Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
17.2 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
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
Oakdale, MN
Tom Fisk
Minneapolis, MN to Oakdale, MN is 17.2 miles and takes about 27 minutes via Washington Avenue South, 11th Avenue South, and South 6th Street, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region and Minnesota state, keeping you on familiar ground. Since it's a quick drive mostly on surface roads, it's ideal for a spontaneous outing or as the final leg of a longer journey. You won't encounter any major highway driving, making it a straightforward commute.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 13.2 mi | 18m |
| Century Avenue North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 10th Street North | 1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 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 Oakdale, 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 left onto MN 120
Turn right onto CH 10
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.1 — 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 MN 120: Century Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto MN 120 / Century Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.72 one way
$5.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $2.90 | $5.80 |
| premium | $4.85 | $3.28 | $6.57 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $3.79 | $7.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Minneapolis on Friday
Local time
7:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Oakdale on Friday
Local time
7:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
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 route is entirely on surface roads, meaning you'll be navigating city streets for the full 17.2 miles. Expect frequent intersections and traffic signals as you traverse Washington Avenue South, 11th Avenue South, and South 6th Street. With no highway driving involved, your speed will be dictated by local traffic conditions and posted limits. You'll notice the urban environment throughout the drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Century Avenue North. 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 17.2 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
411 ft
Total Descent
168 ft
Highest Point
1,072 ft
~17.2 mi in
Elevation Range
327 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 17.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Minneapolis, MN or browse trips ending in Oakdale, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
