Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Late night in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maple Grove, MN to Atwater, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
76.9 mi
124 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Atwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 76.9-mile drive from Maple Grove, MN, to Atwater, MN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes to complete. The route predominantly follows US Highway 12, offering a fairly straightforward journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of around $11, this short excursion is budget-friendly. You’ll experience a mixed drive, so be prepared for some variety in road conditions. Given its manageable length, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a relaxed exploration without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 15.4 mi | 20m |
| US Highway 12 | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Parker Avenue East | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa | 11 mi | 14m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| I 494 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| 60th Street Southwest | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| 50th Street Southwest | 2.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 15.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Atwater, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Bass Lake Road
2
Take the ramp
293 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 494 South
Use the right lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 494
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 12
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 12
135 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
9
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
11
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
12
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
13
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 12
14
Turn slight right onto US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
15
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; MN 25
16
Continue on US 12; MN 25
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
17
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
18
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
19
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
20
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
21
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
22
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
23
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokato Street
24
Continue on US 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
50th Street Southwest
25
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
26
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Parker Avenue East
27
Turn right onto US 12; MN 22
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sibley Avenue
28
Continue on US 12; MN 22
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 12
29
Turn left onto CR 2
144 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street North
30
Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft
·
8 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue
31
Turn right
135 ft
·
9 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1-hour-and-44-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any lingering rush hour traffic from Maple Grove. With no specific recommended stops, you can easily cover the 76.9 miles without needing to plan for extended breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $11; it's always wise to top off before you leave. A specific tip for this route: pay attention as you transition onto Parker Avenue East in Atwater, as this is the final approach and may involve navigating local traffic patterns.
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 38.5 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.4 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwater, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maple Grove, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maple Grove, MN
This is one driving day of about 76.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Maple Grove, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 15.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.5 miles from Maple Grove, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 7.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 494 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 South
8
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 South
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19B
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $12.33 | $24.66 |
| premium | $4.53 | $13.72 | $27.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.98 | $33.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.07 | $3.69 |
| Efficient EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.77 | $4.92 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Atwater, MN
Late night in Atwater on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Delano, MN
38 mi in
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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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?
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, with 45% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on US 12, which offers a consistent pace for much of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.4 miles on US 12, allowing for a period of steady progress. Expect some shifts in the road type as you navigate through different sections, moving between more open highway and potentially more localized road segments as you approach your destination. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a varied experience that keeps things interesting.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.9 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Maple Grove, MN
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 76.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on US 12. 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 Atwater, 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 494): 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 Atwater, 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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