Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Night in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Royalton, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
85.1 mi
137 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Royalton, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 85.1-mile drive from Minneapolis, MN, to Royalton, MN, will take you about 1 hour and 44 minutes. It's a perfect option for a day trip, with no need to break it up. The route is primarily highway, making it an efficient journey through the Midwest. You can expect a fuel cost of around $13 for this trip. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, this drive offers a simple and direct way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 42.3 mi | 49m |
| I 94 | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| 165th Avenue Southeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road 11 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 42.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Royalton, 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
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
10
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
County Road 11
12
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
13
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
14
Turn left onto US 10
42 mi
·
49 min
·
US 10
15
Turn right onto CH 26; IC F
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Centre Street
16
Arrive at destination
CH 26; IC F
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, efficient drive of just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Minneapolis mid-morning should help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic. With no designated stops in the plan, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you'll be covering 85.1 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 42 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. A good tip is to ensure you have enough fuel before you leave the Minneapolis area, as services might be more spaced out once you're on the open highway.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.6 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 54m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Royalton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 85.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Minneapolis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.6 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 31.7 — 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
4
31.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.66 one way
$25.33 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.65 | $27.29 |
| premium | $4.53 | $15.18 | $30.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.79 | $37.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Royalton, MN
Night in Royalton on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
43 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on major roads like US 10 and I-94. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment that lasts for 42.3 miles on US 10. The character is predominantly that of a fast-paced interstate experience, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Expect smooth sailing for the majority of your time behind the wheel, with minimal slowdowns or complex road conditions.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 85.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 Royalton, MN before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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