Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
7.8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooklyn Park, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia Heights, MN
Wikimedia Commons
This quick 7.8-mile drive from Brooklyn Park to Columbia Heights, MN, is an easy 13-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate University Avenue Northeast and I-694, with a portion on Brooklyn Boulevard, making for a mixed driving experience. With a minimal fuel cost of around $1, this short hop is highly economical. Given its brevity, no overnight stay is required, allowing for a flexible schedule. The journey stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar feel throughout.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Avenue Northeast | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| I 694 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Brooklyn Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| I 94 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Zane Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Columbia Heights, MN.
Start on CR 14
Turn right onto CR 152
Turn left
Merge onto I 94; I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto MN 47
Continue on MN 47
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 152 / Brooklyn Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 94 East, I 694 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MN 47: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 47
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.16 one way
$2.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.25 | $2.50 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.39 | $2.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.72 | $3.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.82 | $0.37 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.68 | $0.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Brooklyn Park on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Columbia Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a varied drive with 37% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.5 miles along University Avenue Northeast. This route offers a mix of faster highway driving and more local road conditions, so be prepared for potential changes in speed limits and traffic patterns. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting you'll experience different types of road surfaces and traffic densities as you travel the 7.8 miles.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 152 / Brooklyn Boulevard.
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 7.8 miles you will encounter 6 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 152 / Brooklyn Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Columbia Heights and Fridley are suburbs of Minneapolis located in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 7.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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