Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maple Grove, MN to Big Lake, 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
37m
Distance
29.3 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Maple Grove to Big Lake, expect a straightforward 29.3-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Minnesota Midwest, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will spend your time navigating a combination of I-494 North, I-94 West, and Pine Street. With a modest fuel budget of $4, this drive is as economical as it is efficient. Because the transit time is so brief, you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complex logistics. It is an ideal option for those who prefer a manageable trip without the fatigue of a long-distance haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| State Highway 25 | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| I 494 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 22.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Big Lake, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
2
Turn left
316 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use 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 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use 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
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
10
Continue on MN 25
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto US 10; MN 25
266 ft
·
43 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
12
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
US 10; MN 25
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 29.3 — 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
4
19.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
29.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.36 one way
$8.72 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.70 | $9.40 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.23 | $10.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.47 | $12.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Big Lake, MN
Afternoon in Big Lake on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
18 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
37m 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 is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will find that the highway percentage is essentially zero, as the route relies on a mix of thoroughfares and local streets to get you to your destination. There is no long, monotonous stretch of highway to zone out on, as the longest segment on I-494 North is non-existent in terms of a sustained, uninterrupted run. Instead, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience where you will be navigating various turns and transitions. Expect the pace to feel consistent as you move from the suburban environment of Maple Grove into the setting of Big Lake.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 25. 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 Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 29.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
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.
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 37m. Total distance: 29.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 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 Big Lake, 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 0.6 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 Big Lake, 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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