JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
Connected directly to the mall
About this hotel
Physically connected to Mall of America, this JW Marriott gives families a covered walk straight into the mall's Nickelodeon Universe and shops without stepping outside, on top of its own indoor pool and fitness centre. An on-site restaurant covers meals without a car trip, and covered parking keeps the Minnesota winter from being a factor when loading up gear for a water park day nearby. With an 8.9 rating built on guests rating the top location at 9.8, this property leans into polish and convenience over the extended-stay practicality found elsewhere on the strip, making it a natural pick for a family prioritizing a smooth walk between the room, the mall and Water Park of America over a lower nightly rate.
- Indoor pool
- On-site restaurant
- Covered parking
Our take
This suits a family wanting a higher-polish stay directly connected to the mall with fewer logistics to manage, less so a budget-focused family, since the four-star rate here runs above the extended-stay suites elsewhere on the strip. The covered mall connection alone can justify the premium for a winter visit.
- ✓Use the covered mall connection to avoid the Minnesota cold entirely when moving between the room and Nickelodeon Universe.
- ✓Book the on-site restaurant for at least one dinner to skip a drive during a tired evening after the water park.
- ✓Reserve early during school-break weeks; this property's high rating makes it one of the first to fill on this strip.
Why we love it
- Directly connected to Mall of America
- Indoor pool and fitness centre on site
- Covered parking avoids winter weather
- On-site restaurant for car-free meals
Why guests love itWe never once needed a jacket the entire stay, walking from the room straight into Mall of America through the covered connection. The indoor pool became our go-to on the one evening we skipped a second water park session for a quieter swim instead, and the on-site restaurant saved us a drive on our most tired night, after two full days of slides had worn the whole family out completely.