Carlos, MN to Maple Grove, MN is 121 miles and takes about 2h 25m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on the interstate, making it a convenient option for a quick connection between these two points. You'll find it easy to plan, with little need for extensive stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.5 miles from Carlos, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
102.4 mi
1h 49m
County Road 9 Northeast
6.4 mi
15m
Douglas County Highway 82
4.6 mi
6m
State Highway 27
1.9 mi
2m
I 494
1.2 mi
1m
West Nokomis Street
1.1 mi
2m
Nelson Street North
0.9 mi
2m
1st Avenue East
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 102.4 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlos, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street
68 ft·6 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn right onto CR 9
0.4 mi·54 sec·Douglas Avenue
3
Continue on CR 9
2.3 mi·5 min·County Road 9 Northeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9
4.1 mi·9 min·County Road 9 Northeast
5
Continue on CR 9
0.9 mi·2 min·Nelson Street North
6
Turn left onto CR 82
4.6 mi·6 min·Douglas County Highway 82
7
Continue on CR 82
1.1 mi·2 min·West Nokomis Street
8
Turn right onto CR 3
0.6 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
9
At end of road, turn right onto MN 27
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 27
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
11
Merge onto I 94
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi·1 min·I 494
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi·50 sec·Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 25m duration, this is a perfect same-day trip, so you can leave anytime and arrive with plenty of daylight. There are no recommended stops, but with the drive being under 125 miles, you can easily extend your time at your origin or enjoy your destination without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $18, but it's always wise to top off before you start, especially since the longest stretch on I 94 is over 100 miles. Pay attention as you transition off I 94 to the county roads, as navigation may become slightly more complex.
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 60.5 miles from Carlos, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 27 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carlos, 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 Carlos, MN
This is one driving day of about 121 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Carlos, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 102.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 120.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|CR 9 / County Road 9 Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9 / County Road 9 Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
16.2 mi into trip|~31m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
118.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
120.2 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
120.5 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.01 one way
$36.01 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$19.40
$38.81
premium
$4.53
$21.59
$43.18
diesel
$5.61
$26.72
$53.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.81
Efficient EV
30.3
0
$10.59
$4.84
EV Truck/SUV
48.4
0
$16.94
$7.74
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Carlos, MN
Late night
in Carlos on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Late night
in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Avon, MN
61 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
5 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 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 predominantly highway driving, with 91% of the 121 miles on interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 94, with one continuous stretch of 102.4 miles on this highway. The final section transitions to county roads, specifically County Road 9 Northeast and Douglas County Highway 82, offering a change of pace from the interstate cruising as you approach your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Road 9 Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near CR 9 / County Road 9 Northeast.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (CR 9 / County Road 9 Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 102.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 2.7 miles (CR 9 / County Road 9 Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.6 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 Maple Grove, MN before heading back.
