Maple Grove to Benson is 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 36m via I 94 and MN 23, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that makes for an easy day trip. Given the relatively short distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
52.6 mi
56m
MN 23
40 mi
47m
MN 9
35.8 mi
47m
I 494
1 mi
1m
Bass Lake Road
0.6 mi
1m
Atlantic Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 52.6 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Benson, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
0.6 mi·1 min·Bass Lake Road
2
Turn left
316 ft·9 sec
Toward I 494 NorthUse the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 494 North
4
Merge onto I 494
1.0 mi·1 min·I 494
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
36 mi·38 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward MN 23 West: Paynesville
9
Merge onto MN 23
15 mi·19 min·MN 23
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MN 23
1.1 mi·1 min·MN 23
11
Continue on MN 23
24 mi·27 min·MN 23
12
Turn right onto MN 9
36 mi·47 min·MN 9
13
Turn right onto US 12; MN 9
0.1 mi·27 sec·Atlantic Avenue
14
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under three hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering plenty of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of your time at your destination. The longest stretch without a major exit is over 50 miles on I 94, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye out for towns along MN 23 and MN 9 for any last-minute needs.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.7 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.6 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 29 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benson, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maple Grove, MN
This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Maple Grove, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 52.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 131.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left toward I 494 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 494 North
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 494 North
8
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|MN 23
Merge onto MN 23
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.55 one way
$39.11 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.07
$42.14
premium
$4.53
$23.45
$46.89
diesel
$5.61
$29.01
$58.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Late night
in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benson, MN
Late night
in Benson on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
1 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
2h 36m 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 route is predominantly a highway drive, with 99% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion on I 94, including a continuous stretch of 52.6 miles. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive as you transition to MN 23 and then MN 9. The highway-focused profile means fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside stops, so plan your breaks accordingly.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 131.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.6 miles on I 94. 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 Benson, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 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 Benson, MN before heading back.
