Minnetonka, MN to Thomson, MN is 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 51m via I 35W and I 35, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, entirely within Minnesota, and is mostly highway driving. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most vehicles. You'll want to factor in the estimated 2 hours and 51 minutes of travel time, plus any time for a brief stop. The fuel cost estimate of $25 is also helpful for budgeting.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.5 miles from Minnetonka, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
103 mi
1h 50m
I 35W
19.8 mi
21m
MN 100
9.4 mi
11m
Minnesota State Highway 7
8.1 mi
11m
I 694
5.3 mi
5m
MN 210
3.7 mi
5m
County Road 101
0.4 mi
<1m
Dalles Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 103 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,265 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~111 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Minnetonka, MN and Thomson, 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
6.0 mi·9 min·Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward MN 100 NorthUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto MN 100
9.4 mi·11 min·MN 100
Toward CR 5Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 694 East
8
Merge onto I 694
5.3 mi·5 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 41BToward I 35W NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35W
3.0 mi·3 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 35
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 235Toward MN 210: Cromwell, Carlton
14
Turn right onto MN 210
3.7 mi·5 min·MN 210
15
Turn left onto Dalles Avenue
292 ft·8 sec·Dalles Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Dalles Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 51m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive and settle in. With only one stop recommended, you can choose a convenient point along I 35 for a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major exit is 103 miles on I 35. The $25 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but check current prices. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.5 miles from Minnetonka, MN, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thomson, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minnetonka, 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 Minnetonka, MN
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Minnetonka, 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 I 35 for about 103 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 27.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 100 North
6
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in|MN 100
Merge onto MN 100 toward CR 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 5
7
24 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 35W North
6
27.2 mi into trip|~36m 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
$25.42 one way
$50.84 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$27.38
$54.75
premium
$5.04
$29.96
$59.92
diesel
$5.64
$33.55
$67.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Minnetonka, MN
Night
in Minnetonka on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Thomson, MN
Night
in Thomson on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Centerville, MN
76 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
8 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
2h 51m 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?
This route is predominantly highway, with 99% of the 151.1 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 103 miles on I 35 without significant surface road detours. Expect consistent cruising with many exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system. The drive largely consists of highway miles before reaching Thomson.
99% 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: 103 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 151.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (MN 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,174 ft872 ft
Total Climb
471 ft
Total Descent
322 ft
Highest Point
1,174 ft
~140.3 mi in
Elevation Range
302 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Minnetonka, MN to Thomson, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 151.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Thomson, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (MN 100): 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 Thomson, MN before heading back.
