Coon Rapids, MN to Carver, MN is 37.5 miles and takes about 53 minutes via MN 100 and US 212, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short haul, making it ideal for a quick relocation, a visit to friends, or simply exploring a different part of the local area without a significant time commitment. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for most of the journey.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 100
13 mi
16m
US 212
12.5 mi
14m
East River Road
3.7 mi
6m
North Chestnut Street
1.9 mi
3m
Crosstown Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Old Carver Road
0.9 mi
2m
Chaska Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
I 694
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MN 100
— 13 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Carver, MN.
1
Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi·32 sec·Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2
Turn right onto CR 1
3.7 mi·6 min·East River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 694
0.6 mi·44 sec·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 35AToward MN 100Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 62 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto MN 62
1.7 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 212
4.6 mi·5 min·US 212
Exit 106AToward US 212Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
7.9 mi·9 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MN 41: Chestnut StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto MN 41
0.8 mi·1 min·North Chestnut Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 41
160 ft·3 sec·North Chestnut Street
14
Continue on MN 41
1.1 mi·2 min·North Chestnut Street
15
Turn right onto CR 61
0.3 mi·47 sec·West 6th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on CR 61
0.8 mi·1 min·Chaska Boulevard
17
Turn left onto CR 40
0.9 mi·2 min·Old Carver Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on CR 40
0.1 mi·20 sec·4th Street East
19
Arrive at destination
4th Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Co on Rapids, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 33.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
6
18.4 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward MN 62 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 62 West
7
20.5 mi into trip|~29m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
6
25.1 mi into trip|~34m in|US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
33.1 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward MN 41: Chestnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 41: Chestnut Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.31 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$6.58
$13.17
premium
$4.95
$7.31
$14.61
diesel
$5.35
$7.90
$15.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.3
0
$3.94
$1.80
Efficient EV
9.4
0
$3.28
$1.50
EV Truck/SUV
15
0
$5.25
$2.40
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Afternoon
in Co on Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 3:36AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Carver, MN
Afternoon
in Carver on Wednesday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 3:36AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
2 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
53m 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 route leans heavily towards highway driving, with a 70% highway share. You'll experience longer stretches of consistent speed, including a 13-mile segment on MN 100 that allows for uninterrupted travel. The main roads, including MN 100, US 212, and East River Road, suggest a mix of well-maintained thoroughfares and potentially some scenic local road sections as you approach your destination. The profile indicates a focus on efficient travel rather than winding backroads.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13 mi on MN 100.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 100 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 13 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (US 212): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
934 ft732 ft
Total Climb
163 ft
Total Descent
293 ft
Highest Point
934 ft
~18.7 mi in
Elevation Range
202 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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 13 miles on MN 100. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 Carver, 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 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (US 212): 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 Carver, MN before heading back.
