Traveling from Park Rapids to Maple Grove covers 175.6 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. Because this route is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan for a fuel budget of about $25 to complete the journey comfortably. You will primarily navigate via West Mason Avenue, Park Avenue South, and US 10. Since both cities are located within the Minnesota Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This itinerary works best as a direct trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
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
87.8 miles from Park Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Mason Avenue
78.4 mi
1h 29m
Park Avenue South
34.8 mi
50m
US 10
26.1 mi
30m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
Ash Avenue Northeast
6.2 mi
7m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
West Mason Avenue
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Park Rapids, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on MN 34
42 ft·4 sec·1st Street West
2
Turn right onto US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Park Avenue South
3
Enter roundabout onto US 71
124 ft·2 sec·Park Avenue South
4
Continue on US 71
34 mi·48 min·Park Avenue South
5
Turn left onto US 10
6.2 mi·7 min·Ash Avenue Northeast
6
Continue on US 10
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·West Mason Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
8
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
10
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
11
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
12
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
14
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi·1 min·I 494
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi·50 sec·Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
To keep your trip efficient, plan for one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel during the 175.6-mile trek. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to avoid potential traffic build-up as you approach the Maple Grove area. Since the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference for morning or afternoon travel. Keep a close watch on your navigation when exiting West Mason Avenue, as the transition to secondary roads can be frequent. Having your $25 fuel budget ready before you hit the road ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station in a hurry.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 87.8 miles from Park Rapids, MN, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 39 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 51m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Park Rapids, 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 Park Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 175.6 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Park Rapids, 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 West Mason Avenue for about 78.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 175.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 71 / Park Avenue South
Turn right onto US 71 / Park Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
152 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
173.2 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
174.8 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
175.1 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.13 one way
$52.27 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$28.16
$56.32
premium
$4.53
$31.33
$62.66
diesel
$5.61
$38.77
$77.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.58
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Park Rapids, MN
Night
in Park Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Night
in Maple Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Little Falls, MN
88 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
10 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
3h 35m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between different road types. With only 28% of the route on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches rather than cruising on open interstates. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 78.4-mile stretch on West Mason Avenue, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you move away from Park Rapids, the road's personality shifts from technical local navigation to the more predictable rhythm of US 10. Stay alert for the frequent turns that define this route’s unique, hands-on driving experience.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on West Mason Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 US 71 / Park Avenue South.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 10 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 (US 71 / Park Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 152 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 71 / Park Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 152 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Maple Grove, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
