Transportation Information

Timing Your Arrival

Airport Shuttle and Booking Your Flight

Shuttles will run from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport MSP to Carleton College in Northfield between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on every Sunday arrival day. Students will have the option to opt into this shuttle bus after they are admitted. Be prepared to wait at the airport prior to your shuttle time. 

In order to ride the arrival airport shuttle, students must book flights that arrive at MSP before 1:00 pm on their designated arrival day. Shuttles will run between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm to bring students to campus. 

At the airport, there will be a SLAI staff member stationed at a booth in the baggage claim area where you will gather before boarding the shuttle bus. This staff member will have a phone on hand that you are encouraged to call if you need help finding the booth or encounter any problems on the day you are scheduled to travel. If your flight is delayed, please notify our staff so we know to expect you on the shuttle, or if you need to make other arrangements.

You may make plans outside of the scope of shuttle recommendations and arrangements, but those are yours to coordinate and fund. If you arrange your own transportation we still expect that you arrive on campus between 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm on your designated arrival day.

An email will be sent in mid-June to confirm your flight details. Specific instructions for how to find our staff and your airport shuttle bus will be provided via email in early July.

Note for Parents/Family Flying in with Students:

SLAI’s airport shuttle to campus is designated for students only. For both security and space reasons, we cannot accommodate parents or family on the shuttle bus. If you are planning to fly with your student, you will need to coordinate your own transportation to and from campus.

Flight Delays and Cancellations

SLAI is aware that travel can be unpredictable when arriving by air. It is the responsibility of SLAI students and their parent/guardian to communicate travel delays that will impact their arrival as they occur. If a student arrives outside of the SLAI shuttle times it will become the responsibility of the student to find and fund their own transportation to campus. Uber and Lyft services are available from the airport to campus, and can be obtained at the airport. Students can direct their driver to bring them to Skinner Memorial Chapel, located at 405 First Street East, Northfield MN 55057.

Arriving by car

Arrival Location

Students will check in upon arrival at Skinner Memorial Chapel, located at 405 First Street East, Northfield MN 55057.

Directions to Campus Check-In Location

From Interstate 35, take exit 69 onto Highway 19 going east. At the first stop light (Highway 3), turn left. At the next stop light (Second Street), turn right. Follow second street to College Street, turn left onto College Street. Check-in will be inside the Chapel. There will be signs around campus and off the major roads to help you find your way. You may park on the street or in any parking spots designated for visitors or guests.

Student Vehicles

Students are not permitted to drive motor vehicles while SLAI is in session. Participants bringing motor vehicles will be directed to appropriate long-term parking. Vehicle keys must be turned over to a SLAI staff member at check-in and will be secured for the duration of the program.

Timing Your Departure

In order to accommodate our program schedule and airport shuttle, return flights should be booked at the following times depending on the program you attend. Airport shuttles will leave campus at noon on Fridays to bring students to their airport. We request that departure flights depart after 3:30 pm to allow sufficient time for students riding our airport shuttle to check luggage, get through security, and find their gates. To ensure all students make their flights, there will not be adjustments to this shuttle departure time.

Flight Delays and Cancellations

SLAI does not have continued use of the residential halls after the program. Students are not considered under our care after their shuttle departure time. Any re-booking of flights must be done by the student’s families. No additional shuttle times after 12:00pm on Friday are provided.

The final day of class and symposium ends at 11:30 am on the last Friday of each program. Parents should plan to pick their students up between 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Parents who are picking their student up on July 24 may attend the public symposium between 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Students are not considered under our care after 2 pm on their final program day.