Cheap flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Raleigh-Durham International from $119
Updated 2026-07-17
979 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 22m with 6 airlines operating direct service from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU). Fares on this corridor stay relatively stable across the year — booking 4–8 weeks ahead and choosing a midweek departure typically secures the best price.
Flying from Minneapolis-St. Paul
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International is Delta Air Lines' second-largest hub and the principal upper-Midwest gateway. Two terminals — Lindbergh (T1) and Humphrey (T2) — connect via shuttle, with METRO Blue Line light rail running from T1 directly to downtown Minneapolis in 25 minutes and to the Mall of America in 13 minutes for $2.50. Sun Country Airlines has its main base here. International long-haul reaches Amsterdam, Paris, Reykjavík and Dublin daily.
Arriving in Raleigh-Durham
Raleigh-Durham International serves the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) and is 12 miles from each. There is no rail; GoRaleigh bus 100 reaches downtown Raleigh in 45 minutes for $1.25, GoTriangle bus 805 reaches downtown Durham. Fares to RDU peak around Duke and UNC graduations (May) and major basketball games (February–March); January and August are the cheapest.
Who flies MSP to RDU?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 22m | Economy |
| Sun Country Airlines | SY | 2h 22m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 22m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 2h 22m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 22m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 22m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Minneapolis to Raleigh-Durham FAQs
Direct flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) take approximately 2h 22m for the 979-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
6 carriers operate direct service from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU): Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines and 1 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Delta Air Lines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) is the primary international airport for Raleigh-Durham. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.