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Trip from Brainerd, MN to Maple Grove, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

114 mi

184 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Minnesota, United States

Brainerd, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Maple Grove, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 118-mile journey from Brainerd to Maple Grove, Minnesota, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no significant highway driving, making for a more connected experience with the surrounding Midwest landscape. With a projected fuel cost of around $17, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests you'll be making frequent turns, so staying alert and using navigation is key. This route is best suited for a straightforward day trip, allowing you to focus on the drive itself without needing to plan overnight stays.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

57 miles from Brainerd, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m 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 21.1 mi 22m
Highland Scenic Drive South 2.5 mi 3m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Broadway Street East 1.5 mi 2m
Park Boulevard Southeast 1.4 mi 1m
I 494 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 10 — 54.5 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brainerd, MN and Maple Grove, 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

21 mi · 22 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Exit 216 Toward I 494 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 494

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 494
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 26 Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road Use the slight right lane.
22

Turn right onto CR 10

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
23

Arrive at destination

CR 10

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart whenever it suits your schedule, and with no designated stops or long stretches, you can decide on breaks as needed. The main roads involve frequent turns, so keeping your navigation system active is highly recommended to avoid missing any crucial directions. Plan your fuel stops before you leave Brainerd, as the $17 fuel cost is an estimate and it's always wise to start with a full tank on local routes. This drive is easy to complete in one go, so focus on enjoying the local roads.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57 miles from Brainerd, MN, or about 1h 8m 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 25 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 57 miles or 1h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, 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 114 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Brainerd, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Cloud, MN

57 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

Little Falls, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Cloud, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57 miles from Brainerd, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break

Coco Moon Coffee Co

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brainerd, Minnesota

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Loco Espress Coffee House & Boutique

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brainerd, Minnesota

0.6 mi

Barista Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Little Falls, Minnesota

1.6 mi

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

Coco Moon Coffee Co

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Loco Espress Coffee House & Boutique

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12183304335

Visit website

Barista Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Little Falls, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13204142230

Visit website

StoneHouse Coffee & Roastery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Baxter, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12184542835

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Safari North Wildlife Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0 mi from route

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+12184541662

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 29.6 and 113.6 — 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.
5
90.5 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
111.6 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 494 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 216 Toward I 494 South
7
113.3 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 26 Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
113.6 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | CR 10 / Bass Lake Road

Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.97 one way

$33.93 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $18.28 $36.56
premium $4.53 $20.34 $40.68
diesel $5.61 $25.17 $50.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.2 0 $11.97 $5.47
Efficient EV 28.5 0 $9.98 $4.56
EV Truck/SUV 45.6 0 $15.96 $7.30

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Brainerd, MN

Late night in Brainerd on Tuesday

Local time

4:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Maple Grove, MN

Late night in Maple Grove on Tuesday

Local time

4:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

22 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 17m 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?

Expect a drive that keeps you engaged with its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter long stretches of monotonous interstate. Instead, you'll be navigating through communities using roads like Laurel Street and Highland Scenic Drive South. While there isn't a specified 'longest stretch,' the nature of this route implies frequent changes in direction and speed as you move through various local environments. This type of driving offers a more intimate connection with the scenery and towns along the way, rather than a high-speed transit.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 29.6 miles in near US 10.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Brainerd, MN

Full guide →

Brainerd is a city in Northwestern Minnesota.

Arriving in Maple Grove, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1858

Maple Grove is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 114 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). 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 Maple Grove, 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. 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 90.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maple Grove, 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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