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Trip from Watab, 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 31m

Distance

73.1 mi

118 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m

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 Watab, MN, MN

Watab, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Watab, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 73.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on major highways, making it an easy option for a quick journey or a commute. With a duration under two hours, it’s definitely a same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you decide to depart.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

36.6 miles from Watab, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 34.1 mi 38m
US 10 29.8 mi 34m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Broadway Street East 1.5 mi 2m
Park Boulevard Southeast 1.4 mi 1m
County Road 11 0.7 mi <1m
North Washington Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Fenning Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 34.1 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CR 55

20 ft · 1 sec · Northeast River Road
2

Turn right onto CR 79

0.3 mi · 46 sec · 75th Street Northwest
3

Turn right onto US 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · US 10
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

26 mi · 30 min · US 10
5

Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast
6

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast
7

Continue on County Road 11

0.7 mi · 57 sec · County Road 11
8

Turn right onto MN 25

0.1 mi · 11 sec · State Highway 25
9

Continue on MN 25

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Pine Street
10

Turn left onto CR 75

1.5 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street East
11

Turn right onto CR 18

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue
12

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
13

Merge onto I 94

28 mi · 31 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

6.1 mi · 7 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward 4th Street North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 2nd Avenue North
19

Turn right onto CR 152

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on CR 152

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
21

Arrive at destination

CR 152

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just over an hour and a half, this trip is easily manageable within a single day. You don't need to rush your departure, and with no specific stops recommended, you can decide on the fly if you need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $11, and it’s always wise to top off before hitting the road. The longest stretch on I 94 is quite substantial, so ensure you’re comfortable with sustained highway driving before you begin.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.6 miles from Watab, MN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.1 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 16 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.6 miles or 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Watab, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Watab, MN

This is one driving day of about 73.1 miles and 1h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Watab, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 34.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Otsego, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Otsego, MN

37 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.

Popular next leg

Otsego, MN to Minneapolis, MN

31.4 mi · 43m

Pacing Suggestions

Saint Cloud, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Watab, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Aster Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 4–11 pm

+16123793138

Visit website

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rogers, Minnesota

1.7 mi

FIKA Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1.7 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Spyhouse Coffee Roasters | Downtown / Emery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Fawkes Alley Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1.2 mi

Bordertown Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1.5 mi

Aster Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 4–11 pm

+16123793138

Visit website

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

FIKA Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+16125245108

Visit website

Phoever ❤️ Vietnamese Cuisine & Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17632088754

Visit website

Cafe Racer Kitchen

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16122081695

Visit website

Lake and Bryant Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+16126594450

Visit website

The Coffee Shop NE

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+16122598478

Visit website

Hamdi Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+16128239660

Visit website

Spyhouse Coffee Roasters | Downtown / Emery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Fawkes Alley Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

Bordertown Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+16123797277

Visit website

Spyhouse Coffee Roasters | Northeast

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+16123454348

Visit website

Caffetto Coffee House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–12 pm

+16128720911

Visit website

Code Blu Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Mojo Coffee Gallery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16123614949

Visit website

Heights Coffee Bar

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16123149027

Visit website

Bad Axe Throwing Minneapolis City Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $40 to $50

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6–9:30 pm

+18448180999

Visit website

Prince The Tour

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16127102923

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 64.5 and 72.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
64.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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
70.6 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
71 mi into trip | ~1h 25m 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
72 mi into trip | ~1h 27m 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
72.4 mi into trip | ~1h 29m 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

$10.88 one way

$21.76 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $11.72 $23.44
premium $4.53 $13.04 $26.09
diesel $5.61 $16.14 $32.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.9 0 $7.68 $3.51
Efficient EV 18.3 0 $6.40 $2.92
EV Truck/SUV 29.2 0 $10.23 $4.68

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Watab, MN

Morning in Watab on Tuesday

Local time

9:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Minneapolis, MN

Morning in Minneapolis on Tuesday

Local time

9:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

23 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

1h 31m 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 heavily highway-focused, with 87% of the drive taking place on major roads like I 94 and US 10. You’ll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 34.1 miles on I 94, which means consistent speeds and minimal traffic disruptions. While the majority is highway driving, the inclusion of 165th Avenue Southeast suggests a brief transition onto local roads as you approach your destination. Expect a smooth, efficient journey for the most part.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.1 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.5 miles in near I 94.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 64.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 31m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.1 miles on I 94. 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 64.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71 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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