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Trip from Orrock, MN to Minneapolis, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

49.7 mi

80 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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human settlement in United States of America

Orrock, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Orrock, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 49.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via I 94, MN 101, and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a quick journey between these two points. It's a common route, so you'll be in good company as you make your way south towards the city. Consider this an easy transition day if you're coming from further north.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 21.2 mi 25m
MN 101 6.9 mi 8m
US Highway 169 3.2 mi 3m
County Road 1 3 mi 4m
261st Avenue 3 mi 5m
Ranch Road Northwest 2 mi 2m
146th Street 2 mi 2m
Elk Lake Road Northwest 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 21.2 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orrock, MN and Minneapolis, MN.

1

Start on 261st Avenue

102 ft · 9 sec · 261st Avenue
2

Turn left onto 184th Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · 184th Street
3

Turn right onto 263rd Avenue

1.6 mi · 3 min · 263rd Avenue
4

Continue on 172nd Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · 172nd Street
5

Continue on 261st Avenue

3.0 mi · 5 min · 261st Avenue
6

Turn right onto 146th Street

2.0 mi · 2 min · 146th Street
7

Continue on County Road 1

3.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 1
8

Continue on Elk Lake Road Northwest

1.7 mi · 2 min · Elk Lake Road Northwest
9

Turn left onto Ranch Road Northwest

2.0 mi · 2 min · Ranch Road Northwest
10

Turn left onto 205th Avenue Northwest

0.8 mi · 1 min · 205th Avenue Northwest
11

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
12

Merge onto US 169

3.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 169
13

Continue on US 169

383 ft · 4 sec · POW/MIA Memorial Highway
14

Continue on MN 101

6.9 mi · 8 min · MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
16

Merge onto I 94

15 mi · 17 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

6.1 mi · 7 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward 4th Street North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 2nd Avenue North
22

Turn right onto CR 152

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Continue on CR 152

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
24

Arrive at destination

CR 152

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Maple Grove, MN

25 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

Elk River, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Otsego, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Orrock, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 41 and 48.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
41 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 94

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.5 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward 4th Street North
7
48.5 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
48.9 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | CR 152 / North Washington Avenue

Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.40 one way

$14.79 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $7.97 $15.94
premium $4.53 $8.87 $17.74
diesel $5.61 $10.97 $21.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.9 0 $5.22 $2.39
Efficient EV 12.4 0 $4.35 $1.99
EV Truck/SUV 19.9 0 $6.96 $3.18

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Orrock, MN

Late night in Orrock on Tuesday

Local time

4:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Partly Sunny

S 15 to 20 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:47PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:31PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD

Destination

Minneapolis, MN

Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday

Local time

4:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Mostly Sunny

S 15 to 20 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:47PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:31PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 9m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 63% of the journey taking place on major highways like I 94. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving for 21.2 miles on I 94, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. The route utilizes a mix of interstates and US highways, suggesting a generally efficient and relatively fast pace. While the profile indicates a highway focus, be aware that there might be some transitions onto and off of these main roads as you approach your destination.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41 miles in near I 94.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 41 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Orrock, MN to Minneapolis, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.

Saint Paul

25.2 mi in | ~36m

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 1h 9m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 3 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 Minneapolis, 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 41 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.5 miles: 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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