Origin
Grand Marais, MN
Night in Grand Marais on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Marais, MN to Tofte, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Marais, MN
Andrew Patrick Photo
Tofte, MN
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
Grand Marais to Tofte is 27.3 miles and takes about 36 minutes via West Highway 61, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, traveling through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive that's perfect for a quick scenic excursion or a simple transfer between two points along the North Shore. You'll find the journey easy to navigate, making it an ideal option if you're looking for minimal travel time with maximum ease. Consider this route if you want a simple, scenic connection without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Highway 61 | 27.1 mi | 36m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Highway 61
— 27.1 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Marais, MN and Tofte, MN.
1
Start on West 1st Street
274 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto CR 10
214 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Broadway
3
Turn sharp left onto MN 61
27 mi
·
36 min
·
West Highway 61
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left
231 ft
·
16 sec
5
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 27.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 10 / North Broadway
Turn left onto CR 10 / North Broadway
Navigation decision point
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 61 / West Highway 61
Turn sharp left onto MN 61 / West Highway 61
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
27.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.06 one way
$8.13 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.38 | $8.76 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Tofte, MN
Night in Tofte on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
17 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
36m 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 drive is almost entirely highway, with a 99% highway share, making it a focused and efficient journey. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on West Highway 61, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 27.1 miles. The profile is a highway-focused drive, meaning you can expect consistent speeds and a predictable road surface for most of the trip. This route offers a smooth experience without significant diversions or changes in road type, allowing you to maintain a steady pace.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.1 mi on West Highway 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Highway 61 and West 1st Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 10 / North Broadway.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Grand Marais, MN to Tofte, MN is easy. At 36m with 99% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 10 / North Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MN 61 / West Highway 61): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.1 miles on West Highway 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 0.1 miles (CR 10 / North Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MN 61 / West Highway 61): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tofte, 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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