Origin
Milaca, MN
Morning in Milaca on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milaca, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milaca, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Milaca to Maple Grove is 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 2m via US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward commute rather than an extensive exploration. It's a practical choice for quickly getting from one area to another without significant detours or time commitments.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 169 | 32.9 mi | 37m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 494 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street Northwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 169
— 32.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milaca, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn right onto CR 36
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Central Avenue North
3
Turn left onto MN 23
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
4th Street
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
5
Merge onto US 169
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 169
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
26 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 169
7
Continue on US 169
383 ft
·
4 sec
·
POW/MIA Memorial Highway
8
Continue on MN 101
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
10
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Milaca, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 52.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
41.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
7
50.5 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
52.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.87 one way
$15.75 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.48 | $16.97 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Maple Grove, MN
Morning in Maple Grove on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 2m 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?
This drive is 93% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on this route is 32.9 miles, which occurs on US Highway 169. You'll experience a significant amount of highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads closer to Maple Grove, indicated by the decrease in highway percentage. Expect a high density of exits and merges as you approach your destination.
93% 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: 32.9 mi on US Highway 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 169 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Milaca, MN to Maple Grove, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
41.5 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 2m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on US Highway 169. 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 Maple Grove, 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 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maple Grove, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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