Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Wednesday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Chisago City, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
51.9 mi
83 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Chisago City, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Chisago City, MN covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35E, Lake Boulevard, Cedar Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on I 35E. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.9 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 51.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35E and Lake Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.4 miles on I 35E.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35E is the longest continuous segment at about 37.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Lake Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 35E
Take the exit onto I 35E toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
7
24.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E North: Duluth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 37.4 mi | 44m |
| Lake Boulevard | 9 mi | 11m |
| Cedar Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| I 694 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| US 10 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Purple Heart Memorial Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 37.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Chisago City, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 35E
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 35E
7
Merge onto I 35E; I 94
350 ft
·
5 sec
·
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit onto I 35E
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 10
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 694
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 8
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Lake Boulevard
Toward US 8: Taylors Falls
14
Arrive at destination
US 8
Trip Plan
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 25.9 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.4 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 11 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.9 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chisago City, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Apple Valley, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apple Valley, MN
This is one driving day of about 51.9 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Apple Valley, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 37.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chisago City, MN
The final approach into Chisago City, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.72 one way
$15.45 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.32 | $16.64 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.26 | $18.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.46 | $22.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Chisago City, MN
Evening in Chisago City on Wednesday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Chisago City, MN covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35E, Lake Boulevard, Cedar Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Apple Valley, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Apple Valley, MN to Chisago City, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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