Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15.1 mi
24 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
Maplewood, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Minneapolis, MN to Maplewood, MN is 15.1 miles and takes about 24m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to accomplish in under an hour, making it ideal for a quick errand or connecting two points within the same metropolitan area. You'll primarily be on the interstate, so expect typical commuter traffic patterns, especially during peak hours. Given the minimal distance and duration, it's a trip best suited for a same-day excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Innovation Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South McKnight Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,347 veh/hr typical · worst 6,190
Quietest
2 AM
~316 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 100 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Maplewood, MN.
Start on CR 152
Continue on CR 152
Turn right onto 11th Avenue South
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CH 68
Turn slight right onto Innovation Boulevard
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Continue onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward North McKnight Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn straight onto CH 68 / South McKnight Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.39 one way
$4.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $2.55 | $5.09 |
| premium | $4.85 | $2.88 | $5.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Maplewood on Wednesday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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 predominantly highway, with 83% of the route utilizing interstate driving. You'll experience a longest stretch of 12.5 miles on I 94, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur towards the end of your trip, likely as you approach your destination in Maplewood. Expect a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate the interstate system.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Washington Avenue South. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 152 / Washington Avenue South.
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 15.1 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (CR 152 / Washington Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
310 ft
Total Descent
161 ft
Highest Point
979 ft
~15.1 mi in
Elevation Range
214 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 1957
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 15.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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