Minneapolis to Glenwood is 128.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 34 minutes via I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive from Minnesota's largest city to a smaller community. It's a practical route, largely focused on interstate travel, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or an efficient way to reach your destination. You'll find the journey mostly on well-maintained highways, suggesting a smooth and predictable experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.5 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
85.3 mi
1h 33m
MN 28
23.5 mi
34m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
Main Street South
0.4 mi
<1m
Washington Avenue South
0.4 mi
1m
North 1st Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Minnesota Avenue East
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 85.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Glenwood, 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 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
73 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
9
Turn left onto US 71; MN 28
0.4 mi·46 sec·Main Street South
10
Turn right onto MN 28
23 mi·34 min·MN 28
11
Arrive at destination
MN 28
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2 hours and 34 minutes of driving time, this is a perfect same-day trip. You can easily depart Minneapolis in the morning and arrive in Glenwood with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated around $19, flexibility is key. Consider leaving early to maximize your time at your destination. Pay attention to the transition from I-94 W to MN 28, as this change in highway designation marks a significant part of your journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.3 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 14m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glenwood, 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 128.9 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 85.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 104.7 — 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
5
104.7 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.18 one way
$38.37 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$20.67
$41.34
premium
$4.53
$23.00
$46.00
diesel
$5.61
$28.46
$56.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.7
0
$13.53
$6.19
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
EV Truck/SUV
51.6
0
$18.05
$8.25
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
NW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Glenwood, MN
Late night
in Glenwood on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
13 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
2h 34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major roadways. Expect a significant portion of your time on I-94 W, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 85.3 miles. While the primary character is interstate, you will transition to MN 28 for a portion of the trip. This blend means you'll experience the efficiency of freeway driving for most of the 128.9 miles, punctuated by a change in scenery and road type as you approach Glenwood.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 28. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 34m drive. You will face about 9 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.
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 Minneapolis, MN to Glenwood, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Sauk Centre along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 85.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Glenwood, MN before heading back.
