Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to North Oaks, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
30.8 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
North Oaks, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Apple Valley, MN to North Oaks, MN is 30.8 miles and takes about 44m via I 35E and Cedar Avenue, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a quick and straightforward transit. It's ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a direct connection without extensive planning required. Consider this a simple hop for local travel or a quick segment of a larger trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 22.3 mi | 28m |
| Cedar Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Oaks Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Oaks Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 694 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Centerville Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 10 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| CH 96 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 22.3 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and North Oaks, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 35E
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 35E
7
Merge onto I 35E; I 94
350 ft
·
5 sec
·
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit onto I 35E
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 10
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 694
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 117
Toward CH 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto CH 96
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CH 96
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto CH 59
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Centerville Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto East Oaks Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Oaks Road
17
Continue on North Oaks Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Oaks Road
18
Arrive at destination
North Oaks Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 24.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 35E
Take the exit onto I 35E toward I 35E North, US 10 West
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 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
7
24.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E North: Duluth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.17 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.94 | $9.88 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.50 | $10.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
North Oaks, MN
Morning in North Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
44m 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?
You'll spend about 77% of this 30.8-mile drive on highways, with the longest uninterrupted highway stretch being 22.3 miles on I 35E. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination. Expect a mostly highway profile for the bulk of the trip, with some suburban cruising as you near North Oaks. The dense exit structure of I 35E will be a noticeable feature for much of the drive.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.3 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Cedar Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 30.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 North Oaks, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Ch 96 along the way.
Ch 96
27.7 mi in
|
~36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 30.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.3 miles on I 35E. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 North Oaks, 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: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Oaks, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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