Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Afternoon in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
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
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN covers 52.2 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 494, Cedar Avenue, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.8 miles on I 494. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.47 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
26.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 52.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 494 and Cedar Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.8 miles on I 494.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 494 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,016 ft
729 ft
Total Climb
447 ft
Total Descent
507 ft
Highest Point
1,016 ft
~2.2 mi in
Elevation Range
287 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and Cedar Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 52.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
34.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
43.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
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 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk...
8
43.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
MN 101 North Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 along the way.
Cr 81
43.3 mi in
|
~53m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| Cedar Avenue | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| MN 101 North Bypass | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Main Street Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US Highway 169 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Elk River, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
MN 101 North Bypass
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto MN 101
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US Highway 169
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
438 ft
·
11 sec
14
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street Northwest
15
Turn right onto Jackson Avenue Northwest
261 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jackson Avenue Northwest
16
Arrive at destination
Jackson Avenue Northwest
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 26.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.8 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 52.2 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.1 miles or 32m 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 Elk River, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apple Valley, MN
This is one driving day of about 52.2 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Apple Valley, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 494 for about 24.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.1 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 32m 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 52.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elk River, MN
The final approach into Elk River, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elk River, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.47 one way
$14.93 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $8.06 | $16.12 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.03 | $18.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.60 | $23.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
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
Elk River, MN
Afternoon in Elk River on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
39°F
Plymouth, MN
26 mi in
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
17 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 Elk River, MN covers 52.2 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 494, Cedar Avenue, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 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 $7.47 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 52.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Elk River, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 along the way.
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