Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Late night in Apple Valley on Monday
Local time
1:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to International Falls, MN
Drive Time
6h 9m
Distance
309.5 mi
498 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 57m
★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 35m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 16m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Tom Fisk
International Falls, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to International Falls, MN covers 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cedar Avenue, I 35E North, Purple Heart Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
154.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 9m drive with frequent turns across 309.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cedar Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apple Valley, MN to International Falls, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35E North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 33 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Speaker Irvin N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Cedar Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and International Falls, MN.
1
Start on County Road 42
36 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto Cedar Avenue
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
3
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35E North: Saint Paul
4
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
13 min
5
Keep slight left
2.7 mi
·
4 min
6
Keep slight left
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
7
Merge slight right onto Purple Heart Memorial Highway
351 ft
·
5 sec
·
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 35E North, US 10 West
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E North, US 10 West
9
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North, I 694 East
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 35E North, I 694 East
11
Merge slight left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North: Duluth
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 35E North: Duluth
13
Keep slight left
105 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
16
Exit the roundabout
19 mi
·
25 min
17
Take the exit straight
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
18
Merge slight right
37 mi
·
43 min
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
112 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
20
Exit the roundabout
100 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
151 ft
·
2 sec
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
22
Exit the roundabout onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
23
Continue on 2nd Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue
24
Continue on 3rd Avenue
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
3rd Avenue
25
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
26
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
8th Avenue
27
Turn right
75 ft
·
6 sec
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.8 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near International Falls, 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 309.5 miles and 6h 9m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 154.8 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 3h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 154.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in International Falls, MN
The final approach into International Falls, 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 International Falls, 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
$44.27 one way
$88.54 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $47.78 | $95.56 |
| premium | $4.39 | $53.52 | $107.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $68.76 | $137.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.9 | 1 | $32.50 | $14.86 |
| Efficient EV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.08 | $12.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.8 | 1 | $43.33 | $19.81 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
International Falls, MN
Late night in International Falls on Monday
Local time
1:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°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
21 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 International Falls, MN covers 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cedar Avenue, I 35E North, Purple Heart Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.8 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 $44.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apple Valley, MN to International Falls, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Apple Valley, MN to International Falls, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
International Falls, MN to Apple Valley, MNPlan the drive back the other way.
309.9 mi
4h 53m
Continue From International Falls, MN
More trips to International Falls, MN
Explore more options from Apple Valley, MN or browse trips ending in International Falls, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Apple Valley, MN or International Falls, MN on MapSof.net.