Maple Grove to Stillwater is 36.3 miles and takes about 47 minutes via I-694 and MN-36, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward trip entirely within Minnesota, connecting two points in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Given its brevity and highway profile, it’s a convenient option for a quick local excursion or a functional transfer between these two communities. You'll spend most of your time on major interstate highways, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 694
18.2 mi
20m
MN 36
7.1 mi
8m
I 94
6.3 mi
7m
Greeley Street South
1.3 mi
3m
I 494
1 mi
1m
Myrtle Street West
0.7 mi
1m
Bass Lake Road
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 18.2 mi, about 20m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,920 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 88 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 Stillwater, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward I 94 East, I 694 EastUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 94; I 694
6.3 mi·7 min·I 94; I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
12 mi·12 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
1.3 mi·1 min·I 694
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
5.3 mi·6 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·44 sec
Exit 52BToward MN 36 East: StillwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MN 36
7.1 mi·8 min·MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CR 66
1.3 mi·3 min·Greeley Street South
13
Turn right onto Myrtle Street West
0.7 mi·1 min·Myrtle Street West
14
Turn right onto MN 95
92 ft·1 sec·Main Street South
15
Arrive at destination
MN 95
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 18.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 27 — 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 right at fork toward I 94 East, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 East, I 694 East
6
8.8 mi into trip|~11m in|I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.7 mi into trip|~26m in|I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52B
Toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.75 one way
$11.50 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$6.12
$12.24
premium
$4.85
$6.93
$13.86
diesel
$5.60
$8.00
$16.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
10.9
0
$3.81
$1.74
Efficient EV
9.1
0
$3.18
$1.45
EV Truck/SUV
14.5
0
$5.08
$2.32
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Aug 25, 2026
Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Morning
in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
9:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 24 at 10:39PM CDT until August 25 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Stillwater, MN
Morning
in Stillwater on Tuesday
Local time
9:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 24 at 10:39PM CDT until August 25 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
3 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
47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 highway, with 90% of the drive on interstates like I-694 and I-94. You'll experience a longest stretch of 18.2 miles on I-694, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition to non-highway roads will occur as you approach your destination in Stillwater, marking the end of the high-speed segments. Expect typical interstate traffic patterns and frequent exits as you navigate the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
90% 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: 18.2 mi on I 694.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 694 and MN 36. 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 Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 36.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m 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 18.2 miles on I 694. 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 Stillwater, 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 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (I 694): 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 Stillwater, MN before heading back.
