Forest Lake, MN Road Trips

With 3 routes heading out and 3 heading in, Forest Lake, MN works well as a modest departure point in the Midwest. Most drives stay under 29 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Forest Lake, MN head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

6

Longest Drive

39.9 mi

Bloomington, MN

Quickest Drive

24m

Blaine, MN

Plan Around Forest Lake, MN

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Forest Lake, MN is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Maple Grove, MN to Forest Lake, MN 35.6 mi · 42m Saint Paul, MN to Forest Lake, MN 25.9 mi · 32m Co on Rapids, MN to Forest Lake, MN 24.9 mi · 31m

Continue From Forest Lake, MN

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Forest Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN 39.9 mi · 50m Forest Lake, MN to Minneapolis, MN 29.8 mi · 37m Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN 18 mi · 24m

Trips from Forest Lake, MN

Forest Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN

39.9 mi 50m

Forest Lake, MN to Minneapolis, MN

29.8 mi 37m

Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN

18 mi 24m

Driving from Forest Lake, MN

Expect an average of 29 miles and about 37m behind the wheel when leaving Forest Lake, MN. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 40 miles (50m), while the shortest is just 18 miles.

Popular Destinations

The most popular drives from Forest Lake, MN include Bloomington, MN (39.9 mi, 50m), Minneapolis, MN (29.8 mi, 37m), and Blaine, MN (18 mi, 24m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in MN currently averages around $3.57 per gallon. For the typical 29-mile trip from Forest Lake, MN, budget about $4 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 mapped routes leaving Forest Lake, MN and 3 routes heading into Forest Lake, MN, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 18 to 40 miles.

The longest mapped route from Forest Lake, MN covers 40 miles and takes approximately 50m. Shorter options start at just 18 miles.

The average route from Forest Lake, MN runs about 29 miles with a drive time of roughly 37m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.57/gallon for regular), the average 29-mile trip from Forest Lake, MN costs roughly $4 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Forest Lake, MN include Bloomington, MN, Minneapolis, MN and Blaine, MN. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Forest Lake, MN by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

20,678

Median Income

$89,879

Median Home Value

$375,900

Median Age

38.8

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Forest Lake, MN

Forest Lake is a city in Minnesota.

There are plenty of restaurants throughout Forest Lake. The city is home to many popular chains such as Famous Dave's, Applebee's, and all the major fast food chains. In addition to the well known chains, Forest Lake has restaurants and cafes unique to the region. 1 Norman Quacks, 843 W Broadway Ave, ☏ +1 651 982-6777. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM. A family owned and operated discount chophouse. Normans boasts an expansive menu with something for everyone. Meals range from fish-and-chips to buffalo burgers to fajita style baked potato to fresh cob salads. Normans also has a large selection of hard and soft drinks. Normans is a casual eatery. (updated Aug 2015)

1 Friar's, 1500 S Lake St, ☏ +1 651 464-5040. Su-W 10AM-midnight, Th-Sa 10AM-1AM. Frair Tuck's offers dozens of drafts and specialty drinks at reasonable prices. The pub offers pool, pull tabs, jukebox music, and darts. Friar Tuck's frequently has live music and various drink and eat specials.

1 Hitching Post Motel, 23855 Forest Blvd N (North of Forest Lake on US-61), ☏ +1 651 464-1900. Hitching Post is a budget motel on the north end of Forest Lake. It is located about five minutes from downtown Forest Lake and three minutes from I-35. A scene from the Coen Brothers' film Fargo was shot there. $58+. 2 Country Inn and Suites, 1954 W Broadway Ave (West of I-35), ☏ +1 651 982-9799. Hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool, complimentary Continental plus breakfast, and complimentary high speed internet access in all rooms. $75+.

The city is located along the Hardwood Creek/Sunrise Prairie Bike Trail, a 30+ mile paved, bike trail stretching from Hugo to North Branch. The trail also passes areas of hardwood forest, deep marsh wetlands where sightings of grouse, deer, wild turkey and waterfowl are common. Additionally, the city has built two bike/pedestrian bridges in the last two years to allow for safer travel. The Forest Lake Parks Department has made a bike map for biking in and around the city.

Travel tips adapted from Forest Lake on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.