Minneapolis to Stacy is 37.4 miles and takes about 45 minutes via I-35W and I-35, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest and Minnesota, making it a straightforward hop north. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for a quick errand, a visit to friends, or as a segment of a longer Midwestern adventure. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a functional rather than scenic transit.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
27.8 mi
31m
I 35
7.5 mi
8m
Washington Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Stacy Trail
0.2 mi
<1m
Foster Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Foxhill Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
311th Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 27.8 mi, about 31m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,667 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,202
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 86 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 Stacy, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
63 ft·9 sec·Washington Avenue South
2
Continue on CR 152
0.9 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 35W North
4
Merge onto I 35W
3.7 mi·4 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 22BToward MN 36Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 35W
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
7.1 mi·8 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
7.5 mi·8 min·I 35
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward CR 19: Stacy
11
Turn right onto CR 19
0.2 mi·39 sec·Stacy Trail
12
Turn left onto Foster Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Foster Avenue
13
At end of road, turn right onto Foxhill Avenue
393 ft·17 sec·Foxhill Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
311th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 18.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 12.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35W North
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
6
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.5 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.92 one way
$11.84 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$6.31
$12.61
premium
$4.85
$7.14
$14.28
diesel
$5.60
$8.24
$16.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.2
0
$3.93
$1.80
Efficient EV
9.4
0
$3.27
$1.50
EV Truck/SUV
15
0
$5.24
$2.39
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NNE 0 to 5 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Stacy, MN
Late night
in Stacy on Saturday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
0 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
5 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
45m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 94% highway, meaning you'll be on interstates for almost the entire 37.4 miles. The longest stretch on I-35W covers 27.8 miles before you transition to I-35. You'll encounter a dense series of exits and merges as you navigate the urban and suburban areas leaving Minneapolis. The final portion of the drive will be on surface roads as you reach Stacy.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 45m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Stacy, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stacy, MN before heading back.
