Origin
Howard Lake, MN
Late night in Howard Lake on Friday
Local time
2:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howard Lake, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
46.6 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Howard Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Brooklyn Park, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Howard Lake, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN is 46.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via Babcock Boulevard and US 169, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within Minnesota, taking you from one Midwestern point to another. Most of the drive is on main roads, offering a practical way to connect these two communities. It's a relatively short distance, making it suitable for a quick day trip or an easy commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| US 12 | 12 mi | 16m |
| US 169 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 394 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Brooklyn Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Babcock Boulevard
— 14.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howard Lake, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN.
1
Start on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
2
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
3
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
4
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
5
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
6
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
7
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
8
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
9
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
10
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
11
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
13
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto I 394
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 3
Toward US 169 North, US 169 South: General Mills Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 169 North: General Mills Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 169 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 169
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard, Brooklyn Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 130
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Brooklyn Boulevard
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
CR 14
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Howard Lake, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 44.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
33.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 394
Merge onto I 394
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 169 North, US 169 South: General Mills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3
Toward US 169 North, US 169 South: General Mill...
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 169 North: General Mills Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 169 North: General Mills Boulevard
8
35.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 169 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 169 North
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard, Brooklyn Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard, Brooklyn Bo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.38 one way
$14.76 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.85 | $8.89 | $17.79 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $10.27 | $20.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Brooklyn Park, MN
Late night in Brooklyn Park on Friday
Local time
2:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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
1h 5m 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?
About half of this 46.6-mile route, or 48%, is on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 14.5 miles on Babcock Boulevard before transitioning to other main roads like US 12 and US 169. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so expect to see a change in road type and traffic density as you progress.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Babcock Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.1 miles in near I 394.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 33.1 miles (I 394): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,020 ft
868 ft
Total Climb
72 ft
Total Descent
224 ft
Highest Point
1,020 ft
Elevation Range
152 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Howard Lake, MN
Full guide →Founded 1855
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 46.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on Babcock Boulevard. 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 Brooklyn Park, 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 33.1 miles (I 394): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 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 Brooklyn Park, 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.
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