Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minneapolis, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Little Canada, MN
Tom Fisk
Minneapolis, MN to Little Canada, MN is 11.9 miles and takes about 18 minutes via MN 36 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota. You'll primarily be on highways for this drive, making it a quick and efficient connection between the two locations. Given the minimal travel time, this route is ideal for a quick errand or as a connector to a larger trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| I 35W | 4 mi | 5m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 35E | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Centerville Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Little Canada Road East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Labore Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Little Canada, MN.
Start on CR 152
Continue on CR 152
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35W
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 36
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35E; US 10
Take the exit
Turn right onto CH 21
Turn left onto CH 19
Turn right onto Labore Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 11.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 36 toward MN 36
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Little Canada Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CH 21 / Little Canada Road East
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $2.01 | $4.01 |
| premium | $4.85 | $2.27 | $4.54 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $2.62 | $5.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Little Canada on Tuesday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 82% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 5.1 miles on MN 36 before transitioning to other major roads. Expect a high number of exits and potential merging as you navigate the urban and suburban landscape. The drive is predominantly on interstates and state highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 11.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (MN 36): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
244 ft
Total Descent
156 ft
Highest Point
962 ft
~7.7 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
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
Founded 1953
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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