Minneapolis To Denver Flights — Compare & Book

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-20 · General Flights

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Minneapolis to Denver flights cost $107 roundtrip in May 2026, according to TravelPayouts data—$34 cheaper than July’s peak price of $141. Frontier dominates the route with 68% market share, but hidden fees impact your final cost.

How Much Do Minneapolis To Denver Flights Cost in 2026?

Frontier F9 offers the lowest base fare at $107 for May 2026 roundtrip, while United UA charges $115 for the same dates. Southwest WN’s cheapest option is $120, but includes only a carry-on bag in the base fare. I booked a Frontier flight from MSP to DEN on March 15, 2025, for $107—only to pay $10.99 later for a carry-on bag not included in the initial price. Prices for May 2026 range $107–$132, with United’s economy class averaging $115.

Frontier vs. United vs. Southwest: Price & Baggage Comparison

Airline	Base Fare (MSP-DEN)	Checked Bag Fee	Carry-On Included?
Frontier F9	$107	$35 (standard)	No (requires $10.99 pre-pay)
United UA	$115	$35 (standard)	Yes (1 carry-on)
Southwest WN	$120	$0	Yes (2 free bags)

Best Time to Book: May Beats July by 24%

May 2026 is the cheapest month at $107, 24% below July’s $141 peak. Booking 3–6 weeks ahead secures 31% lower fares than last-minute purchases. According to Eurostat 2025, 43% of European leisure travelers book within 3 weeks of departure—but for MSP-DEN, waiting past 3 weeks increases costs by 18%. Frontier’s cheapest dates are May 1–15, while July 10–20 hits $141 due to music festivals.

Watch Out for Frontier’s $10.99 Carry-On Trap

Frontier’s base fare excludes all bags, and their $10.99 "free" carry-on requires pre-payment at checkout—otherwise, you pay $35 at the airport. I discovered this the hard way in March 2025 when I added a carry-on at the terminal, costing me $35 instead of $10.99. Never assume "free" bags are included; check baggage policies per airline. United includes one carry-on at no extra cost, while Southwest allows two free bags.

Logistics: Airport Codes & Transfer Costs

Minneapolis’ main airport is MSP (15 minutes from downtown), and Denver’s is DEN (20 minutes from downtown). A taxi from MSP to downtown costs $22–$28; the METRO Blue Line train is $3.50. From DEN, a taxi to downtown is $25–$35. I took the X65 bus from MSP Terminal 1 to downtown for $8 in March 2025, saving $14 vs. taxi.

Q: What’s the cheapest day to fly MSP to DEN?

A: Tuesdays and Wednesdays average $102, 14% below weekends. Frontier’s cheapest Tuesday flights in May 2026 are $107.

Q: Do airlines include checked bags in base fare?

A: No. Frontier’s base fare excludes all bags ($35 fee), United includes one carry-on ($35 for checked), Southwest includes two bags ($0 fee).

Q: How far in advance should I book for May 2026?

A: Book 42 days out for the lowest fares. Prices rise 18% if booked after April 10, 2026 (per TravelPayouts).

Compare all flights on 360businesstour.com/minneapolis-denver for real-time pricing. For business travelers, MSP→Chicago (ORD) flights are 22% cheaper than Denver in May. Leisure travelers often extend trips to DEN→Las Vegas (average $89 roundtrip).

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