Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Night in Apple Valley on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Elk River, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
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
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 West
Use 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 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use 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-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Use 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 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Use 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
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 125 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
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.31 | $18.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Elk River, MN
Night in Elk River on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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 Effort
10/10
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 ft
729 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.
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.
Cr 81
43.3 mi in
|
~53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
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.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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