Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.1 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Independence, MN to Maple Grove, MN is 21.1 miles and takes about 29 minutes via Babcock Boulevard and I 494, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a convenient local trip. It's primarily a surface street drive with some highway time mixed in. Given the minimal distance and quick travel time, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a quick errand.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| I 494 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Valley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
Start on Valley Road
Turn left onto US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Take the exit
Merge onto I 494
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 10
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 20.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.14 one way
$6.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.38 | $6.77 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.76 | $7.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.66 | $9.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.22 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is about 30% highway, with the longest stretch on surface roads measuring 12.4 miles on Babcock Boulevard. You'll experience a mix of driving, transitioning from surface streets to interstate travel and back. Expect a section with dense exits as you navigate I 494 before returning to surface streets like Bass Lake Road.
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 12.6 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 21.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Founded 1858
Maple Grove is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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