Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
1:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Cormorant, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 5m
Distance
211.7 mi
341 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 52m
★
6 AM
4h 5m
8 AM
4h 31m
10 AM
4h 14m
12 PM
4h 12m
3 PM
4h 15m
5 PM
4h 30m
8 PM
3h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minneapolis, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Cormorant, MN
Daniil Komov
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cormorant, MN covers 211.7 miles and takes about 4h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I-94 W, US 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 161.9 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 161.9 mi | 2h 55m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| US 59 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Head Lake Road | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| South Shore Drive | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| County Road 9 | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| South Pelican Drive | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 161.9 mi, about 2h 55m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,410 veh/hr typical · worst 4,196
Quietest
2 AM
~208 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Cormorant, 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
150 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit onto US 59
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 59
Toward US 59 North, CH 88: Pelican Rapids, Detroit Lakes
9
Continue on US 59; MN 108
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
10
Continue on US 59
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Head Lake Road
11
Turn left onto 215th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
215th Avenue
12
Continue on South Shore Drive
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Shore Drive
13
Turn left onto South Pelican Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pelican Drive
14
At end of road, turn right onto South Pelican Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pelican Drive
15
At end of road, turn right onto CH 9
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 9
16
Turn left onto CH 9
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 9
17
Continue on CR 5
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway 5
18
Arrive at destination
CR 5
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.9 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 47 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cormorant, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 211.7 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Minneapolis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 161.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 161.9 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 198 — 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.
5
181.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
|
US 59
Take the exit onto US 59 toward US 59 North, CH 88: Pelican Rapids, Detroit Lakes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59 North, CH 88: Pelican Rapids, Detr...
5
198 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
|
US 59; MN 108 / North Broadway
Enter roundabout onto US 59; MN 108 / North Broadway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.52 one way
$67.04 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $35.70 | $71.39 |
| premium | $4.85 | $40.41 | $80.81 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $46.67 | $93.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.23 | $10.16 |
| Efficient EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.52 | $8.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.64 | $13.55 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Cormorant, MN
Late night in Cormorant on Wednesday
Local time
1:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
211.7 mi in 4h 5m, mostly highway — 161.9 mi of that is on I 94.
93% 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: 161.9 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I-94 W. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 5m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,405 ft
830 ft
Total Climb
738 ft
Total Descent
196 ft
Highest Point
1,405 ft
~136.1 mi in
Elevation Range
575 ft
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.
Between Minneapolis, MN and Cormorant, MN, road signs point toward Ch 88: Pelican Rapids and Detroit Lakes.
Ch 88: Pelican Rapids
181.3 mi in
|
~3h 19m
|
via US 59
Detroit Lakes
181.3 mi in
|
~3h 19m
|
via US 59
About the Cities
Starting in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →Founded 1850
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.
Top landmarks
- • Minneapolis Institute of Art — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- • Walker Art Center — contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- • Weisman Art Museum — art museum in Minneapolis, 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 4h 5m. Total distance: 211.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 161.9 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Cormorant, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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