Connecting Apple Valley to Elk River, this 52.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Minnesota. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 4 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect one-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes Cedar Avenue, I-494, and I-94 to navigate between these two Midwest locations. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire drive stays within the state of Minnesota, you won't deal with regional transitions or major shifts in landscape. It is a highly practical route for those needing to get from the southern suburbs to the northwestern metro area efficiently.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 494
24.8 mi
30m
Cedar Avenue
9.5 mi
11m
I 94
8.3 mi
9m
MN 101
6.4 mi
7m
MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi
<1m
Main Street Northwest
0.6 mi
1m
US Highway 169
0.5 mi
<1m
Jackson Avenue Northwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,968 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~207 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 31 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Elk River, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft·6 sec·County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
9.5 mi·11 min·Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 WestUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
8.8 mi·11 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi·19 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 94
8.3 mi·9 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 207A-BToward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi·55 sec·MN 101 North Bypass
Exit 207BToward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk RiverUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto MN 101
6.4 mi·7 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi·35 sec·US Highway 169
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
438 ft·11 sec
14
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street Northwest
15
Turn right onto Jackson Avenue Northwest
261 ft·7 sec·Jackson Avenue Northwest
16
Arrive at destination
Jackson Avenue Northwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
34.4 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
43.3 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk...
8
43.6 mi into trip|~53m in|MN 101 North Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.84 one way
$15.68 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg18 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$8.47
$16.93
premium
$4.60
$9.46
$18.91
diesel
$4.80
$9.86
$19.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15.7
0
$5.48
$2.51
Efficient EV
13.1
0
$4.57
$2.09
EV Truck/SUV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 9, 2026
Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Late night
in Apple Valley on Monday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 0 to 5 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 10:56PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:44PM CDT until July 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Elk River, MN
Late night
in Elk River on Monday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog
N 0 to 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 10:56PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:44PM CDT until July 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
89°F
Plymouth, MN
26 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a steady pace as you move through the suburban landscape, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 24.8 miles on I-494. While the road lacks the complexity of winding backroads, the transition between Cedar Avenue and the interstate system provides a distinct shift in driving rhythm. Expect a functional, high-speed experience that prioritizes speed and directness over leisure. Because the route is entirely paved and well-maintained, you can maintain a consistent momentum throughout the entire 52.2-mile distance.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.8 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and Cedar Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,016 ft729 ft
Total Climb
447 ft
Total Descent
507 ft
Highest Point
1,016 ft
~2.2 mi in
Elevation Range
287 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 along the way.
Apple Valley, a relatively-modern suburban community at the southern edge of Minnesota's Twin Cities region, is far enough from the city to have plenty of open space to host parkland, a golf course and the state's expansive zoological gardens while remaining close enough to allow easy access to Minneapolis and its big-city amenities.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.8 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elk River, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elk River, MN before heading back.
