Origin
Crystal, MN
Late night in Crystal on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crystal, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
15m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crystal, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute between Crystal and Minneapolis, this 9.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Minnesota landscape. Expect a brief travel time of approximately 15 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of MN 100 South and I-394, keeping your transit costs incredibly low with an estimated fuel budget of just $1. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. This route is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing, serving as a practical link between the suburbs and the heart of the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 100 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| I 394 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 100
— 3.5 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on CR 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
42nd Avenue North
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward MN 100 South
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto MN 100
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 394
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
9
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward MN 100 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 100 South
7
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
7
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
6
9 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
$1.44 one way
$2.89 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.56 | $3.11 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.73 | $3.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 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
1 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
15m 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?
This 9.8-mile trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a long-haul highway cruise. You will find that the highway share is effectively zero, as the route relies on shifting between MN 100 South and the I-394 corridor. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on MN 100 South is 0 miles, you should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The experience is defined by frequent transitions and local road navigation rather than high-speed interstate monotony. It is a functional, short-distance drive that focuses on maneuvering through the local infrastructure.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.5 mi on MN 100.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 100 and I 394. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 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 9 decision points packed into just 9.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 15m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 15m. Total distance: 9.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m 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 3.5 miles on MN 100. 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 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 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Minneapolis, MN
More from Crystal, MN
More trips to Minneapolis, MN
Explore more options from Crystal, MN or browse trips ending in Minneapolis, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.