Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Thursday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Olmsted County, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
77.1 mi
124 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Olmsted County, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Olmsted County, MN covers 77.1 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 52, 160th Street West, County 14 Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.1 miles on US 52. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.47 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.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 77.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 77.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 52 and 160th Street West. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.1 miles on US 52.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 52 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and 160th Street West. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.1 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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 left onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward US 52 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 52 South
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 52
Merge onto US 52
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward CR 24: Cannon Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 96
Toward CR 24: Cannon Falls
8
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward CR 22: W Circle Drive, 55th Street NW
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 59
Toward CR 22: W Circle Drive, 55th Street NW
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Olmsted County, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 24: Cannon Falls along the way.
Cr 24: Cannon Falls
27.3 mi in
|
~35m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 46.1 mi | 53m |
| 160th Street West | 8 mi | 11m |
| County 14 Boulevard | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| County 9 Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| East Circle Drive Northeast | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| 55th Street Northwest | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 48th Street Northeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Brandel Drive | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 46.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Olmsted County, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn left onto CR 23
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto CR 46
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
160th Street West
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on CR 46
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Brandel Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 52 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 52
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 96
Toward CR 24: Cannon Falls
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 24
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
County 24 Boulevard
9
Continue on CR 24
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
County 24 Boulevard
10
Enter roundabout onto CR 14
221 ft
·
6 sec
·
County 14 Boulevard
11
Continue on CR 14
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
County 14 Boulevard
12
Turn left onto CR 9
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County 9 Boulevard
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 52 South
14
Merge onto US 52
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 52
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 59
Toward CR 22: W Circle Drive, 55th Street NW
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 22
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
55th Street Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on CR 22
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
48th Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto CR 22
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue North
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto CR 22
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East Circle Drive Northeast
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on CR 22
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
30th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on Towne Club Parkway Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Towne Club Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Eastwood Road Southeast
210 ft
·
6 sec
·
Eastwood Road Southeast
24
Turn right
138 ft
·
20 sec
25
At end of road, turn left
0.3 mi
·
3 min
26
Arrive at destination
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 38.5 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.1 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 52m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olmsted County, 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 77.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Apple Valley, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 52 for about 46.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.5 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.5 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Olmsted County, MN
The final approach into Olmsted County, 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
$11.47 one way
$22.95 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $12.36 | $24.73 |
| premium | $4.53 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.02 | $34.05 |
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: 27 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.10 | $3.70 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.79 | $4.93 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Olmsted County, MN
Evening in Olmsted County on Thursday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
2 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 44m 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 Olmsted County, MN covers 77.1 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 52, 160th Street West, County 14 Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.5 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 $11.47 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.1 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Olmsted County, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 24: Cannon Falls along the way.
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