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Map to Minneapolis: Final Four Travel Tips from AAA

Map to Minneapolis: Final Four Travel Tips from AAA

TripTik Outline and More Travel Info

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 28, 2019) – Carolinians have a lot to cheer for this March Madness – with Duke and UNC still dancing in the tournament. AAA Carolinas has travel advice for those fans looking ahead and planning a road-trip to Minneapolis for the Final Four to cheer on their team.

“This has been a fun year for college basketball in the Carolinas, and we’re hoping the fun continues for some of those fans,” said Sarah Henshall, VP of AAA Carolinas Travel. “Whether you’re rooting for the Blue Devils, the Heels or some of the other teams outside of the Carolinas, we want to help you get to Minneapolis.”

Routing from Raleigh to Minneapolis is a little over 1200 miles and 18 hours by car. Those traveling from the Carolinas could break the trip in half by stopping in Indianapolis – home of the NCAA Hall of Champions. The NCAA Hall of Champions is a tribute to the NCAA and its membership of more than 1,000 universities. The space boasts two levels of interactive exhibits to engage visitors and provide history on the NCAA. On the first level, all 24 NCAA sports are represented with trivia challenges, team rankings, video highlights and artifacts. The second level is a fully interactive area to compete virtually and hands-on through sports simulators.

AAA Carolinas recommends that fans explore the great city of Minneapolis before getting into game-mode for the Final Four. Whether you catch a show at St. Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater or grab some food on the historic Mississippi riverfront, the activities are endless and the culture is rich.

For a more in depth travel plan to Minneapolis, click here.

Getting there

By Car
Traveling to Minneapolis from a starting point of Raleigh would likely begin on I-40, then taking motorists to US-52. Drivers would then take I-74 until entering Virginia on I-77. Upon reaching West Virginia along I-77, consider stopping at the Jefferson National Forest for a break and listen to the soft breeze or maybe see some local wildlife. Continuing on, road-trippers will arrive at I-66 to the Tennessee Border, where they can stop to see one of the “seven wonders of the world,” the Natural Bridge or Stonewall Jackson’s home in Virginia. Next, continue on 77 through West Virginia and Ohio until reaching I-70 and the halfway point of Indianapolis – home of the NCAA Hall of Champions. Upon departing from Indianapolis, motorists will take I-65 until I-80, bringing them to Illinois. I-90 will then lead them to Wisconsin, where they can stop to take in the sandstone formations and striated cliffs carved by the waterway in the Wisconsin Dells. I-94 will then direct motorists into Minnesota, where they will continue on until reaching Minneapolis, perhaps stopping at the Minneapolis Lake in the Columbia Park (home to beautiful bridges and waterfalls), before reaching their destination of Final Four fun.

By Plane
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is south of the Twin Cities on SR 5. SuperShuttle van transportation to downtown Minneapolis hotels costs $20 one way, $34 round trip (plus a 10 percent fuel surcharge). Van transportation to the St. Paul loop is $18 one way, $30 round trip (plus a 10 percent fuel surcharge). Van service also is available to destinations within the greater metro area; phone (800) 258-3826. Bus fare to both cities is $1.75-$3. From the airport’s Humphrey and Lindbergh terminals, METRO Blue Line runs north to downtown Minneapolis and Target Field and south to the Mall of America. The METRO Green Line connects Target Field to downtown St. Paul. The fare is $1.75-$2.25; phone (612) 373-3333. Cab fare to Minneapolis averages $39-$49; to St. Paul, $31-$38.

Fans can have their trip to Minneapolis mapped out and tailored to their needs by a AAA travel agent at AAA.com/travel. 

AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 2.1 million member and the public with travel, automobile and insurance services while being an advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

For up-to-date information, follow our      Instagram      and    Twitter      accounts. For more seasonal traffic safety information,     sign up    to receive our monthly traffic safety newsletter. Each month includes five timely articles dedicated to keeping Carolinians safe and informed on the roads.​​​​​

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Public Relations Manager
Tiffany Wright
tmwright@aaacarolinas.com
Work : 704-737-8306
Cell : 704-569-7768