Coon Rapids, MN to International Falls, MN is 291.2 miles and takes about 5h 46m via East River Road, Foley Boulevard, and US 10 East, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a highway-only route. With a single recommended day, you'll have ample time to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.6 miles from Co on Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 53
137.8 mi
2h 50m
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
I 35W
16.5 mi
17m
US 10
4.2 mi
4m
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
East River Road
1.4 mi
2m
Foley Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 137.8 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,068 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,574
Quietest
1 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and International Falls, MN.
1
Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi·30 sec·Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2
Turn left onto CR 1
1.4 mi·2 min·East River Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Foley Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Foley Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
154 ft·3 sec
Toward US 10 East
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 10 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 10
4.2 mi·4 min·US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 236Toward I 35W North: DuluthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W
16 mi·17 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
12
Continue on MN 33
19 mi·25 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.4 mi·29 sec·MN 33
14
Merge onto US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 53
113 ft·1 sec·US 53
16
Continue on US 53
100 mi·2 hr 6 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
17
Enter roundabout onto US 53
150 ft·2 sec·Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 53
2.2 mi·3 min·Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 53
0.8 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
20
Continue on US 53
0.7 mi·55 sec·3rd Avenue
21
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·5th Street
22
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
111 ft·5 sec·8th Avenue
23
Turn right
75 ft·5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 46 minute estimated drive time, leaving Coon Rapids in the morning should allow you to reach International Falls with plenty of daylight remaining. Since this is a single-day trip on surface roads, you won't need to worry about breaking up the drive overnight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get further from larger towns, as services can become more spread out. The route's single recommended stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and grab a quick bite.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.6 miles from Co on Rapids, MN, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.6 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near International Falls, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Co on Rapids, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Co on Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 291.2 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Co on Rapids, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 53 for about 137.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 10 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 10 East
8
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 10 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East
5
3 mi into trip|~6m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North: Duluth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 236
Toward I 35W North: Duluth
5
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.72 one way
$97.45 round trip
$4.25/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$51.90
$103.80
premium
$5.11
$58.57
$117.14
diesel
$6.28
$71.95
$143.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.4
1
$30.58
$13.98
Efficient EV
72.8
0
$25.48
$11.65
EV Truck/SUV
116.5
1
$40.77
$18.64
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Afternoon
in Co on Rapids on Saturday
Local time
3:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
International Falls, MN
Afternoon
in International Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
39°F
Gilbert, MN
146 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
13 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
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Voyageurs National Park
National Park
Voyageurs National Park spans 218,000 acres of lakes, forests, and streams in northern Minnesota. Established in 1975, the park is named after the French-Canadian Voyageurs who once navigated these ab...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 261
Park Closure: Increased Bear Activity and Dryweed Island Area Closures
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll begin on East River Road and Foley Boulevard before transitioning to US 10 East. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent intersections and local traffic as you move through various towns and communities. The absence of high-speed highway driving means you'll notice more changes in speed limits and a more connected feel to the landscape.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.8 mi on US 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 291.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,642 ft862 ft
Total Climb
787 ft
Total Descent
528 ft
Highest Point
1,642 ft
~187.2 mi in
Elevation Range
780 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Co on Rapids, MN to International Falls, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
International Falls is a city in Minnesota. The city is nicknamed "Frostbite Falls" or "Icebox of the Nation". According to Forbes magazine, it is the coldest city in the Lower 48 United States.
Top landmarks
•Koochiching County Courthouse — courthouse in International Falls, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 291.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.8 miles on US 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas 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 International Falls, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Voyageurs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at International Falls, MN before the return drive.
