Getting Around

Alexandria is a car town. There’s no way around that — you need a vehicle to live here comfortably. The trade-off is that nothing is more than 10 minutes away, traffic doesn’t exist in any meaningful sense, and parking is free everywhere.

Driving

Interstate 94 runs along the south side of town, connecting Alexandria to the Twin Cities (about 2 hours east) and Fargo (about 2.5 hours west). Highway 29 runs north toward Sauk Centre and south toward Glenwood. In-town driving is straightforward — a grid system with Broadway as the main north-south corridor.

Winter Driving

This deserves its own section. Minnesota winters mean snow-covered roads, ice, limited visibility, and temperatures that test both vehicles and drivers. All-wheel drive or four-wheel drive is strongly recommended. Snow tires make a real difference. Keep a winter kit in your car — blanket, flashlight, phone charger, small shovel. The roads get plowed but not instantly, and rural roads take longer than city streets.

Public Transit

Prairie Five RIDES provides dial-a-ride public transportation in the Alexandria area. It’s not a bus system with fixed routes — you call ahead to schedule a ride. It serves seniors, people with disabilities, and the general public. It’s a lifeline for people who can’t drive but not a substitute for car ownership for most residents.

Airport

The Chandler Field Airport (AXN) serves Alexandria with a paved runway capable of handling small aircraft and some turboprops. It’s a general aviation airport — no commercial flights. The nearest commercial airports are Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), about 2.5 hours, and Fargo (FAR), about 3 hours. Both offer full domestic and some international service.

Biking & Walking

Within town, biking is practical for some trips — especially with trail connections through the south side. Walking works in the downtown core and neighborhoods. But for groceries, jobs outside downtown, and anything beyond the immediate area, you’re driving. That’s the reality of small-town Minnesota geography.