Origin
Elk River, MN
Late night in Elk River on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk River, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk River, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elk River to Minneapolis is 32.4 miles and takes about 43 minutes via I 94, MN 101, and Voyageur Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a quick and easy option for a day trip or a simple commute. Given its short distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays or extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| MN 101 | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| Voyageur Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street Northwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 21.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk River, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Jackson Avenue Northwest
261 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jackson Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Main Street Northwest
3
Take the ramp
167 ft
·
5 sec
4
Merge onto US 10
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
Voyageur Highway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto MN 101
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
8
Merge onto I 94
15 mi
·
17 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 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
29.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30.2 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
31.2 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
31.6 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
$4.82 one way
$9.64 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.20 | $10.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.78 | $11.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
NW 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
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
36 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
43m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the journey on major roads like I 94. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for the longest stretch of 21.2 miles on I 94. While the primary roads are highways, the inclusion of MN 101 and Voyageur Highway suggests a transition from interstate speeds to potentially more localized, though still significant, roadways as you approach your destination. Expect efficient travel with minimal interruptions.
86% 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: 21.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 32.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elk River, MN and Minneapolis, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and 4Th Street North.
Saint Paul
7.9 mi in
|
~10m
4Th Street North
30.2 mi in
|
~37m
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 43m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.2 miles on I 94. 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 23.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 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.
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