Traveling from Detroit Lakes to Maple Grove covers 186.3 miles across the Minnesota landscape, making for a manageable 3-hour and 37-minute journey. Because the total duration is quite reasonable, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the trek, which takes you from the heart of the Midwest toward the busier outskirts of the Twin Cities. You will primarily utilize West Mason Avenue, US 10, and I-94 to reach your destination. This route is ideal if you are looking for a straightforward, efficient connection between these two Minnesota locations.
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
93.1 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Mason Avenue
78.4 mi
1h 29m
US 10
70.5 mi
1h 21m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.3 mi
8m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
I 494
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
West Mason Avenue
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit Lakes, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on CR 22
0.1 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 10
44 mi·50 min·US 10
3
Enter roundabout
103 ft·1 sec
4
Continue
66 ft·0 sec
5
Turn straight onto US 10
7.3 mi·8 min·Ash Avenue Northwest
6
Continue on US 10
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·West Mason Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
8
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
10
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
11
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
12
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
14
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi·1 min·I 494
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi·50 sec·Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the trip fits comfortably into one day of travel. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite whenever you feel the need. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Detroit Lakes, as the $27 estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Since you are navigating through a mix of highway and local road types, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours when merging onto I-94 near your destination. Using your single stop strategically around the midway point will keep you refreshed for the final leg of the 186.3-mile drive.
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 93.1 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.1 miles or 1h 47m 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 56m
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 Detroit Lakes, 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 Detroit Lakes, MN
This is one driving day of about 186.3 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Detroit Lakes, 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 West Mason Avenue for about 78.4 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 44.5 and 185.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
44.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
162.7 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
185.5 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
185.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.72 one way
$55.45 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$29.87
$59.75
premium
$4.53
$33.24
$66.48
diesel
$5.61
$41.13
$82.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.30
$7.45
EV Truck/SUV
74.5
0
$26.08
$11.92
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Detroit Lakes, MN
Morning
in Detroit Lakes on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Morning
in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Little Falls, MN
93 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
18 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
3h 37m 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?
This trip offers a mixed-drive experience, balancing local roads with major interstate travel. You will spend about 50 percent of your time on highways, providing a blend of steady cruising and slower-paced sections. The most significant portion of the journey is a 78.4-mile stretch along West Mason Avenue, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. As you transition from the local stretches onto the heavy-duty flow of I-94, the driving environment shifts from more relaxed secondary roads to the higher-speed, multi-lane conditions typical of major corridors. Prepare for this shift in pace as you head toward Maple Grove.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on West Mason Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 44.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 162.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue. 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 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 162.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Maple Grove, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
