Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Vermillion, MN
Veronika Andrews
Maple Grove to Vermillion is 49.1 miles and takes about 1 hour via Lafayette Freeway and I-694, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Minnesota, making it a convenient local trip. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major roadways. It’s a short enough distance that it’s ideal for a quick getaway or a simple transfer between locations without significant planning. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Freeway | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| I 694 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| US 52 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 94 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Voyageur Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| 190th Street East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 494 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,508 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~287 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Vermillion, MN.
Start on CR 10
Turn left
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 494
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 94; I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Take the exit onto US 52
Merge onto US 52
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 62
Continue on CR 62
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.5 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward I 494 North
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.37 one way
$14.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $7.96 | $15.92 |
| premium | $4.60 | $8.89 | $17.79 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $9.27 | $18.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Vermillion on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your travel occurring on major roads. You'll experience the efficiency of routes like the Lafayette Freeway and I-694. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles on the Lafayette Freeway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. While primarily highway, be aware that the transition onto and off these main roads will involve local connections. The overall feel is one of steady progress on well-maintained thoroughfares.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lafayette Freeway and I 694. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.6 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 20.4 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
410 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
953 ft
~17.5 mi in
Elevation Range
242 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Maple Grove, MN to Vermillion, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Rochester along the way.
Rochester
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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