If you are planning to head south from Little Falls to Minneapolis, you are looking at a straightforward 96.1-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the drive to take roughly 1 hour and 59 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will spend about $14 on fuel, keeping the travel costs manageable for a quick getaway. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, there is no need to split this into an overnight excursion. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Minnesota locations, allowing you to reach your destination without significant downtime.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Little Falls, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
50.3 mi
58m
I 94
34.1 mi
38m
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
Haven Road
1.1 mi
1m
County Road 11
0.7 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 Minneapolis, 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
28 mi·31 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi·7 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward 4th Street NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi·35 sec·2nd Avenue North
20
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi·1 min·North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to hit the road outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain that estimated 1 hour and 59-minute duration. While there are no mandatory stops scheduled, feel free to pull over whenever you need a break, as the short distance allows for plenty of spontaneity. Given the $14 fuel estimate, ensure your tank is topped off before you leave Little Falls so you do not have to worry about refueling during the transit. Keep a close eye on the transition between US 10 and I-94, as these highway interchanges are where you will encounter the most significant shifts in traffic flow.
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 48.1 miles from Little Falls, MN, or about 57m 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 57m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, 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 96.1 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 87.5 and 95.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
93.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
94 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
95 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
95.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.30 one way
$28.60 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$15.41
$30.82
premium
$4.53
$17.15
$34.29
diesel
$5.61
$21.22
$42.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.45
$6.15
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Night
in Little Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Night
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
27 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 59m 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 trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 88% of your time spent on major routes like US 10 and I-94. You will encounter a mix of fast-paced interstate driving and local transitions, including a brief segment on 165th Avenue Southeast. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 50.3-mile stretch on US 10, which acts as the backbone of your journey. Because the majority of the drive is highway-focused, you can expect a consistent pace that minimizes technical maneuvering. It is a functional drive designed to get you from the smaller-town atmosphere of Little Falls to the urban density of Minneapolis efficiently.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87.5 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 87.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 96.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m 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 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 87.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 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 Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
