Trip from Brainerd, MN to Minneapolis, MN

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

130.9 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Brainerd, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 130.9 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Laurel Street, West Laurel Street, Highland Scenic Drive South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.39 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

65.4 miles from Brainerd, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day@if(!empty($enrichment->halfway_point['drive_time'])), about 0m into the drive@endif.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 8m drive with frequent turns across 130.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Laurel Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Laurel Street	0 mi	0m
West Laurel Street	0 mi	0m
Highland Scenic Drive South	0 mi	0m
C	0 mi	0m
165th Avenue Southeast	0 mi	0m
Park Boulevard Southeast	0 mi	0m
County Road 11	0 mi	0m
Highway 25	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Laurel Street — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on South 6th Street

2

Turn right onto Laurel Street

3

Continue on West Laurel Street

4

Continue on Highland Scenic Drive South

5

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highland Scenic Drive South

6

Exit the roundabout onto Highland Scenic Drive South

7

Turn left onto C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway

8

Merge slight right

9

Continue straight

10

Keep slight left

11

Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

12

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

13

Continue on County Road 11

14

Turn right onto State Highway 25

15

Continue on Pine Street

16

Turn left onto Broadway Street East

17

Turn right onto Fenning Avenue

18

Take the ramp left

19

Merge slight left

20

Keep slight right

21

Keep slight right

22

Keep slight left to continue on 4th Street North

23

Keep slight right to continue on 2nd Avenue North

24

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North

25

Turn right onto North Washington Avenue

26

Continue on Washington Avenue South

27

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 65.4 miles from Brainerd, MN, or about 0m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 0m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65.4 miles or 0m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 0m

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 Brainerd, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brainerd, MN

This is one driving day of about 130.9 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brainerd, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Albertville, MN

65 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65.4 mi from Brainerd, MN

Albertville, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albertville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.4 miles from Brainerd, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.57	$18.39	$36.79
midgrade	$3.92	$20.21	$40.41
premium	$4.39	$22.63	$45.27
diesel	$4.86	$25.07	$50.13

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 45.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Brainerd, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 130.9 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Laurel Street, West Laurel Street, Highland Scenic Drive South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 65.4 miles from Brainerd, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 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.