Origin
Minnetonka, MN
Late night in Minnetonka on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minnetonka, MN to Crystal, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.9 mi
24 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minnetonka, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Crystal, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Minnetonka to Crystal, you are looking at a straightforward 14.9-mile transit across the Minnesota landscape. With a drive time of approximately 22 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 169, Minnesota State Highway 7, and 42nd Avenue North, making it a highly efficient connection within the Midwest. Budgeting about $2 for fuel is more than enough for this short haul, which requires no overnight stops. Because the journey is so brief, it offers a practical, no-fuss way to reach your destination without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| County Road 101 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 6.6 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka, MN and Crystal, MN.
1
Start on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
County Road 101
2
Continue on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
County Road 101
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto MN 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
4
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 169 North
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto US 169
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CR 9
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
42nd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
CR 9
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 12.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 101 / County Road 101
Continue onto CR 101 / County Road 101
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Turn left toward US 169 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 169 North
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 169
Merge onto US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.22 one way
$4.43 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.39 | $4.78 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.66 | $5.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Crystal, MN
Late night in Crystal on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
22m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 82% of this 14.9-mile journey takes place on high-speed roads. The drive moves quickly, anchored by a 6.6-mile stretch on US 169 that serves as the backbone of your trip. While the route transitions from the highway onto local roads like 42nd Avenue North, the character remains consistent and functional rather than scenic. You will find yourself behind the wheel for a total of 22 minutes, benefiting from a direct, purposeful path. It is a utilitarian drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding detours or technical road segments.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.6 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and Minnesota State Highway 7. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 101 / County Road 101.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 14.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.2 miles (CR 101 / County Road 101): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 14.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.6 miles on US 169. 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 Crystal, 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 0.2 miles (CR 101 / County Road 101): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Crystal, 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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