If you've ever ridden I-394 East out of Plymouth toward a Timberwolves game only to sit at the Dunwoody merge while downtown traffic backs up three lights deep, you already know the real question isn't "should we go" — it's "where does everyone actually get dropped." Target Center sits tight against 1st Avenue North in the Warehouse District, with no surface lot of its own, three parking ramps that all look the same from the street, and a downtown grid that turns one-way in places you won't guess on the first try.
Here's the short version: a charter bus or party bus drops your group on 1st Avenue right at the building, and Ramp A or Ramp B is where it waits if it needs to stage nearby. Below is exactly how that works, using Target Center's own published directions and parking rules, plus what a group actually pays to park a bus downtown, what closes down after the final buzzer, and which Target Center dates in 2026 are worth booking early for.
Why Rent a Bus to Target Center from Plymouth
A trip to Target Center from Plymouth means somebody drives 12th Avenue traffic downtown, somebody else circles for a ramp that might already be full, and everybody meets up again after the show hoping their phones still have signal in a packed skyway. A Plymouth party bus rental or charter bus takes that off the table. Your group gets picked up at one address in Plymouth, gets dropped on 1st Avenue steps from the doors, and gets picked back up at the same curb when the game or the encore ends.
It also solves the part nobody plans for until they're standing in line for it: parking a full-size vehicle downtown. Regular event parking ramps near Target Center are built for cars, not coaches, and a charter bus needs its own permit and its own space — something Plymouth group transportation handles as part of the trip instead of leaving your group to sort it out at the ramp gate. Whether it's a birthday group headed to a concert or a company outing to a Lynx game, one vehicle means one bill, one pickup time, and nobody stuck finding their own way back to Plymouth at 11 p.m.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Target Center
Target Center (600 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403) sits between 6th and 7th Streets in the Warehouse and Entertainment District. The venue's own directions confirm the official drop-off point is out front: the ADA drop-off and pick-up "is located on 1st Avenue in the front of the building," per Target Center's ADA accessibility page — the same curb that works for a charter bus or party bus dropping a group before the doors open.
Coming from Plymouth, the venue's own directions matter more than they sound: taking I-394 East and exiting "directly into Ramp A or B," per Target Center's Getting Here page, is the exact route a bus coming down 394 from the western suburbs uses. Ramps A and B connect to the arena by skyway, and they're the same two ramps the venue points wheelchair and elevator users toward for the easiest path inside. A bus dropping your group at the 1st Avenue curb skips the ramp entirely — your group walks straight to the door instead of down a skyway from a parking level.
Charter Bus Parking Near Target Center: Permits, Zones & Cost
Here's the detail that catches first-time group planners: you cannot just pull a 40-foot coach into Ramp A and hope for the best. Minneapolis requires its own permit for any charter bus serving downtown venues. The city's official parking office states plainly that "all charter bus companies" bringing groups to Target Center, Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, or downtown theaters need a permit purchased in advance, per the City of Minneapolis charter bus parking page.
Permits are issued through the city's online system, and the office does not publish a flat rate online — pricing is confirmed by event when you contact [email protected] or call the venue directly at 612-343-7275.
Overnight bus parking, for groups staying downtown late or coming in from farther out, is assigned to Zone 6 at 950 Hawthorne Avenue, with the permit displayed in the front window and the bus parked between the posted zone signs. The same page is direct about what's not allowed there: no RV or motor-home parking, and no tailgating in the zone.
This is exactly the piece a Plymouth charter bus rental handles ahead of time rather than leaving your group to discover at the ramp: the permit gets filed, the zone gets confirmed, and the bus has a place to sit while your group is inside instead of circling the block.
Target Center Transportation: Every Option Compared
A private bus isn't the only way to reach Target Center, and it's not automatically the right call for two people going to one game. Here's an honest look at how the main options stack up for a Plymouth group.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop point | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split by the group | Yes — one vehicle | 1st Avenue, front of the building | 15–56 |
| METRO Blue or Green Line | $2.00–$2.50 per ride | Only if you board together | Warehouse District/Hennepin Ave Station | Any, no group control |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Per car, each way, plus post-event surge | No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs | Curb near the venue, varies by app | 1–4 per car |
| Drive and park a ramp | Per-car ramp rate + gas | No — caravans split up | Ramp A, B, or C, then a skyway walk | 1–2 cars |
The METRO Blue and Green Lines both stop at Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue Station, which Metro Transit describes as "an easy walk to Target Center from there," per the transit agency's Target Center transit page — a fair option for one or two riders already near a station, but not a way to keep a group of twenty together on the platform after a sold-out show. Once your party grows past what fits in two cars, the math flips: separate ramp tickets, separate rideshare fares, and someone who has to stay off the concession beer because they're driving home to Plymouth. One bus removes all three problems at once.
What Size Bus Fits Your Target Center Group
Target Center trips run from a six-person suite group to a fifty-person office outing, and the right vehicle depends on headcount and how much gear is coming along. Plymouthminibuscompany.com compares options across a network of bus companies serving Plymouth, so you're not stuck with one fleet's leftover inventory.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Suite holders, small office groups |
| 18-passenger minibus | ~18 | A tight friend group or one full row |
| 25-passenger minibus | ~25 | Birthday groups, mid-size fan groups |
| Party bus | ~15–50 | Groups who want the ride itself part of the night, with a built-in sound system and lighting on board |
| 35-passenger minibus | ~35 | Company outings, school and youth groups |
| Charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, conventions in town for a night at the arena |
For a concert crowd wanting the night to start the second the bus pulls out of the driveway, a party bus keeps the built-in sound and lighting going the whole ride down 394. For a large company outing or a Lynx watch-party group, a full-size charter bus carries everyone in one trip with room for coats and gear underneath, instead of running two smaller vans back and forth.
Target Center Charter Bus & Party Bus Rental Prices
Plymouthminibuscompany.com shows quotes online in under a minute, and pricing for a Target Center trip is shaped by a handful of clear factors: vehicle size, total hours booked, the date and event, and the distance from your Plymouth pickup point downtown and back. A weeknight Timberwolves game prices differently than a Friday concert with a sold-out downtown.
To give you an idea: a 30-person group booking a 35-passenger minibus for a 6-hour window — pickup in Plymouth, drop on 1st Avenue, and a pickup after the final buzzer — might run somewhere in the $900–$1,300 range, or roughly $30–$45 a person once split across the group. That's an example range to help with planning, not a quote; it moves with the date, the hours, and demand. Fill out the quick form or call 651-888-8977 and you can have pricing built around your exact date in about a minute.
See the Plymouth bus rental prices page for more on how quotes are built.
Getting from Plymouth to Target Center: Route & Timing
The most direct route from Plymouth into downtown Minneapolis is I-394 East, which flows straight into the western edge of downtown and, per Target Center's own directions, exits directly into Ramp A or B — the same ramps closest to the arena entrance. Off-peak, that run typically takes 20–30 minutes depending on where in Plymouth you're starting from. Before a 7 p.m. tip-off or a weeknight concert, build in extra time: 394 carries the bulk of the western suburbs' rush-hour commute back into downtown at exactly the hour event traffic is also arriving, and the merge points near the Lowry Hill Tunnel are where that traffic typically stacks up.
That drive is the exact stretch a charter bus takes off your plate. Your group boards in Plymouth, the bus works the 394 merge and the downtown one-ways, and you're dropped on 1st Avenue without anyone white-knuckling the last mile through the Warehouse District grid.
MSP Airport to Target Center
If part of your group is flying in for a concert or a Lynx game, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) sits about 12 miles from downtown, according to Meet Minneapolis's airport transportation guide. The METRO Blue Line runs from the airport straight into downtown in roughly 25 minutes and stops at five downtown stations including the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue stop near Target Center — a fine option for one traveler with a backpack, a much harder one for a group meeting up at baggage claim with luggage and no single gathering point.
A single bus pickup at the terminal solves the part rideshare and light rail both struggle with: keeping a group of ten or more together from the moment bags come off the belt to the moment they're dropped on 1st Avenue. See the Plymouth airport transportation page for how an MSP pickup gets folded into a Target Center trip.
Leaving Target Center After the Game or Show
Getting out is usually the harder half of a Target Center night. When several thousand people leave the arena within the same ten minutes, the skyways empty in a crush, the ramps take a while to clear one car at a time, and rideshare apps typically show longer waits and higher fares right at that window. Target Center itself warns guests up front that there's "a no re-entry policy for all events," per the venue's arena policies FAQ — once your group is out, there's no ducking back in to regroup, so a clear meeting point matters more than it sounds.
With a bus booked for the whole window, that part is already handled. Your group agrees on the 1st Avenue curb as the meet-back point before the doors even open, the bus is staged nearby, and it's there when the crowd releases — no standing on a downtown sidewalk refreshing a rideshare app while everyone else does the same thing.
Rules First-Timers Get Wrong at Target Center
A few things trip up groups who haven't been to Target Center before, straight from the venue's own guest policies:
- Bags have to be small. Target Center allows bags "no larger than 5" x 9"," plus diaper and medical bags, which can be searched at entry, per the venue's Know Before You Go page. Backpacks and coolers don't make it past the door — leave them on the bus.
- It's a cashless building. Concessions run on Apple Pay and Google Pay; the box office does not take cash or digital payment, per the same page. Bring a card.
- No re-entry, ever. Once someone leaves during an event, per the venue's own FAQ, they're not getting back in — plan bathroom and smoke breaks accordingly.
- Waiting for the group? Anyone not attending the event can wait in the Life Time Lobby, though the venue notes there's no public restroom there without a ticket, per the Target Center FAQ.
- Strollers stay outside. They're not permitted inside the arena at all.
What's Happening at Target Center Through 2027
Target Center's calendar runs deep past basketball season, and groups booking around a specific date should plan ahead. Per the venue's own events schedule: the Minnesota Lynx play home games throughout the WNBA season, with dates including August 24, September 18, and September 24; concerts on the books include J. Cole (August 18), Tame Impala with Dominic Fike (August 28), Kacey Musgraves (September 22), Doja Cat (October 4), the Disney Descendants, ZOMBIES & Camp Rock tour (October 18), Zac Brown Band with Brothers Osborne (October 23), Motionless In White (November 10), and MercyMe with Jeremy Camp (November 15). Target Center is also slated to host the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament first- and second-round games March 19–21, 2027.
Downtown ramps and bus parking permits both get tighter on nights the arena and the neighboring bars fill up together — a Friday or Saturday concert date is a different logistics problem than a Tuesday game. For any date on that list, locking in a vehicle and a bus parking permit early keeps your group from scrambling the week of.
Frequently Asked Questions About Target Center Bus Rentals
Where does a charter bus drop off at Target Center?
The official drop-off and pick-up curb runs along 1st Avenue at the front of the building, the same point Target Center designates for ADA drop-off, per the venue's ADA information page. Coming from Plymouth via I-394 East, that's a short final stretch off the same exit that leads into Ramp A or B.
Does a charter bus need its own parking permit downtown?
Yes. The City of Minneapolis requires a permit for any charter bus serving Target Center, purchased in advance through the city's online system, per the official charter bus parking page. There's no listed flat rate online — the city's parking office confirms current cost by event at [email protected] or 612-343-7275.
Where does a bus park overnight if it needs to?
Zone 6, at 950 Hawthorne Avenue, is the city's designated overnight bus zone. RVs and motor homes aren't permitted there, and tailgating isn't allowed in the zone, per the city's charter bus parking page.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Target Center?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the date, and your Plymouth pickup location. A 30-person group in a 35-passenger minibus for a 6-hour window might run in the $900–$1,300 range, roughly $30–$45 a person — an example to help with planning, not a quote. Fill out the quick form or call 651-888-8977 for pricing on your exact date.
What's the fastest way from Plymouth to Target Center?
I-394 East is the direct route, exiting into Ramp A or B per Target Center's own directions. Off-peak the drive runs about 20–30 minutes; build extra time in before evening events, since 394 also carries western-suburb rush-hour traffic at the same hour.
Is there a train to Target Center?
Yes. The METRO Blue and Green Lines both stop at Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue Station, which Metro Transit calls "an easy walk" to the arena, per its Target Center transit page. It works well for one or two riders; it's harder to keep a larger group together through a crowded platform after a sold-out show.
How far is MSP Airport from Target Center?
About 12 miles, per Meet Minneapolis's airport transportation guide. The METRO Blue Line covers it in roughly 25 minutes; a single bus pickup at the terminal keeps a larger group together instead of splitting across cars or transit cars.
What's the bag policy at Target Center?
Bags can be no larger than 5" x 9", aside from diaper and medical bags, which may be checked at entry, per the venue's Know Before You Go page. Backpacks and coolers should stay on the bus.
Can we leave the event and come back in?
No. Target Center enforces a no re-entry policy for every event, per its own arena FAQ — plan around that before doors open rather than after.
What size bus fits our group?
Sprinter vans handle suite groups up to about 14; minibuses in the 18- to 35-passenger range fit birthday or office outings; and full-size charter buses carry up to 56 for large fan groups or conventions. See the full vehicle lineup to compare.
How far in advance should we book?
As soon as your date is set, especially for a Friday or Saturday concert or a Lynx game with a sold-out downtown. Vehicles and downtown bus parking permits both go faster on those nights, so booking early keeps your group from scrambling the week of.
Heading to a Vikings game instead of a night at Target Center? The U.S. Bank Stadium guide covers that drop-off separately, and if your group's plans stretch into late summer, the Minnesota State Fair guide has its own parking rules.
Book Your Target Center Bus Today
Whether it's a Lynx game, a concert on the fall calendar, or a birthday group headed downtown for a show, Plymouthminibuscompany.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans serving Plymouth and the western suburbs — with a drop-off on 1st Avenue instead of a hike from a parking ramp. Fill out the quick online form or call 651-888-8977 any time for a price quote built around your date.
