Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Brooklyn Park, MN to Independence, MN is 27.3 miles and takes about 37m via US 169 and US 12, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region and the state of Minnesota. It's a straightforward drive that shouldn't take up too much of your day. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a quick commute rather than an extensive exploration. This route is ideal if you're looking for a simple way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| US 169 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Brooklyn Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| I 394 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Valley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Zane Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Independence, MN.
Start on CR 14
Turn left onto CR 152
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto I 394
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn right onto Valley Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 25.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 394 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 394
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$4.06 one way
$8.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.38 | $8.76 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
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.
This drive is 82% highway, so expect a lot of time on faster roads. You'll cover a longest stretch of 12.3 miles on US 12. The transition to surface streets will likely occur around the 25-mile mark, giving you a solid period of highway cruising. With mostly highway driving, you'll notice the consistent flow of traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near US 169.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 27.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
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 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 394): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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