Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Morning in Maple Grove on Friday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maple Grove, MN to Saint Peter, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 15, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
68.4 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Peter, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Maple Grove to Saint Peter is 68.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via US 169 and I-494, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to itself. The drive is primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward connection. You'll find it's a quick hop, ideal for a same-day excursion with minimal planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 32.5 mi | 38m |
| I 494 | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| US 212 | 12.7 mi | 14m |
| County Road 11 | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Jonathan Carver Parkway | 2 mi | 3m |
| County Road 40 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Minnesota Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 32.5 mi, about 38m
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,210 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
42.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 31 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Saint Peter, 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
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 212
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CR 11
310 ft
·
5 sec
·
County Road 11
10
Continue on CR 11
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 11
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
12
Continue on CR 11
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
13
Continue on CR 11; CR 40
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
County Road 40
14
Turn left onto CR 11
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 11
15
Turn right onto US 169
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on US 169
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 169
23 mi
·
27 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 169; MN 22; MN 99
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 27.6 — 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
8
14.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
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 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
16 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.51 one way
$23.01 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $12.39 | $24.79 |
| premium | $5.04 | $13.56 | $27.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.19 | $30.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.58 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Saint Peter, MN
Morning in Saint Peter on Friday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Carver, MN
34 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 25m 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?
With 89% of this drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on major routes. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 32.5 miles on US 169. Expect a lot of highway cruising, with frequent exits and merges common on interstates like I-494. The transition to surface roads will likely occur closer to your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.5 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 494. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
981 ft
723 ft
Total Climb
333 ft
Total Descent
510 ft
Highest Point
981 ft
~48.9 mi in
Elevation Range
258 ft
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 25m. Total distance: 68.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.5 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Saint Peter, 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Peter, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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