Brooklyn Park, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is 283.3 miles and takes about 5h 30m via US 10, US 59, and I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you through the Midwest region of Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive that's mostly highway miles. You'll encounter a single recommended stop, making it an efficient one-day excursion. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this option should fit the bill.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
141.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
156.7 mi
3h
US 59
94.4 mi
1h 48m
I-94 W
12.6 mi
13m
I 94
6 mi
6m
County Road 81
3.3 mi
5m
MN-610
2.1 mi
2m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 156.7 mi, about 3h
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,539
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.1×
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 Thief River Falls, 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
6.0 mi·6 min·I 94
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
10
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi·2 min·Pine Street
11
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi·19 sec·State Highway 25
12
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi·53 sec·County Road 11
13
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
14
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
15
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 10
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
38 mi·42 min·US 10
17
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi·9 min·US 10; MN 210
18
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi·12 min·US 10; IC A
19
Turn slight right
67 ft·2 sec
20
Enter roundabout
100 ft·1 sec
21
Continue
96 ft·1 sec
22
Turn straight onto US 10
45 mi·51 min·US 10
23
Turn right onto US 59; MN 34
85 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 59; MN 34
24
Turn left
481 ft·6 sec
25
Merge onto US 59
9.4 mi·11 min·US 59
26
Arrive at destination
US 59
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour duration, departing Brooklyn Park in the morning is advisable to allow ample time for the drive and any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 283.3-mile distance, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The fuel cost is estimated at $46, so ensure your tank is full before leaving the Twin Cities metro area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Thief River Falls, as services can become less frequent in more rural stretches.
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 141.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 62 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thief River Falls, 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 283.3 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 US 10 for about 156.7 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 143.8 — 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.
4
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward MN 610 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MN 610 West
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
143.8 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.55 one way
$85.10 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$45.94
$91.88
premium
$4.60
$51.32
$102.63
diesel
$4.80
$53.49
$106.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85
1
$29.75
$13.60
Efficient EV
70.8
0
$24.79
$11.33
EV Truck/SUV
113.3
1
$39.66
$18.13
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Brooklyn Park, MN
Evening
in Brooklyn Park on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 10 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:37PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Thief River Falls, MN
Evening
in Thief River Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Smoke
NNW 3 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:37PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is primarily highway cruising, with 96% of the 283.3 miles on major roadways. You'll experience a long stretch of 156.7 miles on US 10, offering consistent speeds. The transition to surface roads, if any, will occur after this significant highway segment. Expect to encounter a high density of exits and merges as you navigate between interstates and primary highways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.7 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and US 59. 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 Effort6/10
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 283.3 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 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,413 ft868 ft
Total Climb
584 ft
Total Descent
316 ft
Highest Point
1,413 ft
~182.1 mi in
Elevation Range
545 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
908 Coffee + Tea
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Detroit Lakes
Cuisine: coffee_shop;tea
Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-17:00
La Barista
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hours: Mo 07:00-13:00; Tu-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa 08...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 283.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 Thief River Falls, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thief River Falls, MN before the return drive.
