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Trip from Corcoran, MN to Minneapolis, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

32m

Distance

20.4 mi

33 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 30m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Corcoran, MN, MN

Corcoran, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the outskirts of Corcoran to the heart of Minneapolis, this 20.4-mile trip is an efficient option. You can comfortably complete the journey in about 32 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day commute or a short visit. The route relies on a combination of MN 55, I-394, and County Road 116 to get you where you need to go. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion. Because the distance is so short, you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations, allowing you maximum flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery within the Midwest, this straightforward drive keeps logistics simple and stress-free.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MN 55 8.3 mi 12m
I 394 5.7 mi 7m
County Road 116 1.9 mi 3m
Pinto Drive 1.3 mi 2m
North Washington Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
US 169 0.5 mi <1m
County Road 10 0.2 mi <1m
2nd Avenue North 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MN 55 — 8.3 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Corcoran, MN and Minneapolis, MN.

1

Start on CR 10

0.2 mi · 28 sec · County Road 10
2

Turn right onto CR 116

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Road 116
3

Continue on CR 116

1.3 mi · 2 min · Pinto Drive
4

Turn left onto MN 55

5.7 mi · 8 min · MN 55
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on MN 55

2.6 mi · 3 min · MN 55
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward US 169 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto US 169

0.5 mi · 35 sec · US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward General Mills Boulevard Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
11

Merge onto I 394

5.7 mi · 7 min · I 394
Use the straight / slight right 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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 19.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
11.8 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 169 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 169 South
5
12.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 169

Merge onto US 169

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.7 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 394 East: Minneapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
7
12.9 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward General Mills Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward General Mills Boulevard
6
19.7 mi into trip | ~30m 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

$3.04 one way

$6.07 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $3.27 $6.54
premium $4.53 $3.64 $7.28
diesel $5.61 $4.50 $9.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.14 $0.98
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.78 $0.82
EV Truck/SUV 8.2 0 $2.86 $1.31

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Corcoran, MN

Morning in Corcoran on Tuesday

Local time

7:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Minneapolis, MN

Morning in Minneapolis on Tuesday

Local time

7:41 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

2 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

32m 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-focused experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. Approximately 71% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a consistent pace as you head toward the city. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along an 8.3-mile segment of MN 55, which serves as the backbone of your trip. The transition between County Road 116 and the interstate system keeps the drive feeling active rather than monotonous. You should be prepared for a shift in traffic density as you move from the quieter corridors of Corcoran into the busier arterial roads leading into Minneapolis.

71% 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: 8.3 mi on MN 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 55 and I 394. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 11 decision points packed into just 20.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,005 ft 845 ft

Total Climb

109 ft

Total Descent

231 ft

Highest Point

1,005 ft

~0.9 mi in

Elevation Range

160 ft

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 32m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.3 miles on MN 55. 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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