Minneapolis to Solway is 228 miles and takes about 4 hours 38 minutes via US 10 and State Highway 64, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, entirely within Minnesota. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip ideal for a single day of driving. You'll be covering a good chunk of territory without feeling rushed, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
85.9 mi
1h 39m
State Highway 64 Southwest
33.7 mi
42m
State 64
28.6 mi
35m
I 94
18.3 mi
21m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
Paul Bunyan Expressway
15.4 mi
17m
US 71
14.2 mi
18m
State Highway 200
4.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,539
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.1×
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 Solway, 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
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
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 10
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
32 mi·35 min·US 10
16
Turn right onto MN 210
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Highway 210
17
Turn left onto MN 64
34 mi·42 min·State Highway 64 Southwest
18
At end of road, turn left onto MN 64; MN 87
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64
To make the most of this 4-hour, 38-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Minneapolis to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire 228-mile journey. With a fuel cost estimated around $33, you'll want to fill up before leaving the city to avoid higher prices in more rural areas. Since the longest stretch without a significant break is about 86 miles on US 10, plan for a brief stop around that point to stretch your legs. Given the relatively short duration, you have the flexibility to take an unplanned scenic overlook if you spot one, but the primary focus here is efficient travel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 114 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solway, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 228 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Minneapolis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 85.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 212.2 — 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
212.2 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|US 71
Turn left onto US 71 toward US 2, US 71: Crookston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, US 71: Crookston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.24 one way
$68.49 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$36.97
$73.95
premium
$4.60
$41.30
$82.60
diesel
$4.80
$43.05
$86.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.4
0
$23.94
$10.94
Efficient EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
EV Truck/SUV
91.2
1
$31.92
$14.59
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Evening
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
NNW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:59AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:03AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Solway, MN
Evening
in Solway on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 7 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:59AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:03AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 84% of the 228 miles taking place on faster roads like US 10. You'll experience a long stretch of 85.9 miles on US 10, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition to surface roads occurs later in the trip, with State Highway 64 forming the latter part of the route.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. You will hit about 18 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 Effort6/10
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 228 miles you will encounter 18 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 4h 38m. Total distance: 228 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Solway, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Solway, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
