Origin
North Branch, MN
Morning in North Branch on Tuesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Branch, MN to Minneapolis, 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
54m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Branch, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
North Branch, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 45.6 miles and takes about 54m via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within the Midwest region of Minnesota. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for your destination. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route when you need a quick and predictable journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 35 | 20.2 mi | 21m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Saint Croix Trail | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Forest Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 23.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Branch, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on CR 30
36 ft
·
8 sec
·
Forest Boulevard
2
Turn left onto MN 95
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MN 95
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from North Branch, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 44.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
44.6 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
44.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.79 one way
$13.57 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
54m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll primarily be on I 35W and I 35, offering a fast-paced experience for most of the 45.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.4 miles on I 35W, allowing for a consistent speed and minimal distractions. Expect a smooth, albeit less varied, driving experience for the majority of this trip, as the focus is on efficient travel.
96% 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: 23.4 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on I 35W. 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: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, 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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