Minneapolis to Saint Wendel is 82.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. For the most part, you'll be on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. If you're looking for a quick, no-fuss trip to get you between these two points in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, this route is a solid choice for a same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
45.2 mi
50m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
County Road 4
11.3 mi
16m
MN-15 N
4.7 mi
6m
Veterans Drive
1.6 mi
3m
Washington Avenue South
0.4 mi
1m
North 1st Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,736 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,292
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Saint Wendel, 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
33 mi·35 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 15 North: Saint Cloud
9
Merge onto MN 15
4.7 mi·6 min·MN-15 N
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 4
1.6 mi·3 min·Veterans Drive
11
Continue on CR 4
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 4
12
Enter roundabout onto County Road 4
116 ft·2 sec·County Road 4
13
Continue on County Road 4
1.8 mi·2 min·County Road 4
14
Enter roundabout onto CR 4
176 ft·3 sec·County Road 4
15
Continue on CR 4
8.6 mi·11 min·County Road 4
16
Arrive at destination
CR 4
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart Minneapolis in the morning and arrive in Saint Wendel with plenty of the day still ahead. Since the longest continuous stretch on the highway is about 45 miles, you won't need to worry too much about fuel stops, though keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise. Plan to depart mid-morning to avoid rush hour in Minneapolis and enjoy a relaxed drive. The final portion on County Road 4 is where you'll want to pay closer attention to local signage.
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 41.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Wendel, 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 82.7 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Minneapolis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 45.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 65.2 — 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
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|MN 15 / MN-15 N
Merge onto MN 15 / MN-15 N
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.82 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$14.98
$29.97
premium
$5.04
$16.40
$32.79
diesel
$5.64
$18.36
$36.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
12:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Wendel, MN
Late night
in Saint Wendel on Saturday
Local time
12:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Albertville, MN
41 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 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 81% of your time on highways, with a significant continuous stretch of 45.2 miles on I 94. The transition to surface roads occurs as you approach your destination, with County Road 4 marking the final leg of your drive. Expect a lot of cruising on this route, as the highway portion dominates the experience.
81% 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: 45.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I-94 W. 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 Effort5/10
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 82.7 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.
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
•Minneapolis Institute of Art — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
•Walker Art Center — contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
•Weisman Art Museum — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Saint Wendel, MN before heading back.
