Spanning 140.7 miles across the Minnesota landscape, this drive from Cottonwood to Maple Grove typically takes about 2 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, this route utilizes a mix of Barstad Road, 390th Street, and Highway 23 to reach your destination. It is a straightforward trip for those looking to move between these two points efficiently. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this straightforward transit offers a reliable way to cross the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Cottonwood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 212
109.7 mi
2h 19m
State Highway 23
14.9 mi
18m
I 494
14 mi
17m
Bass Lake Road
0.6 mi
1m
Barstad Road
0.6 mi
1m
390th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 109.7 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
455 ft·13 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 32
0.6 mi·1 min·Barstad Road
3
Turn right onto CR 10
0.1 mi·22 sec·390th Street
4
Turn left onto MN 23
15 mi·18 min·State Highway 23
5
Turn right onto US 212; MN 23
72 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 212; MN 23
6
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft·2 sec·US 212
7
Continue on US 212
10 mi·11 min·US 212
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
28 mi·32 min·US 212
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
439 ft·10 sec
Toward I 494 NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 494 North
11
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
14 mi·17 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CR 10
0.6 mi·1 min·Bass Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 2.5-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to start your drive during daylight hours to better manage the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, especially if you are unfamiliar with the specific path. Although the trip is short enough to drive in one go, you should account for the lack of major highway stretches when calculating your travel time. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind and ensure your tank is ready before you depart Cottonwood, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than an interstate. Given the lack of designated stops, plan for a comfortable, steady pace that allows you to remain focused on the road ahead.
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 70.3 miles from Cottonwood, MN, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 31 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, MN
This is one driving day of about 140.6 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cottonwood, 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 212 for about 109.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 97.6 and 139.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
97.6 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 212
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 494 North
6
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 494 North
5
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 494; MN 5
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
139.7 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.85 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$22.55
$45.09
premium
$4.53
$25.09
$50.17
diesel
$5.61
$31.04
$62.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.30
$5.62
EV Truck/SUV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Cottonwood, MN
Night
in Cottonwood on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Night
in Maple Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating local roads like Barstad Road and 390th Street, which demand more attention than a standard highway trek. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches on this path, the driving experience is constant and engaging. The roads shift frequently, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns along the way. It is a hands-on driving experience that trades high-speed efficiency for a more localized, winding journey through the state.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.7 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 23. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 97.6 miles in near US 212.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 97.6 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 140.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.7 miles on US 212. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 97.6 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Maple Grove, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
