Maple Grove to Hibbing is 195 miles and takes about 4 hours via MN 23 and State Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Minnesota, taking you from the Midwest's familiar landscapes to the Iron Range region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. You'll find this route efficient if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive detours. Consider this a practical option for getting from the Twin Cities metro area north into central Minnesota.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
97.5 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 23
37.8 mi
45m
State Highway 65
35.8 mi
45m
MN 27
33.6 mi
42m
US Highway 169
32.8 mi
37m
MN 65
18.9 mi
23m
US 169
13.7 mi
16m
I 94
8.3 mi
9m
MN 101
6.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 37.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Hibbing, 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
8.3 mi·9 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 207A-BToward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi·55 sec·MN 101 North Bypass
Exit 207BToward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk RiverUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto MN 101
6.4 mi·7 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 169
27 mi·30 min·US Highway 169
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
6.3 mi·7 min·US Highway 169
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
13
Turn right onto MN 23
18 mi·20 min·MN 23
14
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi·24 min·MN 23; MN 65
15
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi·42 min·MN 27; MN 65
16
At end of road, turn left onto MN 210; MN 65
1.2 mi·2 min·East Highway 210
17
Turn right onto MN 65
36 mi·45 min·State Highway 65
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 65
146 ft·1 sec·MN 65
19
Continue on MN 65
19 mi·23 min·MN 65
20
Turn right onto US 169; MN 65
14 mi·16 min·US 169; MN 65
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
22
At end of road, turn left onto West 42nd Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·West 42nd Street
23
Turn left onto CH 57
2.0 mi·3 min·1st Avenue
24
Turn right onto East Howard Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Howard Street
25
Turn right onto 4th Avenue East
120 ft·5 sec·4th Avenue East
26
Arrive at destination
4th Avenue East
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, departing from Maple Grove in the morning allows ample time to reach Hibbing well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $29, this is a very manageable single-day trip. There are no significant challenges to anticipate, but remember that MN 23 and State Highway 65 are the primary arteries, so pay attention to signage for these. A practical tip: since it's a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but be mindful of daylight hours, especially outside of summer.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 43 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hibbing, 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 195 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 MN 23 for about 37.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 192.7 — 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
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
8
10.9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk...
8
11.2 mi into trip|~13m in|MN 101 North Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
6
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|West 42nd Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 42nd Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.02 one way
$58.04 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$31.27
$62.54
premium
$4.53
$34.79
$69.59
diesel
$5.61
$43.05
$86.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.8
0
$17.06
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.30
$12.48
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 20, 2026
Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Late night
in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hibbing, MN
Late night
in Hibbing on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
5 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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 almost entirely a highway-focused drive, with a 98% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained main roads. You'll navigate using MN 23 and State Highway 65, with a brief segment on MN 27. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.8 miles on MN 23, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the 4-hour journey, characterized by open roads and steady progress.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on MN 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and State Highway 65. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 195 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 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maple Grove, MN and Hibbing, MN, road signs point toward Cr 81 and Elk River.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 195 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on MN 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Hibbing, 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 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Hibbing, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
