Getting to Uptown: By Car

Uptown is conveniently located just five minutes southwest of Downtown Minneapolis and a short drive from I-35W, I-94, I-394, MN-100, and MN-7, making Uptown easy to get to from almost anywhere in the Twin Cities.

DIRECTIONS

From Downtown Minneapolis

Take Hennepin Avenue southwest away from the Mississippi River towards Loring Park. After crossing under the I-94 bridge, take an immediate left where Hennepin turns south. To get to The Wedge or Lyn-Lake, follow the Lyndale Avenue split until you reach Franklin Avenue to 28th Street for The Wedge or Lake Street for Lyn-Lake. To get to South Hennepin, Hennepin-Lake, and West Calhoun, follow the Hennepin Avenue split until you reach Franklin Avenue to 28th Street for South Hennepin or Lake Street for Hennepin-Lake. For West Calhoun, take a right on Lagoon Avenue until you get to the west side of Lake Street.

From the Airport/Bloomington East

Take I-494 west to northbound I-35W. Follow I-35W towards Downtown Minneapolis. Exit at Lake Street/31st Street. Continue straight one block to Lake Street and take a left to go west towards Uptown, stopping at Lyndale Avenue for Lyn-Lake. To get to The Wedge, take a right to go north to The Wedge (28th Street to Franklin Avenue). To get to Hennepin-Lake, South Hennepin, and West Calhoun, continue on Lake Street and follow the curve on to Lagoon Avenue. At Hennepin Avenue, you’ve reached Hennepin-Lake. To get to South Hennepin take a right to go north to South Hennepin (28th Street to Franklin Avenue). To get to West Calhoun, continue west on Lagoon Avenue until you reach the other side of Lake Calhoun.

From the Southwest Metro/Bloomington West

Take MN-100 to Excelsior Boulevard. Take a right to go east towards Uptown, going past the golf course. At Market Plaza, you’ve reached West Calhoun. Continue east on Excelsior, which merges to become Lake Street. To get to Hennepin-Lake, continue to Hennepin Avenue. To get to South Hennepin, take a left to go north on Hennepin to 28th Street to Franklin Avenue. To get to Lyn-Lake or The Wedge, continue east on Lake Street to Lyndale for Lyn-Lake or take a left on Lyndale to go north for The Wedge.

From the North Metro

Go East on I-94 to the Hennepin/Lyndale exit. Continue straight past the Dunwoody/Hennepin intersection and go under the art pedestrian bridge. To get to The Wedge or Lyn-Lake, follow the Lyndale Avenue split until you reach Franklin Avenue to 28th Street for The Wedge or Lake Street for Lyn-Lake. To get to South Hennepin, Hennepin-Lake, and West Calhoun, follow the Hennepin Avenue split until you reach Franklin Avenue to 28th Street for South Hennepin or Lake Street for Hennepin-Lake. For West Calhoun, take a right on Lagoon Avenue until you get to the west side of Lake Street.

PARKING

Uptown

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. It is highly recommended that if you are going to multiple places during your visit to Uptown, that you find on-street or public parking or else you may find your car towed if you left the lot to visit another establishment. A piece of advice, do not park in the McDonald’s parking lot unless you are in McDonald’s.

Public Lots & Ramps

Calhoun Square Parking Ramp

Enter off of 31st Street between Fremont Avenue and Girard Avenue. This ramp is one of the largest parking facilities in the Uptown area. It is conveniently located in the heart of Uptown and has a skyway connection to Calhoun Square. Until late winter/early spring 2009, this ramp is valet only due to construction. The ramp is being significantly expanded.

Lagoon Cinema Public Lot

Enter off of the intersection of Lagoon Avenue and Girard Avenue. This lot is located behind the Lagoon Cinema and is in the core of Uptown.

Lagoon/Girard Public Lot

Enter off of Girard Avenue between Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue. This lot is located behind the old Campiello restaurant, adjacent to Cheapo Disc.

Walker Library Meter Lot

Enter off of Lagoon Avenue just west of Hennepin Avenue. Payment options are limited to quarters and pre-paid parking cards (not available for purchase on site).

On-street Parking

There is plenty of metered parking throughout Uptown, primarily on Hennepin Avenue, Lagoon Avenue, and Lake Street. Sections of metered parking along 31st Street on either side of Hennepin Avenue, along 28th Street west of Hennepin, and in select other locations. If the meter has a red band on the top, it means that there is at least one time of the day where you cannot park at that meter. And believe me, they will tow you. Also, be sure to pay for the full amount of time you intend to park. I’ve learned the hard way when I was quite literally two minutes late in returning. Parking meters accept quarters and typically the pre-paid parking cards.

Valet Parking

A number of businesses offer valet parking in Uptown for a fee. Those would include the following: Chino Latino, Lucia’s, Calhoun Square, and Stella’s.

South Hennepin

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. It is highly recommended that if you are going to multiple places during your visit to South Hennepin, that you find on-street parking as to not find out your car was towed if you left the lot to visit another establishment.

On-street Parking

There is plenty of on-street parking along Hennepin Avenue and side streets. Parking along Hennepin typically has a time limit, such as one or two hours. There are several places where time limits are mush shorter. This parking is free to use. In general, side streets do not have any restrictions. Be sure no matter where you park to look for signs that state any sort of limitation.

Lyn-Lake

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. It is highly recommended that if you are going to multiple places during your visit to Uptown, that you find on-street or public parking or else you may find your car towed if you left the lot to visit another establishment.

Public Lots & Ramps

Garfield Pay Lot

This City-owned public parking lot is located just north of Lake Street adjacent Fuji-Ya and behind the Jungle Theater from Lyndale Avenue. Enter off of Lake Street just west of Garfield Avenue, from Lyndale Avenue just north of the Jungle Theater, or from 28th Street by going south on Garfield.

Aldrich Avenue Public Parking Ramp at Uptown City Apartments

Located under the Uptown City Apartments on Aldrich Avenue and Lake Street, public parking is available for a fee. The garage can be accessed off of Aldrich Avenue just north of Lake Street. The garage door opens as you approach it.

On-street Parking

There is plenty of metered parking throughout Lyn-Lake, primarily on Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street. If the meter has a red band on the top, it means that there is at least one time of the day where you cannot park at that meter. And believe me, they will tow you. Also, be sure to pay for the full amount of time you intend to park. Parking meters accept quarters and typically the pre-paid parking cards.

The Wedge

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. It is highly recommended that if you are going to multiple places during your visit to Uptown, that you find on-street or public parking or else you may find your car towed if you left the lot to visit another establishment.

On-street Parking

Depending on where you are within the Uptown neighborhood communities, the amount of off-street parking depends. In general, most areas allow on-street parking without any time restrictions. In several neighborhood locations, there may be short-term parking areas. Signs will state whether there are restrictions.

West Calhoun

Public Parking Lots & Ramps

Calhoun Beach Club public ramp

A public, pay ramp is available within the Calhoun Beach Club complex, accessed off of Thomas Avenue just north of Lake Street.

Thomas Avenue Public Lot

A public, pay lot is available just south of Lake Street and Thomas Avenue just north of Lake Calhoun.

Lake Calhoun Center lot (Limited hours)

The Lake Calhoun Center (5-story, glass office building with wind surfer on top) has a public lot available to park users during weekends and after 6pm daily. The lot is full during the day with office users and public parking is not allowed during those hours.

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. Calhoun Commons and Calhoun Village are the main retail/restaurant complexes, both of which have parking lots.

On-street Parking

On-street parking in the West Calhoun area is extremely limited. There is parking along all the parkways in the area and none along West Lake Street or Excelsior Boulevard. Along the eastern road of Dean Parkway and Thomas Avenue just north of Lake Street (along Calhoun Beach Club), there are parking meters available.

Valet Parking

Calhoun Beach Club offers valet parking for a fee.

Neighborhood

Private Lots

Depending on where you are going, the business may have a private parking lot available for your use while at that establishment. It is highly recommended that if you are going to multiple places during your visit to Uptown, that you find on-street or public parking or else you may find your car towed if you left the lot to visit another establishment.

On-street Parking

Depending on where you are within the Uptown neighborhood communities, the amount of off-street parking depends. In general, most areas allow on-street parking without any time restrictions. In several neighborhood locations, there may be short-term parking areas. Signs will state whether there are restrictions.