Brooklyn Park, MN to Clinton, MN is 185.8 miles and takes about 3h 44m via Minnesota Avenue and I 94, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Midwest, entirely within Minnesota, that should feel familiar if you've driven in the region before. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a route built for making good time. Consider this if you need an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
92.9 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Minnesota Avenue
41.3 mi
46m
MN 23
40 mi
47m
I 94
36 mi
38m
MN 9
35.8 mi
47m
I-94 W
12.6 mi
13m
US 75
11.2 mi
16m
County Road 81
3.3 mi
5m
MN-610
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Minnesota Avenue
— 41.3 mi, about 46m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,736 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,292
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Brooklyn Park, MN and Clinton, MN.
1
Start on CR 14
34 ft·5 sec·Zane Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 152
1.4 mi·2 min·Brooklyn Boulevard
3
Turn right onto CR 81
1.2 mi·1 min·Bottineau Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on CR 81
3.3 mi·5 min·County Road 81
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward MN 610 West
6
Merge onto MN 610
2.1 mi·2 min·MN-610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 94
13 mi·13 min·I-94 W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
36 mi·38 min·I 94
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward MN 23 West: Paynesville
10
Merge onto MN 23
15 mi·19 min·MN 23
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MN 23
1.1 mi·1 min·MN 23
12
Continue on MN 23
24 mi·27 min·MN 23
13
Turn right onto MN 9
36 mi·47 min·MN 9
14
Turn right onto US 12; MN 9
370 ft·18 sec·Atlantic Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 12; MN 29
0.2 mi·15 sec·14th Street North
16
Continue on US 12; MN 29
0.1 mi·9 sec·Church Street
17
Turn right onto US 12
41 mi·46 min·Minnesota Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 75
11 mi·16 min·US 75
19
Turn right onto Main Street
33 ft·1 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Clinton well before evening. The route has only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $31, and it's always wise to fill up before heading into more rural stretches. A good tip for this drive is to be aware of the transition from highway to surface roads around the 41.3-mile mark on Minnesota Avenue, as this will require a change in driving pace.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.9 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.3 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, MN
This is one driving day of about 185.8 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Brooklyn Park, 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 Minnesota Avenue for about 41.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 132.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6.2 mi into trip|~10m in|MN 610 / MN-610
Merge onto MN 610 / MN-610
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
8.3 mi into trip|~12m in|I 94 / I-94 W
Merge onto I 94 / I-94 W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
57.1 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|MN 23
Merge onto MN 23
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
132.9 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 12; MN 29 / 14th Street North
Turn left onto US 12; MN 29 / 14th Street North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.26 one way
$62.51 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$33.66
$67.33
premium
$5.04
$36.84
$73.68
diesel
$5.64
$41.25
$82.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.51
$8.92
Efficient EV
46.5
0
$16.26
$7.43
EV Truck/SUV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Brooklyn Park, MN
Late night
in Brooklyn Park on Saturday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton, MN
Late night
in Clinton on Saturday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Avon, MN
93 mi in
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
1 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
3h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 74% of your time on highways, including I 94. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads, Minnesota Avenue, lasts for 41.3 miles. Expect a mix of cruising on interstates and navigating through more populated areas as you transition from the Twin Cities metro region. The frequent exits on the highway portion mean you'll have opportunities for quick stops.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.3 mi on Minnesota Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Minnesota Avenue and MN 23. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
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 185.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.4 miles (CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 185.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.3 miles on Minnesota Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Clinton, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
