Travel tips needed from the locals

[IndianaTwin]

Locals, I could use a little help on travel logistics. 

Friday’s game starts at 7:10. I have an Amtrak ticket, scheduled to leave St. Paul at 10:45. I’m trying to figure out my strategy. 

1. Current plan is to attend with a friend and cut out early, if needed. Knowing I can’t be late, how much time should I allow from Target Field to Union Station?

2. Suggested location for parking that will allow for a quick exit during the game. I’m okay with walking some distance?

3. How does said location work if the game moves along quickly and I’m able to stay for the whole game?

4. Does the Green line operate during games? It appears to take 46 minutes. Is that going to be quicker than getting to our car and driving over?

Other suggestions? I do have the Amtrak app, so I can be monitoring its schedule. A quick game and a 45-minute late train makes things easy. 

[strumdatjag]

I’m married to a Hoosier.    I don’t have answers.   But leaving early guarantees that you will miss the most exciting games. It would be great if you could stay overnight and then catch our great State Adair the next day before taking that shorter ride to Union Station in St Paul.   I do understand you have to catch a train. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 8/24/2023 at 9:50 PM, IndianaTwin said:

Locals, I could use a little help on travel logistics. 

Friday’s game starts at 7:10. I have an Amtrak ticket, scheduled to leave St. Paul at 10:45. I’m trying to figure out my strategy. 

1. Current plan is to attend with a friend and cut out early, if needed. Knowing I can’t be late, how much time should I allow from Target Field to Union Station?

2. Suggested location for parking that will allow for a quick exit during the game. I’m okay with walking some distance?

3. How does said location work if the game moves along quickly and I’m able to stay for the whole game?

4. Does the Green line operate during games? It appears to take 46 minutes. Is that going to be quicker than getting to our car and driving over?

Other suggestions? I do have the Amtrak app, so I can be monitoring its schedule. A quick game and a 45-minute late train makes things easy. 

https://www.metrotransit.org/route/green

[Richie the Rally Goat]

If you absolutely have to catch that 10:45 train, I’d take the green line. Parking is hard to get out. I usually park in the ABC ramps. Very slow to exit. Typically on my way back to Wisconsin, it takes 45 minutes to an hour to drive to downtown St. Paul. The only reason I don’t park in St Paul and ride the green line in, is the extra park time and cost of parking/train fare, but that’s not an issue for you.

[DJL44]

4 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

If you absolutely have to catch that 10:45 train, I’d take the green line. Parking is hard to get out. I usually park in the ABC ramps. Very slow to exit. Typically on my way back to Wisconsin, it takes 45 minutes to an hour to drive to downtown St. Paul. The only reason I don’t park in St Paul and ride the green line in, is the extra park time and cost of parking/train fare, but that’s not an issue for you.

An Uber might be faster than the green line if only because they don't have to get out of a parking ramp. It will still take 20-30 minutes.

[IndianaTwin]

Thanks, all. It ended up working swimmingly. My friend’s spouse had a mid evening commitment downtown, so she dropped us off at the game, went to her shindig and then hung out at an ice cream shop. With the blowout, we left in the eighth and walked to a spot where spouse could pick us up street side. Made it to the Depot with plenty of time to spare.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

Thanks, all. It ended up working swimmingly. My friend’s spouse had a mid evening commitment downtown, so she dropped us off at the game, went to her shindig and then hung out at an ice cream shop. With the blowout, we left in the eighth and walked to a spot where spouse could pick us up street side. Made it to the Depot with plenty of time to spare.

10:45 departure at Amtrak … Empire Builder heading west?

[IndianaTwin]

42 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

10:45 departure at Amtrak … Empire Builder heading west?

Yep. and right now I’m approaching downtown Chicago on the same.

I find train riding incredibly relaxing. Using the USA Rail pass, I left Chicago last Tuesday, rode to Milwaukee for Tuesday and Wednesday night’s game. Had to cut out in the eighth on Wednesday, but rode to St. Paul to catch Thursday and Friday’s games.

Then was the awesome part. Left St. Paul Friday night, arriving Whitefish around 10 p.m. Saturday. Got off, crashes on an air mattress at a friend’s house in Kalispell. Hopped back on Sunday morning and rode back to St. Paul by Monday morning. Spent the day, went to last night’s game, back on this morning for the ride to Chicago. Then off to Millennium Station to catch the Southshore to South Bend. 

It’s been an awesome vacation/work trip. May try it again next summer. 

[Squirrel]

2 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Yep. and right now I’m approaching downtown Chicago on the same.

I find train riding incredibly relaxing. Using the USA Rail pass, I left Chicago last Tuesday, rode to Milwaukee for Tuesday and Wednesday night’s game. Had to cut out in the eighth on Wednesday, but rode to St. Paul to catch Thursday and Friday’s games.

Then was the awesome part. Left St. Paul Friday night, arriving Whitefish around 10 p.m. Saturday. Got off, crashes on an air mattress at a friend’s house in Kalispell. Hopped back on Sunday morning and rode back to St. Paul by Monday morning. Spent the day, went to last night’s game, back on this morning for the ride to Chicago. Then off to Millennium Station to catch the Southshore to South Bend. 

It’s been an awesome vacation/work trip. May try it again next summer. 

You’ll pass by my building on your way out of town, I think. I’ll wave to you, although I face west.

[IndianaTwin]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

You’ll pass by my building on your way out of town, I think. I’ll wave to you, although I face west.

Sometime I’ll bring donuts. 

[Dave Borton]

On 8/24/2023 at 9:50 PM, IndianaTwin said:

Amtrak ticket, scheduled to leave St. Paul at 10:45.

Amtrak is invariably late, coming thru the Dakota oil fields. BNSF owns the line which Amtrak runs on and the oil runs take priority.

I have ridden Amtrak plenty of times and love rail travel. I just don't set my watch to Amtrak time like I could do on trains in Europe/Scandinavia.

Don't park downtown. $16-20. Plenty of parking along Greenline (yes, it runs at all hours).
Raymond stop, Lexington (my parking area), midway between Target Field and Union Station (last stop on Greenline). Park on side street north of University (~1100 block of Charles). 1/2 hour to Target; 20 min to Union Station.

Give a yell here or message me if you have more questions.

Ticket is good for 2 hours if you have to scoot out of game early.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

On 8/24/2023 at 9:50 PM, IndianaTwin said:

Locals, I could use a little help on travel logistics. 

Friday’s game starts at 7:10. I have an Amtrak ticket, scheduled to leave St. Paul at 10:45. I’m trying to figure out my strategy. 

1. Current plan is to attend with a friend and cut out early, if needed. Knowing I can’t be late, how much time should I allow from Target Field to Union Station?

2. Suggested location for parking that will allow for a quick exit during the game. I’m okay with walking some distance?

3. How does said location work if the game moves along quickly and I’m able to stay for the whole game?

4. Does the Green line operate during games? It appears to take 46 minutes. Is that going to be quicker than getting to our car and driving over?

Other suggestions? I do have the Amtrak app, so I can be monitoring its schedule. A quick game and a 45-minute late train makes things easy. 

Sounds like you're heading east. Parking is a pain if you need to go east while parking is super-fast if you need to go west (most of the ramps have a quick exit onto 394).

The green line operates during games. Parking/driving or taking transit to STP will probably take you about the same amount of time, though transit will be both cheaper and less frustrating.

[IndianaTwin]

Thanks for the help, folks. That was an Aug. 24 post that keeps getting added to.

I was able to get sorted out, even catching most of the Cleveland blowout. 

[jctwins]

15 hours ago, NycTicker said:

From Target Field to Union Station, it's generally a 20-30 minute drive. But since you can't be late for that 10:45 Amtrak, I'd leave the ballpark at least an hour ahead to be safe. For parking, maybe aim for a spot that's a 15-20 minute walk from Target Field; less congestion means a quicker exit. If you can stay for the whole game, these spots should still be convenient. The Green Line is an option, but it's not much quicker than driving when you factor in wait times.

Timely advice for a game that happened in late August.