Mall of America

Bloomington · MN

When to go

BestGoodBusyPeak crowdsClosed

Day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Time: At retail opening, especially Tuesday through Thursday, for easier navigation and shorter attraction queues. · Before noon or after 2 p.m. for food-court meals.
Avoid: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when the mall is closed; avoid driving during major snow or ice events.

About 3 hours

Start
Enter through the entrance matching your priority: East for transit/SEA LIFE, West for Nickelodeon Universe, South for Crayola, or North for shuttles.10 min
Use the Level 1 Guest Services desks near East, North, or West entrances for directions, lockers, wheelchairs, or strollers.
+10 min
Walk Level 1 around Nickelodeon Universe and the central atrium.30 min
This is the essential Mall of America spectacle; decide here whether rides are worth buying for your group.
+40 min
Do one preselected paid attraction or focused shopping zone.75 min
SEA LIFE suits a shorter break; FlyOver is easy to slot in; Crayola and a Nickelodeon wristband need much more time.
+1 h 55
Eat an early or late lunch.30 min
Eat before noon or after 2 p.m. to avoid the busiest food-court period.
+2 h 25
Browse one or two selected corridors, then finish with Level 3/4 shops or a sit-down meal.35 min
Use the directory and shop by zone rather than repeatedly crossing the central park.

Bring

Food & breaks

Skip it if

Skip it if shopping, chain restaurants, branded entertainment, and crowds are not appealing; it is fundamentally a mall.