Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Night in Co on Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Co on Rapids, MN to Independence, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
31.8 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Co on Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Coon Rapids, MN to Independence, MN is 31.8 miles and takes about 45m via US 12, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. You'll primarily be on highway, making it a straightforward drive. Given the short distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| MN 100 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| East River Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Olson Memorial Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| I 394 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| I 694 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| US 169 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 12.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Independence, 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 35A
Toward MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MN 100
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 8B
Toward MN 55
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MN 55 West
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto MN 55
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Olson Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 169 South
11
Merge onto US 169
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 394 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 394
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 12
135 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
16
Continue on US 12
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
17
Turn right onto Valley Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Valley Road
18
Arrive at destination
Valley Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.9 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 18 — 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
7
11.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward MN 55
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward MN 55
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 55 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 55 West
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 394 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 394 West
6
18 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.73 one way
$9.46 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.10 | $10.20 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.67 | $11.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Independence, MN
Night in Independence on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
WNW 5 to 15 mph
36% 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
36 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
45m 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 route is mostly highway, with 69% of the driving on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 12.3 miles on US 12 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a relatively smooth drive with a focus on efficient travel between the two points.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and MN 100. 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 Effort
10/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 31.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
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 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 31.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on US 12. 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 Independence, 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 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 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 Independence, 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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