Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Atwater, 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 48m
Distance
80.1 mi
129 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 80.1-mile drive from Minneapolis, MN to Atwater, MN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes. The journey is primarily highway-focused, with 62% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 12. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, this is an economical option for exploring the Midwest. Given its relatively short distance and direct path, it's ideal for a quick getaway or an efficient transfer between these two Minnesota locations without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 27.7 mi | 36m |
| US Highway 12 | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Parker Avenue East | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| I 394 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| 60th Street Southwest | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| 50th Street Southwest | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 27.7 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Atwater, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue South
2
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
426 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
418 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 3rd Street
4
Turn straight onto I 394
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Enter roundabout onto US 12
135 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
7
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
9
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
10
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
11
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 12
12
Turn slight right onto US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
13
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; MN 25
14
Continue on US 12; MN 25
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
15
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
16
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
17
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
18
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
19
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
20
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
21
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokato Street
22
Continue on US 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
50th Street Southwest
23
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
24
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Parker Avenue East
25
Turn right onto US 12; MN 22
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sibley Avenue
26
Continue on US 12; MN 22
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 12
27
Turn left onto CR 2
144 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street North
28
Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft
·
8 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue
29
Turn right
135 ft
·
9 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Minneapolis at your leisure, as there's no need to split the drive. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $12 fuel cost for the 80.1 miles. While there are no designated stops mentioned, you'll have ample opportunity to pull over as needed. Pay attention to your navigation as you transition from US 12 onto Parker Avenue East for the final approach into Atwater.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwater, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minneapolis, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 80.1 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Minneapolis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 27.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40 miles from Minneapolis, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 80 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 1st Avenue
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
9.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
22.2 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
80 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.92 one way
$23.84 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $12.84 | $25.69 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.29 | $28.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.69 | $35.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24 | 0 | $8.41 | $3.84 |
| Efficient EV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Atwater, MN
Morning in Atwater on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockford, MN
40 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
23 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
1h 48m 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?
You'll find this drive leans heavily towards highway travel, making up 62% of the total mileage. Expect consistent progress on well-maintained roads like US Highway 12 for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.7 miles, allowing for a good rhythm behind the wheel. While the profile is largely highway-focused, the inclusion of Parker Avenue East suggests a brief transition into more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination, offering a subtle shift in scenery and pace without significant disruption.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US Highway 12. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 48m. Total distance: 80.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on US 12. 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 Atwater, 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 0.4 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (US 12): 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 Atwater, 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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