Origin
Chaska, MN
Late night in Chaska on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaska, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 26.9 miles and takes about 37 minutes via US 212 and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within the Midwest region of Minnesota. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a quick commute or an easy addition to a larger regional journey. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering minimal travel time between these two Minnesota locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 35W | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Crosstown Highway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Chestnut Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| MN 65 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Chestnut Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 12.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaska, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on CR 61
317 ft
·
14 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Continue on CR 61
417 ft
·
20 sec
·
West 6th Street
3
Turn left onto MN 41
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto MN 41
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Chestnut Street
5
Continue on MN 41
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 212 East
7
Merge onto US 212
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 212
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on MN 62
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 112A
Toward I 35W North
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35W
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
MN 65
Toward 5th Avenue South
13
Continue on 5th Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn left onto CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 212
Merge onto US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
19.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 112A
Toward I 35W North
5
19.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
5
25.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward 5th Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 5th Avenue South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.01 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.31 | $8.63 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.80 | $9.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
NW 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
28 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
37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with about 70% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 212 and I 35W. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, including a continuous segment of 12.5 miles on US 212, which allows for steady progress. The route transitions through different highway systems as you approach Minneapolis, offering a typical urban approach. Expect a smooth, efficient drive suitable for those prioritizing getting to their destination quickly rather than a winding scenic tour.
70% 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: 12.5 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near US 212.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.9 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 2.3 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Chaska, MN
Full guide →The Twin Cities of Minnesota constitute the political, cultural, and economic capital of the Upper Midwest, and along with the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit metropolitan areas, the core of the North Coast region of the United States. The name "Twin Cities" comes from the region's two core cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which border each other, share many of the same political, educational, and cultural institutions - and are thus considered to be "twins". There are multiple "tiers" or "rings" of suburbs extending out from these core cities, some reaching as far as Wisconsin.
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26.9 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 (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on US 212. 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 Minneapolis, 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 2.3 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 35W): 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 Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
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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