Origin
Richfield, MN
Late night in Richfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richfield, 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
13m
Distance
7.4 mi
12 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richfield, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Richfield to Minneapolis is a quick 7.4-mile trip that typically takes about 13 minutes. Because of the short distance, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $1 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a very economical commute within the Midwest. You will primarily utilize I-35W, MN 65, and Nicollet Avenue South to navigate between these two Minnesota locations. Whether you are heading into the city for work or a quick outing, the simplicity of this route makes it a straightforward transition between the two neighboring areas.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| MN 65 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Nicollet Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| West 66th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 60th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 4.4 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richfield, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on CR 53
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 66th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto CR 52
209 ft
·
4 sec
·
Nicollet Avenue South
3
Continue on CR 52
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Nicollet Avenue South
4
Turn right onto East 60th Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
East 60th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 35W North
6
Merge onto I 35W
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
MN 65
Toward 5th Avenue South
9
Continue on 5th Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn left onto CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 6.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 52 / Nicollet Avenue South
Enter roundabout onto CR 52 / Nicollet Avenue South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 35W North
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward 5th Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 5th Avenue South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.10 one way
$2.20 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.19 | $2.37 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.32 | $2.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.63 | $3.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.78 | $0.36 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.65 | $0.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.47 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 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
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
13m 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 highway-focused drive is efficient, with 70% of the route taking place on faster roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-35W, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 4.4 miles. Transitioning from the interstate to local roads like Nicollet Avenue South provides a shift in pace, moving you from high-speed traffic into the urban grid. The personality of the route is defined by its functional, direct nature rather than winding scenery or technical challenges. Behind the wheel, you can expect a seamless flow that prioritizes speed and convenience for your short transit.
70% 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: 4.4 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and MN 65. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 52 / Nicollet Avenue South.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 7.4 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.2 miles (CR 52 / Nicollet Avenue South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.4 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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 Richfield, MN to Minneapolis, MN, road signs begin pointing toward 5Th Avenue South along the way.
5Th Avenue South
6.3 mi in
|
~10m
|
via MN 65
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 13m. Total distance: 7.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.4 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (CR 52 / Nicollet Avenue South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.4 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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