Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.5 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McGrath, MN
Tom Fisk
Wealthwood, MN
Tom Fisk
McGrath to Wealthwood is 26.5 miles and takes about 35m via State Highway 18 and State Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota's Midwest region, offering a straightforward connection between two points. It's a practical drive, suitable for those needing to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Given its brevity, it's an ideal option for a quick errand or as part of a larger itinerary, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 18 | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 65 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| 385th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between McGrath, MN and Wealthwood, MN.
Start on South 1st Street
Turn right onto MN 27; MN 65
Turn left onto CR 2
Continue on MN 18
Turn left onto 385th Avenue
Arrive at destination
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto MN 27; MN 65 / State Highway 65
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CR 2 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 385th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.53 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
| premium | $5.11 | $5.33 | $10.66 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $6.55 | $13.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in McGrath on Saturday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Wealthwood on Saturday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
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.
You'll spend just over half of this 26.5-mile drive on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 12.4 miles along 220nd Street, indicating a significant portion of rural cruising before you transition onto State Highway 18 and then State Highway 65. Expect a mix of driving experiences as you move from potentially less-traveled roads to more managed state highways.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 27; MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from McGrath, MN to Wealthwood, MN is easy. At 35m with 53% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MN 27; MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (CR 2 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.5 miles (385th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
116 ft
Total Descent
92 ft
Highest Point
1,311 ft
~13.3 mi in
Elevation Range
62 ft
Mille Lacs is an area in Northeastern Minnesota surrounding Mille Lacs Lake.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 26.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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