Traveling from Brainerd to Edina covers 130.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $19 on fuel for the trip. You will be navigating away from the Brainerd area and heading toward the Edina suburbs, remaining entirely within the Midwest. This route serves as a straightforward connection between these two Minnesota locations, making it a manageable drive for those looking to reach the metro area efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65 miles from Brainerd, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
54.5 mi
1h 3m
C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
25.8 mi
29m
I 94
25.1 mi
27m
MN 100
10.2 mi
12m
Bottineau Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
Highland Scenic Drive South
2.5 mi
3m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brainerd, MN and Edina, MN.
1
Start on MN 371 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Laurel Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Laurel Street
3
Continue on West Laurel Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Laurel Street
4
Continue on CR 48
1.2 mi·1 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 48
108 ft·3 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
6
Continue on CR 48
1.3 mi·1 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
7
Turn left onto MN 371
26 mi·29 min·C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
8
Merge onto US 10
28 mi·32 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
10
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
11
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
12
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
13
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
14
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
15
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
16
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
18
Merge onto I 94
25 mi·27 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 31Toward CR 81Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 81
2.9 mi·4 min·Bottineau Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward MN 100 South
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward MN 100 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto MN 100
10 mi·12 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MN 62 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto MN 62
127 ft·1 sec·Crosstown Highway
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 108BToward MN 100 NorthUse the right lane.
27
Merge onto MN 100
233 ft·3 sec·MN 100
28
Arrive at destination
MN 100
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 10-minute trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on personal preference. You do not need to worry about complex refueling strategies, as the $19 fuel cost is modest for the distance covered. Focus on staying attentive to the specific turns along Highland Scenic Drive South, as these local roads require more active steering than a standard highway. If you prefer to avoid potential congestion near your destination, try to time your arrival to miss the busiest local traffic hours. Take advantage of the direct nature of this route to enjoy a simple, single-day transit between Brainerd and Edina.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Brainerd, MN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edina, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brainerd, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brainerd, MN
This is one driving day of about 129.9 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Brainerd, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.6 and 129.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
29.6 mi into trip|~36m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward CR 81
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward CR 81
7
118.8 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 100 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 100 South
6
129.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward MN 62 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 62 East
8
129.6 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 108B
Toward MN 100 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.33 one way
$38.66 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$20.83
$41.66
premium
$4.53
$23.18
$46.35
diesel
$5.61
$28.68
$57.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
EV Truck/SUV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Brainerd, MN
Late night
in Brainerd on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Edina, MN
Late night
in Edina on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
9 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
2h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will be navigating local roads like Laurel Street, West Laurel Street, and Highland Scenic Drive South throughout the entire 130.9-mile journey. Because the path relies on local infrastructure rather than high-speed interstates, your pace will be dictated by the turns and shifts of the local road network. Staying alert is essential, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be managing frequent transitions rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted cruise.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.6 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 129.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Brainerd, MN to Edina, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 along the way.
Cr 81
115.5 mi in|~2h 18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 129.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on US 10. 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 Edina, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 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 Edina, MN before heading back.
