Super Bowl 2018: Headed out of Minneapolis? Read this first

File photo
Super Bowl traffic on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis before game day. Expect similar woes during Super Bowl clean up this week.
Judy Griesedieck for MPR News

Updated 3 p.m. | Posted 6 a.m.

Transportation officials are telling people headed out of town after the game one thing: Leave early.

Like early, early.

And they aren't joking.

Planes

Long lines form at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Long lines form at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport early Monday as Super Bowl visitors begin to leave.
Tim Nelson | MPR News

Monday is expected to be the busiest travel day on record at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, when as many as 69,000 people to line up for security screening, more than double a normal Monday. Tuesday, officials predict, will the second busiest.

The airport is advising travelers to remember the 5-4-3-2-1 mantra.

5 hours before departure: Check out of your hotel or airbnb rental.
4 hours before departure: Turn in your rental car.
3 hours before departure: Check your bags at ticket counter.
2 hours before departure Get in line at TSA security.
1 hour before departure: Be at your gate.

Trains

Expect Blue and Green Line light rail trains to be packed headed to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday and Tuesday.

Automobiles

If you are headed into downtown Minneapolis, expect the same street shutdowns and delays as before the game while workers begin the tear down and clean up.

For current road conditions, use Minnesota Department of Transportation's 511 web site or download the app.

And, buses

Detours on routes in downtown Minneapolis and around the Mall of America in place for the Super Bowl remain in place on Monday.

Check your route before you head out.

While activities on Nicollet Mall have concluded, teardown will continue on Monday and Nicollet Avenue will remain closed to transit.

Also check your route to see if there are any accidents or issues here.

For locals, Monday may be a good day to work from home.

Forklifts were zooming around the Mall of America, private jets lifting off the ground in Blaine, and Uber drivers were circling downtown as Minnesota bid the Super Bowl farewell.

"As soon as the final whistle blew on our show ... before the game even started, we started to quietly tear down while the Super Bowl was being played," said Kyle Chank, operations director for the Super Bowl host committee, which put on Super Bowl Live, the event that occupied Nicollet Mall for the last two weeks.

The Super Bowl hops a flight to Atlanta

Should be a little warmer outside for next year's big game:

MPR News reporter Tim Nelson contributed to this report.