Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP / KMSP) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Minneapolis, United States of America
Minneapolis
MSP/KMSP
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 16:29 local
- Active runway
- 12L
- METAR wind
- 240° @ 7 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 12L - sunny side
- Sun
- 234° / 15°
D-ATIS · -3 kt headwind
LIFR
Sweet spot
Golden hour in 59m
Sweet spotWant a Telegram ping when KMSP flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Minneapolis (MSP) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
LIFR240° @ 7 kt
12°C · 2 sm · 1017 hPa
BKN004 OVC008
Golden hour in 59m
Runway alerts for Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at MSP, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 12L - sunny side Runway 12L | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 16:00-18:00 local. Avoid 09:00-10:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 12L · Dep 12L
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 45° | 11,006 ft | -6.8 kt | 1.8 kt | Closed |
| 22 | 225° | 11,006 ft | +6.8 kt | 1.8 kt | Closed |
| 12R | 121° | 10,000 ft | -3.4 kt | 6.1 kt | Closed |
| 30L | 301° | 10,000 ft | +3.4 kt | 6.1 kt | Standby |
| 12L | 121° | 8,200 ft | -3.4 kt | 6.1 kt | Both |
| 30R | 301° | 8,200 ft | +3.4 kt | 6.1 kt | Standby |
| 17 | 170° | 8,000 ft | +2.3 kt | 6.6 kt | Standby |
| 35 | 350° | 8,000 ft | -2.3 kt | 6.6 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Minneapolis (KMSP)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 123.675 | Published |
| Approach | 118.720 | Published |
| Departure | 132.975 | Published |
| Ground | 121.800 | Published |
| Delivery | 133.200 | Published |
| ATIS | 120.800 | Published |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageFrequently asked questions about plane spotting at Minneapolis (MSP/KMSP)
Which runway is active at Minneapolis (MSP/KMSP) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 16:00 local, D-ATIS confirms landing and departure 12L. The METAR wind is 240° at 7 kt. 12L shows -3.4 kt headwind and 6.1 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: 04, 22, 12R.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Minneapolis (MSP) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 2° elevation. Short final 12L - sunny side scores 69/100, 1234 m from runway 12L, view bearing 150.5°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 228° and 19°. Short final 12L - sunny side scores 87/100 on a 92.0° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field?
The best time to plane spot at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP/KMSP) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 1 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at KMSP spotting locations?
KMSP spotting locations sun direction: Short final 12L - sunny side (runway 12L) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 16:00-18:00 local. Avoid 09:00-10:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Minneapolis (MSP)?
Short final 12L - sunny side is 1234 m from the 12L centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Minneapolis (KMSP)?
Monitor Tower 123.675 MHz, Ground 121.8 MHz, Approach 118.72 MHz, ATIS 120.8 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 123.675 MHz.
How do I know when Minneapolis (MSP) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 240° at 7 kt, so 12L remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/KMSP#runway-alerts