Traveling from Hermantown to Minneapolis covers 152.2 miles across the heart of the Midwest, typically taking about 2 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Because this trip is relatively short, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $22 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will primarily utilize I-35 and I-35W to connect these two Minnesota hubs. This route is straightforward and efficient, making it a practical choice for travelers looking to move between the northern and southern parts of the state quickly.
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
76.1 miles from Hermantown, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
118.6 mi
2h 7m
I 35W
23.4 mi
27m
Midway Road
6.9 mi
9m
Maple Grove Road
2 mi
3m
Washington Avenue South
0.8 mi
2m
246
0.3 mi
<1m
Ugstad Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hermantown, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Ugstad Road
264 ft·12 sec·Ugstad Road
2
Turn left onto CH 6
2.0 mi·3 min·Maple Grove Road
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 13
232 ft·4 sec·Midway Road
4
Continue on CR 13
6.8 mi·9 min·Midway Road
5
Take the ramp onto 246
0.3 mi·39 sec·246
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
6
Merge onto I 35
119 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
23 mi·27 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Exit 17CToward Washington AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While you could technically drive the entire way without a break, incorporating at least one stop is recommended to keep you fresh for city traffic. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hermantown, as the $22 estimate assumes a steady highway pace. Pay attention to traffic patterns as you approach the I-35W corridor, as volume can increase significantly near Minneapolis. Making your single planned stop toward the middle of the 152.2-mile stretch is the best way to break up the long interstate segments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.1 miles from Hermantown, MN, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.1 miles or 1h 25m 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 17m
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 Hermantown, 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 Hermantown, MN
This is one driving day of about 152.2 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Hermantown, 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 35 for about 118.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.9 and 151.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.9 mi into trip|~13m in|246
Take the ramp onto 246 toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
9.2 mi into trip|~13m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
151.2 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
151.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.65 one way
$45.30 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$24.41
$48.81
premium
$4.53
$27.16
$54.31
diesel
$5.61
$33.60
$67.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$15.98
$7.31
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.32
$6.09
EV Truck/SUV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hermantown, MN
Late night
in Hermantown on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
2h 51m 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 is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 93% of your journey spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-35, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 118.6 miles. While you start your departure on Midway Road, you will quickly transition to the interstate for a consistent, steady pace. The road feel is predictable and efficient, lacking the technical turns of backroads but offering a reliable path between your origin and destination. Expect a straightforward experience behind the wheel as the landscape transitions toward the urban environment of the Twin Cities.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.9 miles in near 246.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.9 miles (246): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 8.9 miles (246): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 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 Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
