Origin
Lino Lakes, MN
Morning in Lino Lakes on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lino Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lino Lakes, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or day trip between Lino Lakes and Minneapolis, this 20.6-mile journey is about as straightforward as it gets. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 32 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting for the trip is simple, as you will likely only spend around $3 on fuel. Navigating this route involves a combination of Lake Drive Northeast, Birch Street, and I-35W. Because both the origin and destination sit firmly within the Midwest, the transition between these two Minnesota hubs is seamless. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick city visit, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection that fits easily into a busy schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Birch Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Black Duck Drive | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| Hodgson Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 12.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lino Lakes, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Black Duck Drive
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Duck Drive
2
Turn right onto CR 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Birch Street
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Birch Street
4
Continue on CR 34
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Birch Street
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Birch Street
6
Continue on CR 34
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Birch Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto CR 49
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hodgson Road
8
Turn left onto CH 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W South
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
11
Merge onto I 35W
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 19.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 34 / Birch Street
Enter roundabout onto CR 34 / Birch Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
$3.07 one way
$6.13 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.30 | $6.61 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.68 | $7.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 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 | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
21 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
32m 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 trip features a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to a more substantial highway experience. You will spend about 60% of your time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 12.4 miles on I-35W. The initial segments through Lino Lakes provide a slower, local pace before you merge onto the interstate to cover the bulk of the distance. Expect a shift in intensity as you transition from the residential streets of Birch Street and Lake Drive Northeast into the faster-moving flow of the interstate. It is a functional, efficient drive that balances neighborhood navigation with the necessity of a quick highway transit.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near CR 34 / Birch Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.6 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 2.4 miles (CR 34 / Birch Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →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.
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 32m. Total distance: 20.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on I 35W. 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 Minneapolis, 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 2.4 miles (CR 34 / Birch Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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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