Buffalo, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN is 31.2 miles and takes about 47m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota's Midwest region, offering a straightforward transition between two points. It's a quick drive, making it ideal for a same-day excursion without feeling rushed. You won't encounter significant changes in scenery, but it's a reliable route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
6.8 mi
7m
30th Street Northeast
4.5 mi
9m
20th Street Northeast
3.8 mi
5m
County Road 81
3 mi
4m
42nd Street Northeast
2.7 mi
3m
MN 610
2.6 mi
2m
Brooklyn Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Fenning Avenue Northeast
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 6.8 mi, about 7m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,689 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Buffalo, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
59 ft·1 sec·1st Avenue South
2
Continue on 1st Avenue Northeast
0.3 mi·53 sec·1st Avenue Northeast
3
Turn right onto 5th Street Northeast
0.4 mi·1 min·5th Street Northeast
4
Continue on CR 35
0.7 mi·59 sec·Willems Way
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on CR 35
0.3 mi·26 sec·20th Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CR 35
133 ft·7 sec·20th Street Northeast
7
Continue on CR 35
1.0 mi·1 min·20th Street Northeast
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 35
104 ft·5 sec·20th Street Northeast
9
Continue on CR 35
2.5 mi·3 min·20th Street Northeast
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Continue on CR 35
1.4 mi·2 min·Fenning Avenue Northeast
11
Continue on CR 35
3.0 mi·4 min·30th Street Northeast
12
Continue on CR 35
0.5 mi·54 sec·30th Street Northeast
13
Continue on 30th Street Northeast
1.0 mi·3 min·30th Street Northeast
14
Turn left onto CR 19
0.3 mi·20 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
15
Continue on CR 19
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street North
16
Turn right onto MN 241
0.3 mi·35 sec·Saint Michael Parkway East
17
Continue on MN 241
0.4 mi·40 sec·Central Avenue East
18
Continue on MN 241
2.7 mi·3 min·42nd Street Northeast
19
Enter roundabout onto MN 241
97 ft·2 sec·MN 241
20
Continue on MN 241
328 ft·6 sec·MN 241
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
22
Merge onto I 94
6.8 mi·7 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto MN 610
2.6 mi·2 min·MN 610
Exit 212Toward MN 610 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 2A-BToward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on CR 81
2.4 mi·3 min·County Road 81
Use the left lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 81
0.6 mi·59 sec·County Road 81
27
Continue on CR 81
1.3 mi·1 min·Bottineau Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto CR 130
1.4 mi·2 min·Brooklyn Boulevard
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
CR 14
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Buffalo, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 25.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Street Northeast
Turn right onto 5th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|CR 35 / 20th Street Northeast
Enter roundabout onto CR 35 / 20th Street Northeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.8 mi into trip|~27m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
22.7 mi into trip|~34m in|MN 610
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
8
25.3 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A-B
Toward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.94 one way
$9.88 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$5.26
$10.52
premium
$4.85
$5.96
$11.91
diesel
$5.60
$6.88
$13.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.4
0
$3.28
$1.50
Efficient EV
7.8
0
$2.73
$1.25
EV Truck/SUV
12.5
0
$4.37
$2.00
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, MN
Afternoon
in Buffalo on Monday
Local time
12:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Rain Showers
0 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 8:17PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Brooklyn Park, MN
Afternoon
in Brooklyn Park on Monday
Local time
12:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNE 0 to 5 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 8:17PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
53°F
Albertville, MN
16 mi in
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
3 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
47m 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 drive features a 31% highway share, with the longest continuous stretch on I 94 covering 6.8 miles. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, with the transition likely occurring as you approach the Brooklyn Park area. Expect a noticeable increase in exits and potential merging traffic as you get closer to your destination.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near 5th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (5th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (CR 35 / 20th Street Northeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,009 ft868 ft
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
222 ft
Highest Point
1,009 ft
~4.6 mi in
Elevation Range
142 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Cr 81 South.
The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.8 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Brooklyn Park, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (5th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (CR 35 / 20th Street Northeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brooklyn Park, MN before heading back.
