Brooklyn Park, MN to Fairfax, MN is 99.7 miles and takes about 2h 6m via US 212 and US 169, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traveling through the Midwest region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient option for a day trip or an easy transition to another destination. Given its relatively short distance and clear path, it's a practical choice for anyone looking to cover ground without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.9 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 212
39.8 mi
47m
280th Street
17.2 mi
23m
US 169
13.8 mi
17m
US Highway 212
12.8 mi
15m
State Highway 15
12.6 mi
15m
Brooklyn Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
Crosstown Highway
0.1 mi
<1m
Park Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 39.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Fairfax, MN.
1
Start on CR 14
34 ft·5 sec·Zane Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 152
2.3 mi·4 min·Brooklyn Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 169 South
4
Merge onto US 169
14 mi·17 min·US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 212 West, MN 62 WestUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto MN 62
0.1 mi·10 sec·Crosstown Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 212 WestUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto US 212
3.5 mi·4 min·US 212
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
36 mi·43 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto US 212
145 ft·2 sec·US Highway 212
11
Continue on US 212
13 mi·15 min·US Highway 212
12
Turn left onto MN 15
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 15
13
Turn right onto MN 19
17 mi·23 min·280th Street
14
Turn right onto Park Street North
46 ft·2 sec·Park Street North
15
Arrive at destination
Park Street North
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, starting in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Fairfax with plenty of the day ahead. Since the total travel time is under two hours, you probably won't need many stops, but it's wise to take a break if you feel tired, especially during the 39.8-mile stretch on US 212. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $15; planning your last fill-up before leaving Brooklyn Park or shortly after starting on US 212 is a good strategy. This short drive offers flexibility, so you can adjust your departure time as needed.
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 49.9 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.8 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfax, 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 99.7 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 212 for about 39.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 20.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|US 169
Merge onto US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
16.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 212 West, MN 62 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 212 West, MN 62 West
6
16.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 212 West
5
17.3 mi into trip|~23m in|US 212
Merge onto US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
20.7 mi into trip|~28m in|US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.77 one way
$33.54 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$18.06
$36.13
premium
$5.04
$19.77
$39.53
diesel
$5.64
$22.13
$44.27
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: 34.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
Efficient EV
24.9
0
$8.72
$3.99
EV Truck/SUV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 9, 2026
Origin
Brooklyn Park, MN
Late night
in Brooklyn Park on Saturday
Local time
12:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Fairfax, MN
Late night
in Fairfax on Saturday
Local time
12:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Dahlgren, MN
50 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
7 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 6m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 79% of the drive on faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 39.8 miles on US 212 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising pace for most of the trip, with the highway portion offering straightforward navigation. The shift to surface roads will likely involve more local traffic and a decrease in speed.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.8 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and 280th Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near US 169.
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 99.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.6 miles (US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 99.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.8 miles on US 212. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.6 miles (US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 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 Fairfax, MN before heading back.
