A system for minimally invasive spine surgery includes a plurality of bone anchors, a spinal rod, a plurality of dilators of differing lengths and diameters, and a surgical access port. The surgical access port includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The port may include a first opening formed in the sidewall that defines a passageway for medical hardware from the lumen to external to the port. The system can include first instrument for creating a subcutaneous pathway from the opening in the port.