Origin
Clearwater, MN
Late night in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clearwater, 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
1h 6m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clearwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 54.5-mile drive from Clearwater to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The route primarily utilizes I-94, making it a highway-focused experience. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so you'll be traversing familiar territory. This straightforward drive is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without needing to break it up.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 50.8 mi | 56m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 24 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ash Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| CR 75 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lowerbluff Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 50.8 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Maple Street
300 ft
·
13 sec
·
Maple Street
2
Continue on Lowerbluff Street
367 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lowerbluff Street
3
Turn right onto Ash Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Ash Street
4
Turn left onto CR 75
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
CR 75
5
Turn right onto MN 24
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Highway 24
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
45 mi
·
49 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward 4th Street North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
13
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Clearwater, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 45.9 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
45.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
52 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
53.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.11 one way
$16.22 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.74 | $17.48 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.72 | $19.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
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
1h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric drive for this 54.5-mile trip, with 94% of the route taking place on interstates and state highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.8 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace. You'll primarily navigate on I-94, North Washington Avenue, and State Highway 24. This profile suggests a drive characterized by steady speeds and minimal complexity, allowing you to cover ground efficiently.
94% 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: 50.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North Washington Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.9 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 45.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 1h 6m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.8 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 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 45.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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