Origin
Faribault, MN
Late night in Faribault on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Faribault, MN to Co on Rapids, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
61.8 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Faribault, MN
Tom Fisk
Co on Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 61.8-mile drive from Faribault to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, requiring no overnight stays, and is predominantly highway travel at 87% of the route. You'll be navigating primarily on I-35 Business, I-35W, and I-94, making for a consistent driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this trip is budget-friendly for most travelers. The Midwest scenery provides a familiar backdrop as you travel within the state of Minnesota. This route is perfect for a quick connection between these two Minnesota locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 Business | 29.2 mi | 31m |
| I 35W | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| I 94 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| East River Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Lyndale Avenue North | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 4th Street Northwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Highway 60 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| MN 65 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35 Business
— 29.2 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Faribault, MN and Co on Rapids, MN.
1
Start on this road
69 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MN 60
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street Northwest
3
Continue on MN 60
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Highway 60 West
4
Turn right onto I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Lyndale Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I 94 West
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
319 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 225
Toward MN 252, I 694 East
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 694 East
12
Merge onto I 694
436 ft
·
5 sec
·
I 694
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 36
Toward East River Road
14
Keep slight right at fork
410 ft
·
9 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on CR 1
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East River Road
16
Turn left onto Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
17
Arrive at destination
Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Faribault, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 57.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate / Lyndale Avenue North
Turn right onto I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate / Lyndale Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
6
32.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
48.8 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
7
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.20 one way
$18.39 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.91 | $19.82 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.03 | $22.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Co on Rapids, MN
Late night in Co on Rapids on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
4 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
1h 18m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 61.8-mile trip. With 87% of the route on main highways like I-35 Business, I-35W, and I-94, you'll experience consistent speeds and relatively uninterrupted travel. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 29.2 miles on I-35 Business, offering a good period of steady driving. While the profile is highway-focused, be aware that you'll still transition between these major arteries, so keep an eye on your navigation. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather an efficient corridor connecting your starting and ending points.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.2 mi on I 35 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 Business and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate / Lyndale Avenue North.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.1 miles (I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate / Lyndale Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,065 ft
751 ft
Total Climb
240 ft
Total Descent
372 ft
Highest Point
1,065 ft
~22.1 mi in
Elevation Range
315 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.2 miles on I 35 Business. 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 Co on Rapids, 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 1.1 miles (I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate / Lyndale Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (I 35W): 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 Co on Rapids, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 Co on Rapids, MN
More from Faribault, MN
More trips to Co on Rapids, MN
Explore more options from Faribault, MN or browse trips ending in Co on Rapids, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.