If you are planning a trip from Little Falls to Maple Grove, expect a straightforward drive covering 83 miles of Minnesota terrain. You can easily complete this journey in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes US 10 and I-94 to move you efficiently through the Midwest. Budgeting about $12 for fuel should cover your needs for this direct transit. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or build in your own breaks along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Little Falls, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
50.3 mi
58m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
1st Street Southeast
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
I 494
1.2 mi
1m
Haven Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 50.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Falls, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on 1st Street Southeast
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Street Southeast
2
Continue on CR 76
1.1 mi·1 min·Haven Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
4
Merge onto US 10
24 mi·27 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
6
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
7
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
8
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
10
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
11
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
12
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
14
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi·1 min·I 494
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi·50 sec·Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best fits your personal schedule. Keep in mind that since the route is primarily highway-based, traffic patterns on I-94 will likely dictate your actual travel time more than any other factor. You don't need to worry about complex refueling logistics, as a simple $12 fill-up will get you through the 83-mile distance with ease. Since there are no designated stops on this itinerary, use the 165th Avenue Southeast connector to adjust your route if you encounter congestion on the main highways. Staying flexible with your departure window will help you avoid the busiest commute hours as you approach the Maple Grove area.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Little Falls, MN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Little Falls, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Little Falls, MN
This is one driving day of about 83 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Little Falls, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 50.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 82.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.70 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$13.31
$26.62
premium
$4.53
$14.81
$29.62
diesel
$5.61
$18.33
$36.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.71
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.26
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Little Falls, MN
Late night
in Little Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Late night
in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
1h 40m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a 50.3-mile stretch along US 10 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition from the more rural feel of Little Falls toward the suburban environment of Maple Grove is marked by a shift onto I-94. While the route is functional rather than scenic, the heavy reliance on major highways ensures a consistent pace throughout the 1 hour and 40-minute duration. Expect a predictable experience behind the wheel as you navigate these primary transit corridors.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort6/10
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 83 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.8 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 83 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on US 10. 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 2.8 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maple Grove, MN before heading back.
