Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
12.2 mi
20 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, MN
Tom Fisk
Ortonville, MN
Tom Fisk
Clinton, MN to Ortonville, MN is 12.2 miles and takes about 18 minutes via US 12, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Minnesota. It's primarily a surface road drive, making it a straightforward and quick transit. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick errand, a short scenic detour, or as part of a larger regional exploration without demanding significant travel time.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Street | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| US 12 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street Southeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, MN and Ortonville, MN.
Start on Main Street
Turn left onto US 75
Turn right onto US 12
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 75 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 12
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.83 one way
$3.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $1.98 | $3.96 |
| premium | $4.60 | $2.21 | $4.42 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $2.30 | $4.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.28 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 8 at 5:01AM CDT until July 8 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Morning in Ortonville on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 8 at 5:01AM CDT until July 8 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 8% of this 12.2-mile drive on highways, meaning the majority is on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch is 11.2 miles on 3rd Street. Expect a mostly surface road experience once you leave the highway segments, transitioning from 3rd Street to US 12 and then Main Street. This suggests a route with fewer high-speed interchanges and more consistent, local road cruising.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 75 / 3rd Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clinton, MN to Ortonville, MN is easy. At 18m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 75 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.2 miles (US 12): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
90 ft
Total Descent
229 ft
Highest Point
1,180 ft
~6.1 mi in
Elevation Range
169 ft
Ortonville is in Southern Minnesota. It lies on Big Stone Lake, and is across the lake from Big Stone City, South Dakota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 12.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
