Origin
Benson, MN
Afternoon in Benson on Wednesday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benson, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
125.1 mi
201 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Benson, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 125.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, Babcock Boulevard, Pleasant Avenue West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.3 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.62 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.6 miles from Benson, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Benson, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 125.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 9 / Atlantic Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 (MN 9 / Atlantic Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.9 miles (US 12): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.5 miles (US 12 / Pacific Avenue Southeast): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 9 / Atlantic Avenue
Turn right onto MN 9 / Atlantic Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
28.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
31.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 12 / Pacific Avenue Southeast
Merge onto US 12 / Pacific Avenue Southeast
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
114.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
I 394
Merge onto I 394
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
124.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 50.3 mi | 1h 9m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| Pleasant Avenue West | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| East Depot Street | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| I 394 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| 15th Ave Northeast | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| 60th Street Southwest | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 50.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benson, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
132 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MN 9
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
3
Continue on US 12
28 mi
·
38 min
·
US 12
4
Enter roundabout onto US 12
75 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 12
5
Continue on US 12
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 12
6
Enter roundabout onto US 12
110 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 12
7
Continue on US 12
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
8
Continue on US 12
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Litchfield Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on US 12
369 ft
·
10 sec
·
Highway 12 Bypass Southwest
10
Turn right onto Benson Avenue Southwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Benson Avenue Southwest
11
Take the ramp
125 ft
·
4 sec
12
Merge onto US 12
405 ft
·
11 sec
·
Pacific Avenue Southeast
13
Continue on US 12
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Litchfield Avenue Southeast
14
Continue on US 12
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 12
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
16
Continue on US 12
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
15th Ave Northeast
17
Continue on US 12
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Pleasant Avenue West
18
Continue on US 12; MN 22
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sibley Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 12
12 mi
·
13 min
·
East Depot Street
20
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
21
Continue on US 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
50th Street Southwest
22
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokato Street West
23
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
24
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
25
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
26
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
27
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
28
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
29
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
30
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
31
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
32
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
33
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
34
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
35
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
36
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
37
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
38
Merge onto I 394
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
40
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
42
Arrive at destination
CR 152
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Benson, MN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 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 80 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benson, 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 Benson, MN
This is one driving day of about 125.1 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Benson, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 50.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.6 mi from Benson, MN · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.6 miles from Benson, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, 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
$18.62 one way
$37.23 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $20.06 | $40.12 |
| premium | $4.53 | $22.32 | $44.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.62 | $55.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.14 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.51 | $8.01 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
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
2h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Benson, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 125.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, Babcock Boulevard, Pleasant Avenue West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.6 miles from Benson, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.62 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 (MN 9 / Atlantic Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.9 miles (US 12): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.5 miles (US 12 / Pacific Avenue Southeast): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Benson, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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