Mall of America®
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4.0(1.5K)yelp
KidsYouth-FriendlyIndoorPhoto SpotCity LandmarkParking AvailableRestrooms AvailableWorld RecordMust-SeeLocal FavoriteFolk Culture
Overview
Mall of America (MOA) is a super-regional shopping mall and entertainment complex in Bloomington, Minnesota. Located within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, the mall lies southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River, and across the Interstate from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. It opened in August 1992 on the former site of the Metropolitan Stadium, and is the largest mall in the United States, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, and the 12th largest shopping mall in the world.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sun11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeA premier year-round indoor retail resort that peaks beautifully during the November and December holiday season with monumental winter court displays. Arriving at 10:00 AM sharp on a non-holiday weekday ensures you can bypass heavy regional crowds, secure prime parking spaces close to the department store portals, and enjoy uncrowded shopping aisles.
Getting ThereSituated in Bloomington at 60 E Broadway. Public transit connectivity is flawless: ride the METRO Blue Line light rail directly from downtown Minneapolis or the MSP Airport straight to its terminus station inside the mall's lower transit hub. If driving, the complex is ringed with massive, complimentary east and west multi-story covered parking garages.
Travel Tips
- Located in Minnesota, this mega-mall leverages state tax exemptions on all apparel and footwear garments; the complete retail floor operates on a cashless mandate across all payment points.
- The central Nickelodeon Universe theme park enforces a strict Parent Accountability Escort Policy after 3 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, barring minors under 16 without a 21+ legal guardian.
- The primary east and west multi-tier garages suffer severe 45-minute departure gridlocks during peak commerce cycles; parking at an outlying METRO Blue Line station lot and taking the rail minimizes delays.
Reviews
Positive
- The sheer scale is jaw-dropping, offering a true one-stop destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment, even housing a full theme park and aquarium.
- The indoor climate is permanently pleasant, making it the perfect sanctuary for families to hang out, walk, and have fun during Minnesota's freezing winters or rainy days.
- The accessibility is excellent with direct light rail connections to the airport and downtown, complemented by massive free parking garages that eliminate parking stress.
- The mall features not just budget food courts but also a great selection of high-quality sit-down restaurants, catering perfectly to all culinary preferences and budget levels.
Heads up
- Because of its gargantuan size and circular layout, the directional signage can be confusing at intersections, making it very easy to get lost and physically exhausted.
- The crowd density during weekends and holidays is overwhelming; the public seating area benches are always taken, and popular restaurants regularly face wait times over an hour.
- With recent brand restructurings, some unique shops and legacy movie theaters loved by locals have been replaced, making certain wings feel generic and overly commercialized.
- Although there is no clothing tax, tickets for the individual entertainment attractions inside are separate and pricey, meaning a family day out can easily become quite expensive.