Origin
North Branch, MN
Late night in North Branch on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Branch, MN to Chisago City, 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
21m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Branch, MN
Tom Fisk
Chisago City, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion in the Midwest, the 12.6-mile trek from North Branch to Chisago City is an ideal candidate. This short, 22-minute journey is perfect for a spontaneous day trip, as it requires minimal planning and fits easily into a single afternoon. You will not need to worry about lodging or overnight splits, and with a fuel budget of just $2, it is incredibly cost-effective. Navigating through the local landscape via Main Street and Saint Croix Trail offers a straightforward way to connect these two Minnesota communities. Because the entire route stays within the state, you can expect a familiar, localized driving experience throughout the trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Road | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Lofton Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Lincoln Trail | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Saint Croix Trail | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hemingway Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lake Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Railroad Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Road
— 4.7 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Branch, MN and Chisago City, MN.
1
Start on CR 30
36 ft
·
4 sec
·
Forest Boulevard
2
Turn right onto MN 95
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MN 95
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail
4
Enter roundabout
21 ft
·
0 sec
5
Continue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
this road
7
Continue on Hemingway Avenue
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Hemingway Avenue
8
Turn left onto CR 14
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Lincoln Trail
9
Continue on CR 14
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Road
10
Turn right onto CR 34
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Lofton Avenue
11
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
387 ft
·
19 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
12
Turn right onto Isabel Street
269 ft
·
13 sec
·
Isabel Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 8
470 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lake Boulevard
14
Arrive at destination
US 8
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 95 / Main Street
Turn right onto MN 95 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 14 / Lincoln Trail
Turn left onto CR 14 / Lincoln Trail
Navigation decision point
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Isabel Street
Turn right onto Isabel Street
Navigation decision point
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 8 / Lake Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 8 / Lake Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.92 one way
$3.84 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.07 | $4.14 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.30 | $4.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
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
Chisago City, MN
Late night in Chisago City on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 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
21m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you focused on the road rather than a monotonous interstate grind. This route features zero highway miles, meaning you will spend the entire 12.6-mile duration navigating through smaller, community-focused corridors. The drive transitions through a series of turns that define the character of the journey, requiring your full attention as you move between towns. Since there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the pace remains steady and rhythmic. You will find that the lack of highway travel creates a more intimate connection to the road as you transition from North Branch toward your destination in Chisago City.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.7 mi on Lincoln Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 95 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MN 95 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CR 14 / Lincoln Trail): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.7 miles on Lincoln Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (MN 95 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CR 14 / Lincoln Trail): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chisago City, 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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