Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Big Lake, 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
54m
Distance
41.7 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 41.7-mile drive from Minneapolis to Big Lake, Minnesota, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 54 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-94 W, this route keeps you on the highway for about 91% of the journey, making it an efficient trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, it's an economical option for a quick excursion within the Midwest region. Given its short distance and highway focus, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. Consider this drive when you need a simple, direct connection between these two Minnesota locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 25 | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Pine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 18.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Big Lake, 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
Take the ramp
1.8 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 94 West
5
Merge onto I 94
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
10
Continue on MN 25
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto US 10; MN 25
266 ft
·
43 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
12
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
US 10; MN 25
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 41.7 — 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
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 94 / I-94 W
Continue onto I 94 / I-94 W toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
41.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.41 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.69 | $13.37 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.21 | $18.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Big Lake, MN
Late night in Big Lake on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
20 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
54m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 41.7-mile trip, with 91% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-94 W and State Highway 25. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.3 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace. This route is characterized by its efficiency rather than dramatic scenic shifts, providing a predictable drive. You'll primarily be on well-maintained interstates, so settle in for a smooth, albeit direct, journey with minimal deviations.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I-94 W. You will hit about 9 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
5/10
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 41.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 54m. Total distance: 41.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Big Lake, 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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