Origin
Waconia, MN
Late night in Waconia on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waconia, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waconia, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Waconia, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 31.4 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Minnesota State Highway 7 and I 394, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, moving from one Minnesota community to another. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for ample time at your destination. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward commute rather than an extensive exploration. Consider this a simple transit between two points in Minnesota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| Arboretum Boulevard | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 394 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 5 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hazeltine Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| MN 100 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street East | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Minnesota State Highway 7
— 12.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waconia, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
50 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
215 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn right onto North Elm Street
205 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Elm Street
4
Turn left onto CR 59
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street East
5
Turn left onto MN 5
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 5
6
Continue on MN 5
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Arboretum Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on MN 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto MN 41
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Hazeltine Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto MN 7
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MN 100 North
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto MN 100
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 100
Toward CR 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 394
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
16
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Waconia, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 10.3 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
MN 41 / Hazeltine Boulevard
Turn left onto MN 41 / Hazeltine Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
18.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 100 North
6
25 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
MN 100
Merge onto MN 100 toward CR 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 5
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.35 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.04 | $10.07 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.60 | $11.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
22 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
48m 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 63% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Minnesota State Highway 7, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.3 miles. As you progress, the drive transitions from state highways to the interstate system, specifically I 394, offering a more direct and faster pace toward Minneapolis. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited changes in road type, making it an efficient transit.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Minnesota State Highway 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Minnesota State Highway 7 and Arboretum Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.3 miles in near MN 41 / Hazeltine Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.3 miles (MN 41 / Hazeltine Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Waconia, MN to Minneapolis, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 along the way.
Cr 5
25 mi in
|
~37m
|
via MN 100
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 48m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m 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 12.3 miles on Minnesota State Highway 7. 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 10.3 miles (MN 41 / Hazeltine Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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