Origin
Zimmerman, MN
Morning in Zimmerman on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zimmerman, 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
54m
Distance
42.6 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zimmerman, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 42.6-mile drive from Zimmerman to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is easily manageable within a single day. Expect to spend about 54 minutes on the road, making it a perfect short trip. The majority of your journey, 92% of it, will be on highways, primarily utilizing I-94 and US Highway 169. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $6, this route is budget-friendly. Given its short distance and highway focus, it's an ideal quick transit between two points within the Midwest region. You won't need to plan for an overnight stay; just pack up and go.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| US Highway 169 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 261st Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| POW/MIA Memorial Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 21.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zimmerman, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street West
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
2nd Street West
2
Turn right onto 261st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
261st Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 169
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 169
4
Continue on US 169
383 ft
·
4 sec
·
POW/MIA Memorial Highway
5
Continue on MN 101
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
7
Merge onto I 94
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward 4th Street North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
13
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Zimmerman, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 33.9 and 41.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
33.9 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
40.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.5 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
41.4 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
41.9 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
$6.34 one way
$12.68 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.83 | $13.66 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 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
3 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
54m 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?
Prepare for a highway-focused experience on this route, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I-94, including a continuous stretch of 21.2 miles. While much of the drive will be on expressways, you'll also navigate sections of US Highway 169 and MN 101, which may offer slightly different driving conditions. The road profile suggests a consistent pace, largely dictated by interstate speeds. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather an efficient path designed for getting from point A to point B.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US Highway 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 42.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Zimmerman, MN and Minneapolis, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and 4Th Street North.
Saint Paul
18.1 mi in
|
~21m
4Th Street North
40.5 mi in
|
~48m
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 54m. Total distance: 42.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.2 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 33.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 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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