Charter Bus Parking & Dropoff Guide to Cottage Grove Sports Venues & Arenas
Don't waste your game day sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on US-61 or hunting for multiple parking spots in packed downtown garages! When you use Cottagegrove
Grand Casino Arena (Home of the Minnesota Wild)
Cottagegrove
Major Roadways to Grand Casino Arena
Groups departing from Cottage Grove typically head north on US-61 (Red Rock Road) and merge onto I-94 West toward downtown St. Paul, taking the Marion Street or Kellogg Boulevard exit into the arena district. You can also take I-494 West to US-52 North (Lafayette Road) and cross the Mississippi River directly onto W. 7th Street. Both routes take about 15 to 25 minutes outside of peak rush hour. Your driver will monitor traffic along the I-94 and I-35E commons to choose the fastest approach before puck drop.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Grand Casino Arena
Your charter bus or party bus can drop passengers off along the designated curb on W. Kellogg Boulevard outside Gate 1 and Gate 2, or along W. 7th Street near Gate 4. Because St. Paul enforces a strict five-minute commercial idling limit, have your whole group gathered outside the gates before signaling your driver to pull up for post-game pickup.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Grand Casino Arena
Standard arena ramps like the RiverCentre Parking Ramp cannot accommodate high-roof motorcoaches due to vertical clearance limits. Instead, oversized buses stage and park in the surface Sears Lot off Marion Street or designated oversized spaces along Kellogg Boulevard and Chestnut Street.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
On Minnesota Wild game nights and major concert dates, W. 7th Street between Kellogg Boulevard and St. Peter Street gets heavily congested with pedestrian traffic two hours before doors open. Sections of Washington Street and Market Street directly beside the arena may also close to through-traffic for event security. If your game overlaps with weekday evening rush hour on I-94 or an event at the neighboring Saint Paul RiverCentre, plan to leave Cottage Grove at least 90 minutes before puck drop. Your bus lets everyone skip the long post-game rideshare lines in freezing winter weather!
Allianz Field (Home of Minnesota United FC)
When you're heading into the Midway neighborhood to cheer on the Loons at Allianz Field, a private bus keeps your whole soccer group together! Whether you're booking a 25-passenger minibus or a 56-passenger charter bus, you'll see instant pricing online in under 30 seconds. Skip the cramped light rail cars and ride straight to the pitch!
Major Roadways to Allianz Field
From Cottage Grove, your driver will take US-61 North straight to I-94 West past downtown St. Paul and exit at Snelling Avenue (MN-51) or Lexington Parkway. The stadium sits directly north of the I-94 freeway between Snelling Avenue and Pascal Street. During heavy I-94 backups, drivers can also use Marshall Avenue or University Avenue for local access.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Allianz Field
Charter buses load and unload passengers in the designated group and transit drop-off zones along St. Anthony Avenue on the south side of the stadium or along Shields Avenue to the north. Keep your group together near the Great Lawn so everyone can board quickly once the final whistle blows.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Allianz Field
On-site surface lots at Allianz Field (Lots A, B, and C) are small and primarily reserved for season ticket holders, with no day-of oversized bus parking sold at the gate. Group buses must pre-arrange oversized parking through Minnesota United FC guest services or stage off-site at the nearby Minnesota State Fairgrounds lots north of Como Avenue. Your driver can also wait at commercial staging areas along Energy Park Drive. Once your group is ready to depart, your bus loops back to St. Anthony Avenue in just minutes.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
St. Paul police close Shields Avenue, Spruce Tree Avenue, and portions of Pascal Street around the stadium perimeter starting two to three hours before kickoff. Traffic along Snelling Avenue and University Avenue moves slowly due to heavy pedestrian crossings and Metro Green Line light rail trains running every 10 minutes. Arriving at least 90 minutes before match time ensures a smooth drop-off before the inner street closures take effect. After the match, meeting your driver along the St. Anthony Avenue frontage road helps you merge right back onto I-94 East toward Cottage Grove.
U.S. Bank Stadium (Home of the Minnesota Vikings)
It's never been easier to get your tailgating group or youth football team to U.S. Bank Stadium than with a private bus rental! Because Cottagegrove
Major Roadways to U.S. Bank Stadium
From Cottage Grove, the most direct route follows US-61 North to I-94 West straight into downtown Minneapolis, taking the 6th Street S. or 11th Street S. exit right into the Downtown East stadium district. An alternate southern approach uses I-494 West to I-35W North, which feeds directly onto Washington Avenue and 4th Street S. just blocks from the stadium gates. Expect the 22-mile drive to take 25 to 40 minutes depending on game-day volume.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at U.S. Bank Stadium
Charter buses drop off and pick up passengers along the designated motorcoach curb on 10th Avenue S. between 5th Street S. and 7th Street S., or along Chicago Avenue near the Legacy Gate. Active loading only is permitted at the curb, so have your group assembled before your driver pulls in.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at U.S. Bank Stadium
Oversized charter bus, RV, and tailgating parking is located in designated surface lots east of the stadium, including the Quarterback Lot and the Touchdown Lot along Washington Avenue S. and 11th Avenue S. Bus parking passes must be reserved in advance, as oversized spaces sell out quickly for Vikings home games and major stadium tours. If you don't need tailgating space, your driver can stage off-site at the ABC Ramps Bus Lot on the west edge of downtown. After the fourth quarter, your driver returns right to 10th Avenue S. to load your group.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
On Vikings game days, Chicago Avenue (between 4th Street and 6th Street), 4th Street S., and Norm McGrew Place close completely to vehicle traffic hours before kickoff. Heavy pedestrian crowds around the Medtronic Plaza and light rail tracks along 5th Street can delay late arrivals, so plan to arrive two hours early. Your driver will use 7th Street S. or Washington Avenue to bypass the inner closures and get you back on I-94 East fast!
Target Center (Home of the Minnesota Lynx and the Minnesota Timberwolves)
Bringing a fan group, corporate outing, or school basketball team from Cottage Grove to Target Center? Instead of splitting up into a caravan of cars and paying steep downtown ramp fees, your whole roster can ride together in a climate-controlled minibus, party bus, or motorcoach. Compare live availability and transparent rates in under 30 seconds with one quick online form. You'll even get your quotes sent by text and email to share with your group!
Major Roadways to Target Center
Groups traveling from Cottage Grove take US-61 North to I-94 West through St. Paul and into Minneapolis, merging onto I-394 West to exit directly at 6th Street N. or the 1st Avenue N. downtown ramps. You can also take I-494 West to I-35W North and connect to downtown via 5th Street S. into the Warehouse District. These direct freeway ramps put your bus right beside the arena without navigating miles of downtown stoplights.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Target Center
Your bus can unload and pick up passengers curbside along 1st Avenue N. near the main lobby entrance between 6th Street N. and 7th Street N., or along 6th Street N. adjacent to the skyway entrances. Because Minneapolis strictly enforces a five-minute commercial anti-idling ordinance, buses may only stop for active boarding and deboarding. Coordinate a post-game meeting spot inside the Target Center Skyway Lobby so everyone walks out to the curb together.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Target Center
The connected A, B, and C Parking Ramps have overhead clearance limits for standard passenger cars, but the dedicated ABC Ramps Charter Bus Lot (entered via N. 10th Street and Glenwood Avenue right underneath the I-394 viaduct) is built specifically for full-size motorcoaches and minibuses. This secure surface staging area sits less than two blocks west of Target Center, allowing your driver to park right next to the arena during Timberwolves and Lynx games. Overflow bus staging is also available on surface lots in the North Loop along N. 3rd Street. Your ride is always just two minutes away when the final buzzer sounds!
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
The Warehouse District and First Avenue entertainment corridor see heavy foot and vehicle traffic whenever the Timberwolves or Lynx are in action, especially when concerts at First Avenue or games at neighboring Target Field overlap on the same evening. Minneapolis traffic control officers frequently restrict left turns along 1st Avenue N., 6th Street N., and 7th Street N. for an hour before and after major arena events. If you are traveling on a weeknight, build in an extra 30 minutes to clear the I-94 Lowry Hill Tunnel bottleneck and downtown commuter rush. Having a private bus waiting right by the ABC Ramps lets your group bypass the crowded rideshare zones on Hennepin Avenue.
Target Field (Home of the Minnesota Twins)
With Cottagegrove
Major Roadways to Target Field
From Cottage Grove, hop on US-61 North to I-94 West, follow the signs through downtown Minneapolis toward I-394 West, and take the 6th Street N. or 4th Street N. exit straight to the ballpark perimeter. Drivers approaching from the north or west can also use N. 7th Street (Olson Memorial Highway / MN-55), which runs directly alongside the northern gates of the stadium. Because Target Field sits right where I-394, I-94, and MN-55 meet in the North Loop, freeway access is fast and direct. Your driver will check live MnDOT traffic updates to avoid slowdowns near the I-94 / I-35W commons.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Target Field
The official charter and tour bus loading zone at Target Field is located along N. 7th Street between Twins Way and 5th Avenue N., right outside Gate 6 and Gate 14. Groups riding smaller sprinter vans or minibuses can also use the passenger drop-off area along Twins Way near Gate 34. After the ninth inning, gather your group by the Gate 14 plaza on N. 7th Street so everyone can hop right aboard.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Target Field
Target Field provides dedicated charter bus parking right across the street in the Hawthorne Lot (ABC Ramps Bus Lot) at 95 N. 10th Street, just off Twins Way and Glenwood Avenue. Advance reservations through Twins Group Tickets or the ABC Ramps management office are strongly recommended, as bus stalls fill up fast on bobblehead nights and weekend series. If the primary bus lot is full, your driver can stage at surface lots along Washington Avenue N. in the North Loop.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Beginning two hours before first pitch, Twins Way between N. 7th Street and N. 5th Street and sections of 6th Street N. are restricted to pedestrians, event permit holders, and commercial transit vehicles. Arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before game time so your group can unload along N. 7th Street and enjoy the pre-game atmosphere around Target Plaza.
Quick Tips for Cottage Grove Game-Day Charter Bus Groups
From connecting groups with group transportation services across Cottage Grove and the Twin Cities, we know a few simple steps make game day run like clockwork! Always reserve your stadium bus parking pass in advance, as venues like U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field have limited oversized vehicle stalls that sell out before big matchups. Because both Minneapolis and St. Paul enforce strict five-minute commercial anti-idling laws, set up a group text chat and gather every passenger at the gate before calling your driver to the curb. Finally, pad your departure time from Cottage Grove by 30 to 45 minutes when weekday games overlap with rush hour on US-61 and I-94!