Minneapolis to Denver (MSP–DEN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
MSP–DEN is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 679 miles in approximately 1h 53m. Beyond nonstop, 170 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, CM | 52 | 319, 738, 739, B38M, E75L | 1h58-2h26 | Star Alliance | AC, CM | |
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF, VS, WS | 47 | 320, 321, 739 | 2h06-2h14 | SkyTeam | AF, VS, WS | |
| WN Southwest Airlines | 33 | 737, 738, 73H, 7M8, 7S7, B38M | 1h55-2h37 | – | – | |
| F9 Frontier Also: Y4 | 21 | 32N, A21N | 1h53-2h28 | – | Y4 | |
| SY Sun Country Airlines | 6 | 738 | 2h10 | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Denver from Minneapolis
| Metric | MSP→DEN | DLH→DEN | FOD→DEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MSP | – | 144 mi | 168 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 209 | – | 7 |
| Flight time | 1h 53m | 1h 46m | 1h 59m |
| Departure OTP | 86% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
MSP: CDT · DEN: MDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Minneapolis, it's 5:00 PM in Denver.
Metro Blue Line light rail runs from downtown Minneapolis (Warehouse District/Hennepin station) to T1-Lindbergh in 25–28 minutes ($2.50). The line also connects the Mall of America (Bloomington) in 13 minutes to the same station. T2-Humphrey (primarily Sun Country and charter flights) requires a free shuttle from T1 or a direct Blue Line stop at the Terminal 2-Humphrey station.Taxis and ride-hails from downtown Minneapolis cost $25–40 and take 15–30 minutes. The airport is conveniently close to both downtowns; St. Paul is 10–15 minutes by car.
RTD A Line runs to Denver Union Station (37 min, $10.50) with connections to light rail and bus routes. Taxis have meters; expect $55–65 to downtown.DEN's tent-roof Jeppesen Terminal is a single building; all three concourses connect via the underground automated train. Rental cars are on level 5. For ski resorts, shuttle services depart from Ground Transportation.
Semi-arid with 300+ days of sunshine. Summers are dry and warm (27–34°C) with afternoon thunderstorms that produce dramatic but brief delays. Winters bring cold temperatures (−8 to 5°C) and heavy blizzards that can shut down ground operations.
Spring snowstorms can be heavier than midwinter ones. Altitude (5,430 ft) means low humidity year-round; stay hydrated.
MSP–DEN Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis to Denver: Hub-to-Hub Across the Great Plains
MSP-DEN puts Delta's Minneapolis hub against United's Denver hub on a 680-mile route across the northern plains. Delta leads with 5 to 7 daily nonstops. United runs 3 to 4 daily in the opposite direction from its DEN base. Frontier and Sun Country add low-cost options, bringing total frequency to 10 to 14 daily departures. Block time is 2 hours 20 to 30 minutes. The route serves business travelers connecting between two major corporate centers (3M, Target, UnitedHealth in MSP; Lockheed Martin, Arrow Electronics, Western Union in DEN) and ski travelers heading from Minnesota to the Colorado mountains.
Seasonal Patterns and Weather
Ski season from December through March drives a demand spike, especially on Friday afternoon and Sunday evening departures. Delta and United both upsize aircraft during peak ski weekends. Denver International Airport sits on the eastern plains 25 miles northeast of downtown, exposed to Great Plains weather. Winter blizzards can shut DEN for hours. The airport has 6 runways built for extreme weather operations, but heavy snowfall still causes cancellations. MSP handles winter weather well, with de-icing operations that keep delays shorter than cancellations. The A Line commuter rail connects DEN to Denver Union Station in 37 minutes for $10.50. MSP connects to downtown Minneapolis via the Blue Line light rail in 25 minutes for $2.50.