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Trip from Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

16m

Distance

11.8 mi

19 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 15m ★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m ★

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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Downtown Pine City, MN, MN

Pine City, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Mission Creek, MN, MN

Mission Creek, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick excursion through the Minnesota Midwest, this 11.8-mile connection between Pine City and Mission Creek is an ideal choice. The trip takes approximately 14 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget about $2 for fuel, keeping costs minimal for this short transit. Navigating through 3rd Avenue Southeast, Main Street South, and Highway 61, you will find the journey efficient and easy to manage. Because the route is so brief, it serves as a practical, low-pressure drive for those exploring the local area. Whether you are running errands or simply heading to your next destination, this connection offers a reliable way to get across the region.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 8.6 mi 9m
Main Street South 1.1 mi 2m
CR 61 0.7 mi 1m
Henriette Road Northwest 0.3 mi <1m
T-181 0.3 mi 1m
County Highway 61 0.2 mi <1m
3rd Avenue Southeast <0.1 mi <1m
Railroad Street Southeast <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 8.6 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pine City, MN and Mission Creek, MN.

1

Start on Railroad Street Southeast

212 ft · 14 sec · Railroad Street Southeast
2

Turn left onto CR 8

414 ft · 15 sec · 3rd Avenue Southeast
3

Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street South
4

Continue on I 35 BUS; CR 61

0.2 mi · 32 sec · County Highway 61
5

Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Henriette Road Northwest
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
7

Merge onto I 35

8.6 mi · 9 min · I 35
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
9

Turn right onto CR 61

0.7 mi · 1 min · CR 61
10

Turn left onto T-181

0.3 mi · 1 min · T-181
11

Arrive at destination

T-181

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South

Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South

Navigation decision point

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest

Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest

Navigation decision point

5
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 35 North: Duluth

Navigation decision point

Toward I 35 North: Duluth
5
10.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.94 one way

$3.87 round trip

$4.17/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $2.07 $4.14
premium $4.95 $2.30 $4.60
diesel $5.35 $2.49 $4.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.5 0 $1.24 $0.57
Efficient EV 3 0 $1.03 $0.47
EV Truck/SUV 4.7 0 $1.65 $0.76

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 9, 2026

Origin

Pine City, MN

Afternoon in Pine City on Wednesday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 5 to 15 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 6:25AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 5:43AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Destination

Mission Creek, MN

Afternoon in Mission Creek on Wednesday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 5 to 15 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 6:25AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 5:43AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

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

16m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul on this 11.8-mile stretch. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain entirely on local roads as you transition between the two towns. The road layout is intimate, with no long, uninterrupted segments like the 0 miles recorded on 3rd Avenue Southeast. You will experience a steady pace that requires consistent attention to turns rather than long periods of highway cruising. It is a functional, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish.

81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.6 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Main Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast.

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 16m drive. You will face about 8 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 (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,009 ft 950 ft

Total Climb

74 ft

Total Descent

25 ft

Highest Point

1,009 ft

~10.9 mi in

Elevation Range

59 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 Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 61: Mora along the way.

Cr 61: Mora

10.6 mi in | ~13m

About the Cities

Starting in Pine City, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Pine City is a city in east central Minnesota with the tagline "North. Nice and close." The Pine City zip code (55063), which is a more accurate reflection of the size of the town, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and even more native pine trees. It's an easy day trip from the Twin Cities to Pine City, the largest city in, and county seat of Pine County.

Arriving in Mission Creek, MN

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

This is an easy same-day round trip, clocking in at just 11.8 miles and 16 minutes of driving. You'll be back before you know it, making it perfect for a quick getaway.

Family Friendly

With only 11.8 miles and a 16-minute drive, this route is short enough to keep kids happy. The mostly flat terrain and simple navigation are also a plus for families.

Solo Traveler

At only 11.8 miles and 16 minutes, this is a comfortable solo drive. You won't spend much time on the road, leaving plenty of time for your destination.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

This route is ideal for first-time drivers, with 81% highway driving and a low complexity rating of 4/10. The 16-minute drive is very manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.6 miles on I 35. 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 (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mission Creek, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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