Dilworth to Minneapolis is 231.2 miles and takes about 4h 16m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. With 97% of the route on the highway, you'll experience a consistent pace for most of your trip. This is a straightforward, single-day drive that's ideal if you're looking for efficiency and don't need to break up the travel time.
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
115.6 miles from Dilworth, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
223.5 mi
4h 1m
70th Street South
2.1 mi
2m
Center Avenue East
2.1 mi
3m
North Washington Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
<1m
Washington Avenue South
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 223.5 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 29 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,903 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,382
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 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 Dilworth, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
54 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Main Street North
70 ft·10 sec·Main Street North
3
Turn left onto US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·Center Avenue East
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
348 ft·9 sec
6
Merge onto MN 336
2.1 mi·2 min·70th Street South
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·56 sec
8
Merge onto I 94
217 mi·3 hr 54 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi·7 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward 4th Street NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi·35 sec·2nd Avenue North
14
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi·1 min·North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with plenty of time. You'll only have one scheduled stop, but the flexibility of a single-day trip means you can add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $38, so plan your fill-up before hitting the road or at a convenient point along I 94. Since the majority of the drive is on the interstate, be aware of potential traffic as you approach the Minneapolis metro area, especially during peak hours.
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 115.6 miles from Dilworth, MN, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.5 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 51 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.6 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dilworth, 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 Dilworth, MN
This is one driving day of about 231.2 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Dilworth, 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 I 94 for about 223.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 222.5 and 230.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
222.5 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
229 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
230 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
230.4 mi into trip|~4h 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
$34.73 one way
$69.45 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$37.49
$74.99
premium
$4.60
$41.88
$83.76
diesel
$4.80
$43.65
$87.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.4
0
$24.28
$11.10
Efficient EV
57.8
0
$20.23
$9.25
EV Truck/SUV
92.5
1
$32.37
$14.80
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Dilworth, MN
Evening
in Dilworth on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Patchy Smoke
NNW 3 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Evening
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 0 to 10 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
9 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
4h 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway driving, with 97% on I 94. You'll cover 223.5 miles on I 94 before encountering surface roads. Expect a fairly continuous cruising experience with frequent exits along the main highway stretch. The transition to 70th Street South and Center Avenue East will mark the end of the high-speed interstate travel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and 70th Street South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 222.5 miles in near I 94.
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 13 significant decision points across 231.2 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 222.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Dilworth is in Minnesota. It began as a somewhat industrial railroad town, and has developed into a quaint small suburb to the east of Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND.
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.
Top landmarks
•Minneapolis Institute of Art — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
•Walker Art Center — contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
•Weisman Art Museum — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 231.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m 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 223.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Minneapolis, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 222.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Minneapolis, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
