You’re standing in the middle of a massive atrium, looking up at a ceiling so high it has its own weather patterns. Okay, maybe not literally, but it feels like it. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where is the largest shopping mall in america, you aren’t just looking for a GPS coordinate. You’re looking for a beast of a building that defies the "death of the mall" narrative we’ve been hearing for a decade.
The short answer? It’s in Minnesota. Specifically, Bloomington.
The Mall of America (MoA) has held the crown since it opened its doors in 1992. It is a sprawling, 5.6-million-square-foot ecosystem that is basically a city-state dedicated to retail and roller coasters. But there’s a catch. If you ask a real estate developer or a square-footage geek, the answer gets a little messy.
The King of the North: Mall of America
So, let’s talk Bloomington. It’s right next to Minneapolis, and honestly, the mall is the only reason half the people on your flight are even landing at MSP.
The Mall of America is huge. Like, "can fit seven Yankee Stadiums inside it" huge. It has over 520 stores. If you spent just 10 minutes in every shop, it would take you 86 hours to finish your trip. That’s not a shopping spree; that’s a second job.
What makes MoA the undisputed heavyweight isn't just the sheer number of places to buy sneakers. It’s the stuff in the middle. Most malls have a fountain or maybe a sad carousel. This place has Nickelodeon Universe, a seven-acre indoor theme park with full-sized roller coasters that scream past the second-story windows of a Macy’s. There’s also the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, which features a 300-foot underground tunnel. You’re literally walking under sharks while someone a floor above you is trying on jeans at Abercrombie.
Why people get the "Largest" title wrong
Here is where the experts start arguing over beer. While MoA is the largest in total square footage (5.6 million sq ft), it isn't always the leader in gross leasable area (GLA).
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- Total Square Footage: Includes the theme park, the hallways, the massive atriums, and the backrooms.
- Gross Leasable Area: Only the square footage that stores actually pay rent for.
Because MoA gives up so much space to a theme park and a giant LEGO store, other malls sometimes claim the title based on how much "pure" shopping space they have. But for the average person walking through the doors, Mall of America feels the biggest because, well, it is.
The Rivalry: American Dream and King of Prussia
If you aren't in Minnesota, you might be looking toward the East Coast.
The American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is the new kid on the block. It’s owned by the Triple Five Group—the same folks who own Mall of America. It clocks in at around 3 million square feet. For a while, there was talk that it would eventually surpass the original, but for now, it sits firmly in the number two spot. It’s less of a mall and more of an entertainment complex; only about 30 percent of the space is actual retail. They have an indoor ski slope called Big SNOW and a DreamWorks Water Park. It’s weirdly futuristic and slightly chaotic.
Then there’s King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia.
This is the one that usually confuses people. For years, King of Prussia (or KOP to the locals) was technically the largest mall in the U.S. by shopping space. They don't have a roller coaster. They don't have a ski slope. They just have a ridiculous amount of stores—about 450 of them. If you are a hardcore shopper who finds theme parks distracting, KOP is your Mecca. It’s 2.9 million square feet of almost pure retail.
Beyond the Numbers: What It’s Actually Like
Visiting the Mall of America is a weirdly exhausting rite of passage.
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Most people don't realize there is no sales tax on clothing or shoes in Minnesota. That is a massive deal. It’s why you’ll see people at the airport with four suitcases they didn't bring with them.
The mall is built in a giant rectangle. There are four floors, though the fourth floor is mostly cinemas and restaurants. It’s strangely easy to get lost because every corner looks like the last one until you see the giant LEGO robot or the rotunda where a C-list celebrity is doing a book signing.
Expert Tip: If you're going to MoA, don't park in the ramps if you can help it. Take the light rail from the airport or downtown Minneapolis. It drops you off right in the basement, and you won't have to remember if you parked in "P4 Level 2 North" or "P2 Level 4 West."
Why These Mega-Malls Still Exist
You've probably seen those "dead mall" videos on YouTube. Creepy music, empty food courts, weeds growing through the floor. It’s a real thing.
But the biggest malls in America are actually doing fine.
They’ve pivoted. They aren't just selling shirts anymore; they’re selling "experiences." You can’t download a roller coaster ride or an indoor ski trip on Amazon. By turning into travel destinations with attached hotels—like the JW Marriott or Radisson Blu attached to MoA—they’ve made themselves immune to the "retail apocalypse." People fly in from all over the world to spend a weekend inside a single building. It's kinda wild when you think about it.
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The Top 5 Largest Malls (By Total Square Footage)
- Mall of America (Bloomington, MN) - 5.6 million sq ft. The king.
- American Dream (East Rutherford, NJ) - 3.0 million sq ft. The entertainment hub.
- The Galleria (Houston, TX) - 3.0 million sq ft. A Texas-sized luxury spot with an ice rink.
- King of Prussia (King of Prussia, PA) - 2.9 million sq ft. The pure shopping powerhouse.
- Aventura Mall (Aventura, FL) - 2.7 million sq ft. Where art meets high-end fashion.
Survival Guide for the Largest Mall in America
If you actually decide to make the trek to Bloomington, you need a plan.
First, wear the most comfortable shoes you own. I’m serious. You will easily walk five miles just doing one loop of the floors.
Second, check the event calendar. MoA hosts over 400 events a year. You might stumble into a K-pop concert, a charity walk, or a massive holiday parade. If you hate crowds, Tuesday mornings are your best friend. If you go on a Saturday in December, may the odds be ever in your favor.
Third, eat somewhere that isn't the food court. The mall has actually leveled up its food game lately. There are full-service restaurants like Cedar + Stone that use local Minnesota ingredients. It's a far cry from the soggy "Sbarro" slices of your childhood.
Planning Your Visit
So, now you know. The largest shopping mall in America is in the snowy suburbs of Minnesota. Whether you’re going for the tax-free clothes, the thrill of a coaster, or just to say you’ve been to the biggest, it’s a trip worth taking at least once.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Metro Transit schedule to see if the Blue Line light rail is the best way to get there from your hotel.
- Download the Mall of America app because the digital map is the only thing that will save you when you're looking for that one specific boutique on Level 3 South.
- Look into a "Big Ticket" pass if you plan on doing the aquarium and the theme park; it usually saves you a decent chunk of change compared to buying them separately.