USDLast verified: September 14, 2026. We checked the center's parking, directions, accessibility and events pages, its ramp rate sheet, and the MPLS Parking, ABM, City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, SpotHero, ParkWhiz and Vivid Seats pages under Sources. Prices can change by event.
Short answer. The center's own 3rd Ave. Parking Ramp, at 1401 3rd Ave. S., charges a $20 event rate or $5 for the first hour. It takes cards and Apple Pay only. The underground Plaza Parking Ramp across the street starts at $7.
Four city partner ramps sit on the skyway within two blocks, with event rates of $6 to $25. For Import Expo on September 19, app prices started at $3.83 half a mile out and ran $8.31 to $32.72 within 0.2 miles.
Options at a glance
Prices as published September 14, 2026. App prices are for September 19.
| Option | Where | Cost | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Ave. Parking Ramp, owned by the center | 1401 3rd Ave. S. | $20 event rate, $5 first hour (rate sheet) | Cards and Apple Pay only. A lost ticket is $25. |
| Plaza Parking Ramp | 117 S. 12th St., across the street | $7 first hour. Events $10 to $25 (ABM) or $7 to $25 (city) | No in and out. Clearance 6 feet 6 inches per ABM, 6 feet 8 inches per the city. |
| Leamington, 11th Street Underground, 11th & Marquette | 2nd Ave. S. and Marquette Ave., on the skyway | $5 first hour. Events $6 to $22 per ABM (Leamington, 11th Street, 11th & Marquette) or $9 to $20 per the city | No in and out. 7-foot clearance. |
| SpotHero reservation | 30 listings within 0.6 miles | $3.83 to $41.23 for 3 to 11 p.m. (SpotHero) | Nothing under $8 within 0.3 miles. |
| ParkWhiz reservation | 49 listings within 0.8 miles | $4.75 to $74.90 for 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (ParkWhiz) | Leamington was $8.31, 0.2 miles away. |
| Street meters | Downtown blocks | Posted at each meter. Event rates may apply (city) | Rules change block to block. |
| Metro Transit | Nicollet Mall buses, light rail on 5th St. | Free Ride on Nicollet Mall, $2 fare, $4 all-day pass (Metro Transit) | Free Ride covers only set stretches of two routes. |
The center's ramp and its four partner ramps
The center owns one ramp and partners with four city ramps on the skyway, all within two blocks. From I-94, the directions page says to take exit 233A, turn left on 2nd Ave. S. and cross 12th Street to reach the Plaza ramp.
- 3rd Ave. Parking Ramp. $5 for an hour, $8 for three, $10 for six, $15 for 12 and $20 for 24, or the $20 event rate. The early bird is $9 if you enter from 6 to 8 a.m. and leave by 5 p.m. Entry is on 3rd Avenue. Hours and a re-entry rule are not published.
- Plaza, 117 S. 12th St. Not owned by the center. ABM posts $7 for the first hour, $12 for six hours and $22 for a day. The city lists $20 for six hours and $25 for a day.
- Leamington, 1001 2nd Ave. S. $5 first hour, $15 a day, $9 early bird and $5.50 on weekends, per ABM. It is the only partner ramp listing EV charging.
- 11th Street Underground, 1030 2nd Ave. S. $5 first hour and a $10 early bird. A day is $15 per ABM, $17 per the city.
- 11th & Marquette, 1111 Marquette Ave. $5 first hour and $15 a day. The early bird is $9 per ABM, $7 per the city.
- All four. ABM lists no in and out, 24/7 hours and accessible parking at each. The center says lobby pay stations take card or cash.
Tall vehicles and buses
The 3rd Ave. ramp's 8 feet 2 inches is the most headroom of the five. MPLS Parking sells charter bus permits for downtown streets, and its bus zones allow no RVs. Permit prices are not published.
Events at the center through mid-November
The center's events calendar lists these dates for the next 60 days. It does not give start times.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 19 | Import Expo; Muslim American Society Annual Convention |
| Mon, Sept 28 | MNIFT Suppliers Expo |
| Thu, Oct 1 | Herzing University Commencement |
| Oct 7 to 10 | NACAC Conference 2026 |
| Tue, Oct 13 | People Of Color Career Fair |
| Wed, Oct 14 | CSCOE Summit of Excellence |
| Oct 15 to 18 | JADPRO Live 2026 Annual Conference |
| Thu, Oct 22 | 2026 Restoring Hope Breakfast |
| Oct 23 to 25 | The 2026 ECK Worldwide Soul Adventure Seminar |
| Oct 28 and 29 | FiltXPO 2026; 2026 MD&M Midwest |
| Nov 6 to 8 | Minneapolis Gift & Art Expo |
| Nov 8 to 12 | 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Shaan Live In Concert; 2026 Skechers Hot Chocolate Expo |
ParkWhiz and SpotHero also sell parking for Nostalgia Con, September 25 to 27, which the calendar omits. SpotHero lists NACAC as October 5 to 7.
Nearby garages and app prices for September 19
We priced Saturday, September 19. ParkWhiz uses an 8 a.m. start for Import Expo and SpotHero 5 p.m., so compare garages, not totals.
SpotHero, 3 to 11 p.m. SpotHero listed 30 options, from $3.83 at 419 S. 9th St., 0.5 miles away, to $41.23. Within 0.2 miles, the Convention Center Lot at 228 S. 12th St. was $27.13, Plaza $22.00 and Leamington $17.36.
ParkWhiz, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ParkWhiz listed 49, from $4.75 at the Jerry Haaf Memorial Ramp, 0.8 miles out, to $74.90. The Convention Center Lot was $32.72 at 0.1 miles, and Plaza $29.42 and Leamington $8.31 at 0.2 miles.
Neither app listed the center's own 3rd Ave. ramp.
Rideshare and drop-off
- Drop-off and pick-up for Uber, Lyft, buses and accessible drop-off are in front of the building on 2nd Avenue South.
- The center says taxis are readily available at the building. A separate rideshare waiting area is not published.
Getting there on Metro Transit
Free Ride buses charge no fare on Nicollet Mall between the center and the Blue and Green lines on 5th Street. Take a northbound Route 18 from Nicollet & Grant, or a southbound Route 10 back to the center.
Other rides are $2, good for 2 1/2 hours, or 50 cents inside the Downtown Zone. An adult all-day pass is $4. The center sells day passes at its Visitor Information Center. A Meet Minneapolis page still says $4 to $5. The Blue Line also serves the airport. See our Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP) parking guide.
Accessible parking
- The accessibility page lists accessible parking at the 3rd Ave. and Plaza ramps, without space counts, and curbside drop-off on 2nd Avenue.
- Scooters rent for $50 a day and wheelchairs for $20 at the Visitor Information Center on Level One. It takes Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Call 612-335-6040 to check availability.
- The city says accessible meter rates exist but does not list them.
Closures and street rules
None of the pages we checked listed construction or closures near the building. The city says snow emergencies and street sweeping override meters.
What this guide doesn't recommend
- Buying a resale pass without comparing. Twin Cities Con passes started at $65. Plaza and 11th & Marquette, both in those listings, post event rates of $25 or less.
- Losing a 3rd Ave. ticket. It costs $25, more than the event rate.
- Leaving and coming back. None of the partner ramps allows it.
- Cash at the 3rd Ave. ramp. It takes cards and Apple Pay only.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any free parking in downtown Minneapolis?
No source we checked lists free parking near the center. City meters are free on City holidays, next on October 12 and November 11, though private meters may differ. The cheapest September 19 app price was $3.83, half a mile away.
Can you bring bags into the Minneapolis Convention Center?
The center's safety and attendee pages publish no building-wide bag policy. Its security Q&A says plans are customized for each event, so check your event's rules.
How much does it cost to park at Ramp C in Minneapolis?
MPLS Parking lists Ramp C, at 318 2nd Ave. N., at $4 for the first hour, $15 for 24 hours and $25 for events. It is not a partner ramp of the center.
How much does it cost to park in downtown Minneapolis?
At the five ramps serving the center, $5 to $7 for the first hour, $15 to $25 for a day and $6 to $25 on event days.
Sources
All checked September 14, 2026.
- Public Event Parking Options: ramps, reservations, payment, security.
- 3rd Avenue Parking Ramp 2026 Rates (PDF): rates, clearance, payment.
- Directions: driving, drop-off, taxis, bike racks.
- Accessibility and Safety and Security Q&A: accessible parking, rentals, event security.
- Events Calendar: event dates.
- ABM Parking: Plaza, Leamington, 11th Street Underground and 11th & Marquette: rates, clearance, rules.
- MPLS Parking: ramp list, rates and charter buses: city rates, clearances, Ramp C.
- City of Minneapolis, Parking Meters: meter rules and holidays.
- Metro Transit Fares, Free Ride Buses and Meet Minneapolis transit page: fares and routes.
- SpotHero venue page, SpotHero September 19, ParkWhiz venue page and ParkWhiz September 19: event lists and prices.
- Vivid Seats Twin Cities Con listings, linked above: dates and the $65 starting price.