If you are planning a trip from Maple Grove to Clara City, expect a straightforward journey covering 108.3 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 2 hours and 22 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting around $15 for fuel should cover your travel expenses for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your time on the road. Because the route is compact and direct, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for a quick business task or a short visit. It is a practical, no-fuss connection across Minnesota that keeps your travel time efficient.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 7
68 mi
1h 28m
195th Avenue
15.9 mi
19m
Minnesota State Highway 7
13.2 mi
18m
I 494
9.3 mi
11m
Main Street South
0.5 mi
1m
Bass Lake Road
0.5 mi
<1m
1st Avenue Southwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MN 7
— 68 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Clara City, 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 SouthUse the right lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 494
9.3 mi·11 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 16BToward MN 7 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto MN 7
13 mi·18 min·Minnesota State Highway 7
7
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
132 ft·2 sec·MN 7
8
Continue on MN 7
5.8 mi·7 min·MN 7
9
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
151 ft·2 sec·MN 7
10
Continue on MN 7
2.5 mi·3 min·MN 7
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
163 ft·2 sec·MN 7
12
Continue on MN 7
9.0 mi·11 min·MN 7
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
120 ft·1 sec·MN 7
14
Continue on MN 7
51 mi·1 hr 6 min·MN 7
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
154 ft·2 sec·195th Avenue
16
Continue on MN 7
16 mi·19 min·195th Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street South
18
Turn left onto MN 23
54 ft·1 sec·1st Avenue Southwest
19
Arrive at destination
MN 23
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure to avoid peak traffic times around the Maple Grove area. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the manageable 2 hour and 22 minute duration, but keeping a water bottle and snacks handy is always a good practice. Before you head out, make sure your fuel tank is ready, as the $15 cost estimate assumes a direct trip. Pay close attention to your speed as you transition off the 68-mile stretch of MN 7, as road conditions may shift when you arrive in Clara City. Use the simplicity of this route to your benefit by keeping your itinerary flexible and stress-free.
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 54.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 12m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clara City, 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 108.3 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Maple Grove, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MN 7 for about 68 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 23.8 — 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
10.1 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16B
Toward MN 7 West
4
23.8 mi into trip|~32m in|MN 7
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.12 one way
$32.23 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$17.37
$34.73
premium
$4.53
$19.32
$38.65
diesel
$5.61
$23.91
$47.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
Efficient EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
EV Truck/SUV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Night
in Maple Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clara City, MN
Night
in Clara City on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 22m 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 a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will rely heavily on MN 7 and Minnesota State Highway 7 to navigate the distance, keeping your pace steady and predictable. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 68-mile run on MN 7, which allows for consistent cruising once you clear the initial departure area. While you will navigate some local segments like 195th Avenue, the transition between these roads is simple. Expect a functional, efficient experience behind the wheel that prioritizes direct travel over complex navigation or technical driving.
84% 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: 68 mi on MN 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 7 and 195th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 22m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on MN 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 Clara City, MN before heading back.
