Rent a Bus to First Avenue: The Complete First Avenue Transportation Guide

The building started as a Greyhound bus depot in 1937 — Art Deco terrazzo floors, blue brick exterior, coaches pulling in and out of downtown Minneapolis at all hours. Nearly ninety years later it's still moving people, just differently. First Avenue (701 First Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55403) is one of the most storied independent music clubs in the country, the venue where Prince filmed Purple Rain in 1983, and the place where more than 400 performing acts have had their name painted in stars on the outside wall.

On a sold-out Friday night in the Warehouse District, 1,550 people pack the main room — and when the last song ends, every one of them spills onto 1st Avenue North at the same time looking for a ride home in January.

That's the problem a Minneapolis party bus rental solves. First Avenue has no parking at all — not a single space on site — and the municipal ramps closest to the door charge $25 event rates on concert nights. Rideshare surge hits the moment the lights come up.

Your group of 20 or 30 people splits into five separate cars, coordinates pickups across two streets with a thousand other fans on the sidewalk, and still spends more per head than a bus would have cost. This guide covers exactly how group transportation works at First Avenue: where a bus drops off, what parking actually runs, which vehicle fits your headcount, and what a real quote looks like. One form or one call to 612-234-4015 gets you pricing in under 30 seconds — the rest is below.

Why a Party Bus or Charter Bus Changes the First Avenue Equation

Start with the parking math. Four cars in your group means four separate $25 event-rate ramp tickets — $100 in parking costs before the show even starts, spread across the nearest ABC Ramps or the Mayo Clinic Square garage across 7th Street. Every car finds its own spot, walks 2–4 blocks to the door, and then has to reverse the entire process at midnight with a thousand other people heading for the same exits.

A single party bus covers the whole group in one vehicle, drops curbside on 1st Avenue North right at the entrance, and eliminates every part of that calculation.

The post-show exit is where groups that drove themselves feel it hardest. When a sold-out 1,550-person main room empties onto the Warehouse District at 11:30 PM or midnight, rideshare surge pricing kicks in immediately and the wait for a pickup in January weather stretches to 15 or 20 minutes. Street parking meters in the area cut off well before shows end.

The ramps clear slowly. Groups relying on rideshare often end up standing on 7th Street — which runs active Metro Transit bus traffic at all hours — watching Uber apps reroute around foot traffic. A First Avenue party bus rental sidesteps all of it: the bus stages nearby, you agree on a pickup window before the show starts, and the vehicle is already there when your group walks out.

Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at First Avenue

First Avenue's official directions page places the venue at 1st Avenue North and 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis. Curbside drop-off for buses and passenger vehicles happens on 1st Avenue North in front of the building — the star-covered black exterior is the landmark. Coming from I-394 eastbound, take the 6th Street exit, follow 6th to 1st Avenue North, and turn right; the venue is one block up at 7th Street.

From I-94 westbound, exit at 5th Street, follow to 1st Avenue North, and turn left. From I-35W northbound out of the southern suburbs, exit at 11th Street, follow to 1st Avenue North, turn right, and go four blocks north to 7th Street.

There is no dedicated bus staging lot at First Avenue. Commercial vehicles drop curbside on 1st Ave N and stage on surrounding Warehouse District streets for the duration of the show. The 7th Street side of the venue runs one of downtown Minneapolis's busiest transit corridors, so post-show staging is cleaner on 1st Avenue North or on Hennepin Avenue one block west rather than on 7th Street itself.

Build the post-show pickup point and window into the plan before your group walks in — coordinating a pickup spot from inside a crowd of several hundred people after the final encore is not a plan.

Parking Near First Avenue: What Your Group Is Actually Dealing With

First Avenue has no parking on site. The venue is clear about this on its directions page — "First Avenue does not offer parking" — and the surrounding blocks are a mix of metered street parking, private surface lots, and municipal ramps. The nearest municipal options are the three ABC Ramps managed by the City of Minneapolis: Ramp A at 101 N 9th Street, Ramp B at 516 2nd Avenue North, and Ramp C at 318 2nd Avenue North.

All three charge a flat $25 event parking rate on busy concert nights, per the MPLS Parking rates page. The Mayo Clinic Square underground garage, directly across 7th Street from the venue, is the single most walkable option — but it fills fast and prices reflect that on sold-out nights.

Ramp A is the closest of the three ABC Ramps to the venue, about a 3-block walk south from 7th Street. That's a 3-minute walk in October and a different experience entirely at midnight in February. For a group of 30 arriving in 8 cars, that's $200 in event parking before the show, eight separate spots to find, and the same 8 people making the post-show walk back through a crowd.

A single Minneapolis charter bus cuts that cost to zero and drops the whole group at the door.

Rent a Bus to First Avenue vs. Every Other Option

First Avenue is two blocks from the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue light rail station at 23 N 5th Street, served by both the Metro Blue and Green Lines — which makes transit a genuine option for some groups, particularly anyone coming in from the airport or from stops along the Blue Line corridor. Here's an honest look at how all the options stack up for a real group on a sold-out concert night.

Light rail is worth naming clearly: for a couple or a solo trip, the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station at 23 N 5th St is as close to a venue station as Minneapolis gets — two blocks, $2 each way, no parking decision. For a group of 20 heading to a sold-out show, though, the math shifts fast. Coordinating everyone onto the same rail car, regrouping on the platform after midnight in January weather, and managing 20 separate return trips on a train that might be packed with other concert-goers is its own project.

A private party bus keeps the group in one place from the first pickup to the last drop-off and eliminates the post-show coordination problem entirely.

What Size Party Bus or Charter Bus Does Your First Avenue Group Need?

First Avenue's main room holds 1,550 people, and 7th St Entry next door caps at 250 — so the shows at this address run the full range from an intimate 200-person venue gig to a fully packed headliner. Your vehicle depends on headcount, and the full vehicle lineup covers every size from a 14-passenger Sprinter limo to a 56-seat coach.

For a typical First Avenue concert run — 20 to 40 people celebrating a birthday, a bachelorette night, or a big group show — a 25-passenger party bus or a 30-passenger party bus is the most common fit. It keeps the group together and builds the energy from the first pickup. For larger company outings or any group north of 40 people, a full charter bus adds overhead storage, an onboard restroom, and deep undercarriage bays for coats and winter gear — which is a real amenity for a Minnesota January show.

ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; note that when you request your quote, and confirm in advance with First Avenue at info@first-avenue.com if you have specific in-venue accessibility needs.

Minneapolis Party Bus Rental Prices for a First Avenue Run

Partybusinminneapolis.com shows available vehicles and pricing online in under 30 seconds — no account needed, no obligation. Concert-night pricing for a First Avenue party bus rental is shaped by vehicle size, the number of hours you need (include any pre-show dinner stops and post-show plans), the specific date, and where the group originates. To give you a sense of planning ranges from the network serving Minneapolis:

A 25-passenger party bus runs roughly $275–$375 per hour on weekends. A 30-passenger bus runs roughly $325–$425 per hour on weekends. A minibus in the 15–35 seat range runs $200–$275 per hour on weekends.

A full charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour regardless of day. These are planning ranges — real quotes move with your specific date, headcount, and route. The 30-second online tool or a call to 612-234-4015 gives you an actual number for your trip.

The per-head comparison is worth running. A 28-person group on a $375/hour party bus for 5 hours comes to roughly $1,875 total — about $67 per person. That's less than what some of those same people would pay in post-show Lyft surge fares getting home at midnight from a sold-out winter headliner, before anyone factors in the $25 event parking they would have paid separately in a ramp.

Split the bus across the group and it's usually a straightforward win. See the Minneapolis party bus prices page for a full breakdown of what shapes the quote.

MSP Airport to First Avenue: Out-of-Town Concert Groups

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport sits about 9 miles south of First Avenue — roughly 15–20 minutes off-peak on I-35W North, longer during afternoon rush. For groups flying in for a specific First Avenue headliner, a Minneapolis charter bus rental that originates at the terminal is one of the most practical setups available. One bus collects the whole group at baggage claim and gets everyone to the hotel and then the venue, instead of scattering them across separate rideshares on arrival day with luggage in tow.

MSP has two terminals: Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey), on opposite sides of the airport complex. Coordinate on which terminal and which baggage carousel before the bus arrives so the ground-level pickup is clean. For groups where flying in and going straight to the show is the plan — land, hotel check-in, concert, late night, fly home — an airport-to-First-Avenue run is a straightforward itinerary.

The Minneapolis airport transportation page covers the full MSP approach, and the MSP airport shuttle guide has the terminal-level pickup details.

Worth knowing: the Metro Blue Line runs directly from MSP Terminal 1 to the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station — a clean transit option for a solo traveler or a couple who wants to skip the rideshare entirely. For a group of 12 or more with luggage, coordinating that many people through the airport train system and then onto a downtown platform is slower and more complicated than one curbside pickup. That's where a charter bus from the terminal makes the most sense.

The Post-Show Exit: What Everyone Underestimates

This is the part of the First Avenue experience that catches groups off guard. The main room holds 1,550 people, and when the last song finishes on a Friday night, those 1,550 people exit into a Warehouse District block that's not designed to absorb them all at once. Rideshare surge pricing activates the moment the show ends.

The 7th Street side of the building carries active Metro Transit bus traffic at all hours, which limits vehicle staging there. Metered parking on surrounding blocks typically expires before midnight. The ABC Ramps empty slowly as hundreds of individual cars all try to leave the same structure at the same time.

For groups without a plan, this sequence often means 15 to 20 minutes standing outside in Minnesota winter temperatures waiting for a rideshare that keeps rerouting. With a party bus or charter bus, none of that is your problem. Set the pickup spot — 1st Avenue North in front, or Hennepin Avenue one block west depending on how the street looks that night — and the window before you walk into the venue.

The bus stages close by during the show and is ready when your group comes out. That's the whole thing. The post-show part of the night should feel like a continuation of the night, not a logistics emergency.

First Avenue Venue Policies: What Group Planners Need to Know

First Avenue's official FAQ page covers the venue rules in full detail. The policies most relevant to group planning:

Bags: Small bags are allowed. Bags are checked at coat check free of charge; coats cost $5 to check at First Avenue and 7th St Entry. For a winter show where the whole group is arriving in heavy coats, budget $5 per person for coat check and brief everyone on it so the entrance line doesn't back up while half the group fumbles for cash at the door.

Photo ID: Required for entry. Strictly enforced for every person in the group, regardless of whether they're purchasing anything inside. Brief anyone in the group who might not immediately think to bring ID to a concert.

Cameras and phones: Cell phones and small point-and-shoot cameras are permitted. Cameras with detachable or telescoping lenses require a photo pass arranged through the artist's management. Flash photography is prohibited for everyone.

Accessibility: All First Avenue-managed venues are wheelchair accessible. Anyone with specific needs should email info@first-avenue.com at least 24 hours before the show. ADA-accessible vehicles are also available through the network — note that in your quote request when you check pricing through Partybusinminneapolis.com.

Recording: Video and audio recording is not permitted without prior arrangement. Standard phone video is typical; anything involving production rigs or dedicated recording setups is a different conversation with venue management.

First Avenue Shows Worth Planning Transportation Around

First Avenue runs over 200 concerts in the main room per year and more than 350 shows annually at 7th St Entry next door. That's a concert calendar dense enough that almost any weekend in Minneapolis has something on at this address. A handful of dates every year push transportation demand hard enough that waiting on a quote until the week of the show becomes expensive and sometimes impossible.

The biggest demand spikes come when national touring acts with strong Twin Cities audiences headline the main room on Friday and Saturday nights between October and April. First Avenue has a level of audience loyalty built over decades of programming that's unusual even for flagship indie venues — locals treat a First Avenue show as its own category of night out. Sold-out shows happen weeks in advance, and when they do, the available vehicle supply in Minneapolis moves with them.

Getting your quote in the same window you buy your tickets is the right approach — not the week before the show when the right-size bus is already gone.

First Avenue also manages five other venues across the Twin Cities — 7th St Entry, Palace Theatre, Fine Line, Turf Club, and The Fitzgerald Theater — which means sold-out main room nights sometimes overlap with simultaneous 7th St Entry shows. For any group where different people have tickets to different stages at the same address, getting everyone there and back on one bus simplifies coordination significantly. The official First Avenue shows calendar is the most current source for what's on; check it early and book transportation as soon as your date is confirmed.

Who Books a Minneapolis Party Bus to First Avenue

The same curbside drop and coordinated pickup serves every kind of group at this venue. These are the requests that come through Partybusinminneapolis.com most often for First Avenue:

Birthday and milestone groups. A birthday night at First Avenue is a natural Minneapolis birthday party bus run — the energy starts on the ride in, everyone stays together for the show, and nobody is coordinating a 1 AM rideshare decision in the cold.

Bachelorette and bachelor nights. First Avenue anchors a lot of bachelorette weekends because it sits in the middle of the Warehouse District, steps from the Hennepin Avenue bar corridor. A bus connects every stop on a Minneapolis bachelorette party bus itinerary without anyone breaking off to grab a separate Lyft between venues.

Corporate and office outings. A company group heading to a Friday night headliner lands cleanly on a Minneapolis corporate event minibus or charter bus. Everyone rides together, the night ends cleanly, and nobody is the designated non-drinking person.

Groups attending a convention downtown during the day and a concert at night often connect those two stops with one bus.

Out-of-town concert groups. Twin Cities music fans know that certain artists play First Avenue and nowhere else in the region. Groups flying in from Chicago, Kansas City, or the coasts for a specific headliner are a regular part of the First Avenue crowd.

One bus from MSP to the hotel and then to the venue is a clean end-to-end solution for that kind of trip.

Private events at the venue. First Avenue rents out its spaces for private events — company parties, album releases, film screenings. When the guest list reaches 30 or more people scattered across the metro, a bus through the Minneapolis private event transportation page is the cleaner move than asking your own guests to navigate downtown parking independently.

Heading to a different Twin Cities venue the same weekend? The Target Center transportation guide covers arena-scale concerts and Timberwolves games a few blocks north, and the Minneapolis group transportation services page handles multi-venue itineraries across the entire metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at First Avenue?

Curbside drop-off for buses and passenger vehicles is on 1st Avenue North in front of the building, at the corner of 1st Ave N and 7th Street. There is no dedicated bus lot at the venue. The approach from I-394 east uses the 6th Street exit to 1st Avenue North; from I-94 west, the 5th Street exit routes to 1st Ave N and a left turn; from I-35W north, exit at 11th Street and follow 1st Avenue North four blocks to 7th Street.

Post-show pickup is cleanest on 1st Ave N in front or on Hennepin Avenue one block west — set the exact location and window with your group before the show starts.

Is there charter bus or motorcoach parking at First Avenue?

No. First Avenue has no on-site parking at all. The nearest municipal options are the ABC Ramps — Ramp A at 101 N 9th Street, Ramp B at 516 2nd Avenue North, and Ramp C at 318 2nd Avenue North — all running a $25 event rate on concert nights per the MPLS Parking rates page. For commercial vehicles, staging happens on the surrounding street network.

The ABC Ramps site has current hours and rates for any part of your group that arrives separately.

How much does a party bus to First Avenue cost in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis party bus rental prices for a First Avenue run depend on vehicle size, total hours booked, and the date. Weekend hourly planning ranges: a 25-passenger party bus runs roughly $275–$375/hour; a 30-passenger bus runs $325–$425/hour; a minibus runs $200–$275/hour; a full charter bus runs $200–$350/hour. Real quotes move with your specific itinerary and date — compare pricing online in under 30 seconds through Partybusinminneapolis.com or call 612-234-4015 any time.

The Minneapolis party bus prices page has the full breakdown.

How close is the light rail to First Avenue?

Very close. The Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station at 23 N 5th Street serves both the Metro Blue and Green Lines and sits about two blocks from First Avenue — a 3–5 minute walk. The Blue Line runs from MSP Airport through downtown, so it's a real transit option for solo travelers or small groups based near the airport.

The Metro Blue and Green Line standard fare is $2 per trip as of 2025 fare changes. For a group of 20 or more, coordinating the same train car, regrouping on a midnight platform in January, and managing 20 separate return trips is a different experience than a bus staged curbside at the door.

When should we book transportation for a First Avenue concert?

The moment you buy your tickets — especially for sold-out or near-sold-out shows on Friday and Saturday nights between October and April, when vehicle supply in Minneapolis tightens quickly. For most shows with a few weeks of lead time, availability is workable. For a major touring act selling out the main room on a winter weekend, book the bus in the same window you secure the tickets, not the week before the show.

How many people does First Avenue hold?

The main room at First Avenue holds 1,550 people. The adjacent 7th St Entry, which shares the same building address on 7th Street, holds 250. Both venues often run simultaneous shows on weekend nights, so if your group has tickets split between the two spaces, one bus still covers everyone — the staging and pickup point is the same corner either way.

What is the bag policy at First Avenue?

Small bags are allowed inside. Bags are checked at coat check free of charge; coats cost $5 to check at First Avenue and 7th St Entry. For winter shows where your group is arriving in heavy coats, plan on coat check and make sure everyone has $5 ready so the entrance line moves.

The First Avenue FAQ page is the official source for current venue policies.

Can a charter bus wait during the show?

Yes. Vehicles are booked as a block of hours, so the bus can drop your group curbside, stage on nearby Warehouse District streets for the duration of the show, and be in position for your agreed pickup window when the crowd exits. Agree on the pickup spot and time with your group coordinator before anyone goes inside so the post-show exit is already handled.

Is First Avenue wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All First Avenue-managed venues are wheelchair accessible. Guests with specific accessibility needs should email info@first-avenue.com at least 24 hours before the event.

ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network of bus companies serving Minneapolis — note that requirement when you request a quote through Partybusinminneapolis.com.

What's the best way to get a large group from downtown Minneapolis hotels to First Avenue?

For hotel blocks within a few blocks of the Warehouse District, a minibus is often the cleanest move — quick hop, everyone on one vehicle, and the pickup and drop-off are already coordinated rather than relying on everyone to walk over in separate windows. A minibus in the 15–35 seat range runs $200–$275/hour on weekends. For hotel groups farther out on Nicollet Mall or near US Bank Stadium, the same bus covers the ride in both directions and eliminates the post-show parking and rideshare scramble entirely.

Call 612-234-4015 to set up a hotel-to-First Avenue shuttle for your specific headcount.

Book a Minneapolis Party Bus to First Avenue Tonight

Whether it's a sold-out headliner in the main room, a bachelorette night anchored around the Warehouse District, a birthday group that wants the party to start on the ride in, or a company outing that ends at the venue where Purple Rain was filmed — Partybusinminneapolis.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter limos from a large network of bus companies serving Minneapolis, all in under 30 seconds with no account required. Your group drops on 1st Avenue North and picks up from the same spot after the show, while everyone else is standing in the February cold waiting on a surging Lyft app.

Call 612-234-4015 any time to get pricing for your specific headcount and date, or use the online tool to compare vehicles and rates instantly. The right bus for your First Avenue night is one form away.