Origin
Howard Lake, MN
Afternoon in Howard Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howard Lake, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Howard Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Howard Lake to Maple Grove is 40.4 miles and takes about 57 minutes via Babcock Boulevard and US 12, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick commute or a short excursion without much planning needed. You'll likely find it a convenient way to connect these two communities, offering a practical route for everyday travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 13.2 mi | 17m |
| US 12 | 12 mi | 16m |
| I 494 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Babcock Boulevard
— 13.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howard Lake, MN and Maple Grove, 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
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 1A-B
Toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 394 East, I 494 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 494
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 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 31.9 and 39.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
31.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A-B
Toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494
8
32.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 394 East, I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 394 East, I 494 North
7
32.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 North
7
39.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.01 one way
$12.02 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.48 | $12.96 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Rockford, MN
20 mi in
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
2 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
57m 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 a mixed highway and surface road experience. About 46% of the route is on highways, meaning you'll encounter some faster-paced sections. The longest stretch on surface roads is 13.2 miles on Babcock Boulevard, so expect a change in speed and traffic flow as you transition. You'll notice the merging traffic and varying speed limits as you shift between highway and local road segments.
46% 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: 13.2 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 31.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 40.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
Full guide →Maple Grove is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
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 57m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.2 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 Maple Grove, 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 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maple Grove, 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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