Origin
Milaca, MN
Afternoon in Milaca on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milaca, MN to Minneapolis, 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 21m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milaca, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Milaca to Minneapolis is a straightforward 64.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route works perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend roughly $9 on fuel for the one-way trek. Navigating through the Midwest landscape, you will rely on a combination of Central Avenue North, 4th Street, and Highway 169 to reach your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that allows you to transition from the rural feel of Milaca to the urban environment of Minneapolis with ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 169 | 32.9 mi | 37m |
| I 94 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| 4th Street | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 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 Minneapolis, 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
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward 4th Street North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
16
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 33 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 57.3 and 65.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
57.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
64.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
65.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.82 one way
$19.64 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.58 | $21.17 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.78 | $23.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
4 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 21m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads, meaning there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; in fact, the longest stretch on Central Avenue North is 0 miles. The journey requires your full attention as you transition between various local arteries. Because the route is entirely non-highway, the pace is dictated by local traffic and turn sequences. It is a functional path that prioritizes local connections over the efficiency of a major expressway.
92% 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: 32.9 mi on US Highway 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 57.3 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66 miles you will encounter 14 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 57.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Minneapolis, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
41.5 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
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 21m. Total distance: 66 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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 Minneapolis, 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 57.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.8 miles: 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 Minneapolis, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Minneapolis, MN
More trips to Minneapolis, MN
Explore more options from Milaca, MN or browse trips ending in Minneapolis, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.