term development in the Twin Cities region.
An international identity
With international air service growing, the airport became Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, retaining its Wold–Chamberlain heritage.
A major terminal opens
The new Lindbergh Terminal, now Terminal 1, opened as passenger demand continued to increase well beyond early projections.
Expanded runway capacity
MSP opened its fourth runway in October, completing another major milestone in a long-running airport improvement program.
National customer-satisfaction recognition
MSP earned a third consecutive No. 1 ranking among mega airports in J.D. Power's North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
Read the primary records: MSP Airport's official history and Metropolitan Airports Commission history .
2026 Airport Recognition
MSP earns another No. 1 mega-airport ranking.
In September 2026, the Metropolitan Airports Commission announced that Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport ranked first among North American mega airports for traveler satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
It was MSP's third consecutive year at No. 1, and the airport ranked first across all seven dimensions measured by the study. The recognition belongs to MSP Airport—not to Taxi Minnesota or any independent transportation provider.
Plan Ground Transportation#1
Mega-airport customer satisfaction · 2026
Third consecutive No. 1 ranking, as announced by the airport's operator.
- Ease of airport travel
- Trust in the airport
- Terminal facilities
- Airport staff
- Departure experience
- Food, beverage and retail
- Arrival experience
Taxi Minnesota · MSP Airport Reservations
MSP Airport pickup requests
Rural Minnesota connections
Business and hotel travel
Long-distance airport travel
24-hour prearranged service
Clear city-limit restrictions
Plan the ground journey before you arrive.
A flight reservation gets you to the airport. A separate ground transportation reservation helps organize the journey to your final destination. Taxi Minnesota reviews prearranged MSP Airport trips to approved Minnesota locations and interstate drop-off destinations, including longer trips that may require additional driver positioning.
Submit the terminal, airline, flight details, arrival date, passenger count, luggage, and final destination through the reservation center. Requests are subject to acceptance and driver availability.
Prearranged travel may serve eligible communities beyond the Twin Cities, including St. Cloud, Hinckley, Duluth, Lake City, Wabasha, Winona, Marshall, Mankato, Fairmont, Bemidji, and other Minnesota destinations.
Arrange approved airport trips to hotels, conferences, workplaces, colleges, family destinations, and scheduled events. A precise address helps the company review the requested route.
Longer journeys require advance coordination of travel time, route distance, vehicle type, driver coverage, road conditions, and any stops. The requested trip is not automatically accepted.
Trips may be requested for any hour of the day, including overnight travel. Reservations must be arranged and accepted in advance, with required electronic payment completed before dispatch.
Taxi Minnesota does not accept new standalone pickups originating inside Minneapolis or Saint Paul city limits. Drop-offs into those cities are permitted; eligible MSP Airport reservations are reviewed separately.
Important:
Taxi Minnesota is an independent transportation business.
It is not MSP Airport, the Metropolitan Airports Commission,
an airline, or an airport-operated taxi service.
All airport history and awards on this page refer to
MSP Airport itself.
MSP Airport · Minnesota and Neighboring States
Minnesota
Wisconsin · Drop-off only
Iowa · Drop-off only
South Dakota · Drop-off only
North Dakota · Drop-off only
Rural travel
Return travel
Reservations
One airport. Four neighboring states. Many possible destinations.
Taxi Minnesota focuses on eligible Minnesota-origin reservations, with long-distance drop-offs considered in Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The neighboring-state examples below are destinations, not pickup territories. No out-of-state pickup service is offered under Taxi Minnesota.
MSP → Minnesota communities
Possible destinations include St. Cloud, Red Wing, Lake City, Rochester, Mankato, Duluth, Bemidji, Marshall, Fairmont, and rural communities across the state.
Request a Minnesota routeMSP → Hudson and beyond
Examples include Hudson, River Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, and other Wisconsin destinations that can be reviewed as part of an accepted Minnesota-origin trip.
Request a Wisconsin drop-offMSP → Northern Iowa
Examples include Mason City, Decorah, and other Iowa destinations. Longer trips may be reviewed individually based on the route, date, and vehicle availability.
Request an Iowa drop-offMSP → Brookings or Sioux Falls
Interstate airport transportation to South Dakota requires long-distance scheduling, driver availability, and advance acceptance of the complete trip.
Request a South Dakota drop-offMSP → Fargo or Grand Forks
North Dakota destinations may be submitted for review. Distance, weather, driver coverage, and the complete reservation requirements determine whether a trip can be accepted.
Request a North Dakota drop-offMSP → Smaller towns
Heading to a community outside the main interstate corridors? Provide the exact town and address. Taxi Minnesota will review the route rather than assuming every location has immediate coverage.
Submit your destinationEligible Minnesota pickups → MSP
Plan an airport departure from an eligible Minnesota city or rural community. Minneapolis and Saint Paul city-limit pickup restrictions continue to apply.
Plan an airport departurePrearranged, not street-hail
Taxi Minnesota operates by accepted reservation, not airport curbside solicitation or street hails. Do not expect an unreserved vehicle to be waiting at the terminal.
Open reservation centerCities are illustrative examples, not guaranteed coverage or fixed-price offers. Every trip is subject to route review, service eligibility, vehicle availability, and payment requirements.
MSP Airport Travel Planning
Know your terminal, arrival details, and final address.
MSP Airport has two passenger terminals. When arranging transportation, confirm which terminal your flight uses and provide complete arrival information. Airport roadway and meeting instructions can change; follow the confirmed instructions for your specific reservation.
Terminal 1
Often referred to historically as the Lindbergh Terminal. Include your flight number, airline, scheduled arrival time, passenger count, and luggage details in the reservation request.
Terminal 2
Historically known as the Humphrey Terminal. Do not assume the same pickup location or arrival procedure as Terminal 1; use the terminal and meeting information confirmed for your trip.
For current terminal and ground transportation information, consult the official MSP Airport ground transportation page . This external link is informational, not a booking partner.
Real-World MSP Travel Scenarios
When the flight ends, the trip may be far from over.
An airport arrival can be only the first part of the journey. Some travelers still need to reach a rural hotel, a family home, a university, a business meeting, or a destination across a state line.
- Late-night arrivals requiring advance planning
- Winter travel with longer road conditions
- Rural hotels and family destinations
- College arrivals and move-in travel
- Business meetings outside the Twin Cities
- Long-distance neighboring-state drop-offs
- Trips with substantial luggage
- Airport departures from eligible Minnesota towns
A Practical Travel Reminder
Don't get stranded after your flight. Plan ahead.
Rural and long-distance travel may require a driver to be positioned well before your arrival. A reservation request does not guarantee coverage until it is accepted and the required payment is completed.
Flight delays, weather, road closures, and other conditions may affect service. Changes must follow the company's reservation terms.
MSP Airport Booking Process
Four details that help us review your airport trip.
1
Identify the terminal and flight
Provide the travel date, airline, flight number, arrival or departure time, and correct MSP terminal.
2
Enter the complete route
Include the eligible Minnesota pickup point, destination address, planned stops, and whether the trip crosses a state line.
3
Select passenger and vehicle needs
Specify the number of travelers, luggage, preferred vehicle class, and any details needed to review capacity.
4
Wait for acceptance and payment
Trips are confirmed only after the reservation is accepted and applicable electronic payment requirements are met. No cash dispatch.
Reservation Requirement
Submitting a request is not a confirmed airport pickup.
Taxi Minnesota must accept the requested route and vehicle before a trip is confirmed. Airport service is prearranged, subject to availability and the company's written booking, flight-delay, waiting-time, and cancellation terms.
MSP Airport History & Reservation Questions
Common questions about the airport and our transportation service.
Yes. MSP Airport's official history describes the 1914 Snelling Speedway on the future airport site. The former racing property later became Speedway Field and developed into an aviation facility.
MSP ranked No. 1 among North American mega airports for traveler satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission. It was the airport's third consecutive year at No. 1. The award was not given to Taxi Minnesota.
No. Taxi Minnesota is an independent prearranged passenger transportation provider. It does not own, manage, or represent MSP Airport or the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
Taxi Minnesota accepts requests for 24-hour prearranged transportation. Trips require advance acceptance, driver availability, and electronic payment before dispatch. An immediate ride or unreserved airport curbside pickup is not guaranteed.
Yes, you may submit an eligible Minnesota-origin airport trip for an approved neighboring-state drop-off. Acceptance depends on the destination, route, driver coverage, timing, vehicle availability, and payment requirements. Taxi Minnesota does not offer pickups originating in those neighboring states.
No. Taxi Minnesota does not accept standalone pickups originating inside Minneapolis or Saint Paul city limits. Eligible trips may be dropped off there, and airport reservations are reviewed according to their own pickup location and service eligibility.
Flight delays and changes are governed by the reservation terms. A delay of more than one hour from the originally scheduled arrival may result in cancellation, and any rescheduling is subject to the applicable policies. Submit changes in writing as early as possible.
Use Taxi Minnesota's online reservation center. Provide the flight, terminal, date, exact pickup and destination, passenger count, luggage, and requested vehicle so the trip can be reviewed.
Historical References & Airport Recognition
Read the original airport sources.
These informational sources document MSP's history, the airport operator, and the 2026 customer-satisfaction award. They are provided for historical context and verification; they are not Taxi Minnesota booking partners.
Taxi Minnesota · Airport Reservations
Request MSP Transportation