Spend a layover at MSP International or arrive early to board a flight with plenty of kid-friendly options to enjoy. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) airport is ideal for families with children and individuals on the autism spectrum. Let’s check out the best things to do at the airport for families.
Disclosure: I may make a small amount of money from any purchase you make from an affiliate. However, I will only give my honest reviews and recommendations.
Charging Stations for the Family’s Electronics
If you have to spend a lot of time at the MSP airport, don’t forget your children’s tablets. Luckily, the seats have charging blocks or electric sockets between nearly every gate. While I wish screen time weren’t necessary, the ability to charge my children’s devices helped me love Minneapolis Saint Paul (MSP) airport for families.
MSP Play Area for Children
The airport features a flight-themed play area with an ‘air traffic control’ tube slide, a Snoopy statue, and a plane with a playground inside. The Minneapolis airport playground provides plenty of space for kids to burn off their energy before being cooped up on a plane.
Fun fact: Did you know Snoopy’s inventor was a Minnesota native?
Where are the play areas in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport?
There are two different MSP airport play areas:
- The flight-themed playground is located in Terminal 1, by gate C12, and includes an infant-supply vending machine.
- For families flying out of Terminal 2, a playground is located across from Gate H5.
The MSP Airport Observation Tower
The Observation Deck, located in the Terminal 1 Airport Mall (near the entrance to Concourse E), offers views of runways and planes. An elevator increases accessibility, and a sitting area helps parents take a load off while little ones are enthralled by planes.
Art Displays
If you’re into the fine arts, the MSP airport displays rival an art museum. Between photographs, sculptures, and paintings, your children (and parents) can spend plenty of time soaking up the art scene here.
Quiet Seating Areas
If you’re near concourse E in Terminal 1, the family center offers quiet, comfortable seating for meditation, praying, or rest.
Companion Care Restrooms
The spacious, private toilets have diaper-changing tables, and you won’t have to worry about your child trying to peek under the stall.
For families with older children who have mobility needs or require adult-sized changing tables, MSP has installed Universal Changing Stations (which include an adult-sized adjustable table and a hoist). You can find these marked on their accessibility maps.
Airport Restaurants for Children
MSP offers family-friendly options if you’re seeking familiar restaurants that accommodate sensory considerations. Many sit-down restaurants in the mall area offer kids’ menus, which is a big relief for picky eaters.
Pro tip: For a more sensory-friendly dining experience, you can order food for delivery directly to your gate via the AtYourGate service portal. This allows you to browse menus and have food brought to you, which is a lifesaver if your child struggles with the sensory overload of standing in a crowded, noisy food court line.
Terminal 1 Restaurant
- McDonald’s- Concourse D
- Panda Express- Concourse F
- Chili’s- MSP Mall
- Qdoba- Concourse E
- Smashburger- Concourse C
- Wendy’s- Concourse F
Terminal 2 Restaurant
- MSP Market- Concourse H
- Subway- Concourse H
MSP Breastfeeding or Pumping Rooms
If you’re comfortable breastfeeding in public, you legally can and should safely nurse at the MSP airport gates, restaurants, or airplane lounges. The state of Minnesota allows breastfeeding wherever parents and babies can legally be.
If traveling through MSP airport with a baby, you may prefer space to breastfeed or pump privately. They are locked and equipped with a sink, electrical outlets, and comfortable seating. MSP distinguishes between “Lactation Centers” (locked, private, deep sink) and “Nursing Mothers Rooms” (semi-private, open access, rocking chairs/changing tables).
Lactation Room MSP Airport Terminal 1
There are many lactation rooms near the MSP airport gates in Terminal 1.
- North Mall on the Mezzanine Level
- C concourse near Gate C13 (on the main level under the stairs) with a breastfeeding room
- E concourse near Gate E1 and a breastfeeding room at the entrance to E by the bathrooms
- F concourse at Gate F2 with a breastfeeding room near Gate F4
- G concourse between gates G4 and G9
MSP Nursing Room in Airport Terminal 2
Terminal 2 has a location center and nursing room in concourse H between Gates H10 and H11.
If the breastfeeding room is locked, the volunteers at the information desk nearby can let you into the first and third lactation rooms.
Travel Must-Haves for Little Adventurers
Travel Car Seat – Not FAA approved, but safe as a booster in your Uber
Noise-Canceling Headphones – Soothing quiet for little ears
Kid-Proof Tablet Case – Drop-tested and travel ready
Fidget Toy Set – Pocket-sized fun for long layovers
Weighted Lap Pad – Like a calming hug on cars and planes
Support for Neurodivergent Travelers
MSP offers inclusive accessibility and sensory support, including social stories, for neurodivergent folks. If your child is a ‘runner,’ consider using a temporary identification bracelet or a ‘safety card’ in their pocket with your phone number, especially in high-traffic areas like the MSP Mall.
Note: Airport configurations and amenities can change. For the most up-to-date maps and real-time facility information, please visit the official MSP Airport Accessibility page before you head to the gate.
The Navigating MSP Program is a partnership between the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM). Register for monthly in-person events to familiarize your traveler with the TSA security screening process, moving through the terminals and concourses, and boarding a plane.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program MSP participates in this international program. Travelers can request a free Sunflower Lanyard at information booths. Wearing this signals to airport staff that the traveler has a hidden disability and might need extra time or support.
TSA Cares
For families concerned about security-related stress, you can contact TSA Cares (1-855-787-2227) three days before your flight to request a passenger support specialist to assist you through the screening process.
MSP Sensory Room
MSP is planning to open its first-ever dedicated Sensory Room in Concourse G (Terminal 1). It is specifically designed as a quiet refuge for neurodivergent travelers. The sensory-friendly furnishings include sound-damping panels, dimmable lighting, and fidget-friendly seating, like chairs and rockers. The first room is scheduled to open in Terminal 2 in early 2027, with a second room following in Terminal 1 (Concourse G) in 2028.
MSP Airport Transfer to Hotels
Traveling with children is always challenging when looking for airport transportation. Parents are responsible for bringing a car seat for personal vehicles or ride shares. While Minnesota law does not require a car for hire to have car seats, we don’t travel without them.
There are many options to get from the airport to your hotel, such as:
- Lyft (XL for large families)
- Private vehicle
- Personal chauffeur for large families (up to 6)
Frequently Asked Questions
There are some common questions when flying out of Minneapolis Saint Paul (MSP) Airport for Families. This article contains all the information you need to visit the airport in the Twin Cities: Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Can you purchase diapers, wipes, or baby supplies at MSP airport?
Yes. A baby-supply vending machine is located in Terminal 1, in the children’s play area near gate C12.
Does the airport have breastfeeding, breast pumping, or nursing rooms?
Yes, the breast pumping rooms at MSP are secure and clean, with a sink for cleaning equipment and washing hands. The lactation centers have accessible electrical outlets, soft lighting, and comfortable seating. The nursing rooms are private with comfortable seating.
Where can my kids nap?
Children can nap on benches without armrests (or strollers) at two quiet seating areas in Terminal 1 on the Mezzanine level overlooking the Airport Mall. Take the elevator to Concourses E or F to reach the sleeping spaces.
Honorable mentions for napping in Terminal 1 at MSP include Concourse D, Concourse E, Gates A13 & A14, and behind the baggage claim escalators. The airport can be very loud, but Terminal 1 is busier and noisier than Terminal 2.
What airlines are family-friendly and supportive of autistic children?
I wrote an article about our experience flying on Frontier Airlines. While they are problematic at times, they do have a program that lets kids fly free.
Always check the airline’s own website for their most up-to-date “Travel with Children” policies, as these change often.
This article covered the best things for families to do at the Minneapolis airport. What’s your favorite airport for children? Sound off in the comments.
For other family and sensory-friendly airport support, see our experience at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
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