Origin
Brooklyn Park, MN
Night in Brooklyn Park on Thursday
Local time
9:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brooklyn Park, MN to Benson, MN
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
133 mi
214 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 30m
★
6 AM
2h 41m
8 AM
3h 2m
10 AM
2h 48m
12 PM
2h 46m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 1m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooklyn Park, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Benson, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Brooklyn Park, MN to Benson, MN covers 133 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 23, I 94, MN 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40 miles on MN 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.79 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
66.5 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 133 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 133 miles, with most of the trip on MN 23 and I 94. The longest continuous stretch is about 40 miles on MN 23.
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.
MN 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 40 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and I 94. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 133 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 1.4 miles (CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MN 610 / MN-610
Merge onto MN 610 / MN-610
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 94 / I-94 W
Merge onto I 94 / I-94 W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
57.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
MN 23
Merge onto MN 23
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
133 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 23 | 40 mi | 47m |
| I 94 | 36 mi | 38m |
| MN 9 | 35.8 mi | 47m |
| I-94 W | 12.6 mi | 13m |
| County Road 81 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| MN-610 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Brooklyn Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Bottineau Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 40 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Benson, MN.
1
Start on CR 14
34 ft
·
5 sec
·
Zane Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 152
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn Boulevard
3
Turn right onto CR 81
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Bottineau Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on CR 81
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 81
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MN 610 West
6
Merge onto MN 610
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
MN-610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 94
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I-94 W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 94
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MN 23 West: Paynesville
10
Merge onto MN 23
15 mi
·
19 min
·
MN 23
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MN 23
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 23
12
Continue on MN 23
24 mi
·
27 min
·
MN 23
13
Turn right onto MN 9
36 mi
·
47 min
·
MN 9
14
Turn right onto US 12; MN 9
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Atlantic Avenue
15
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
16
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.5 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 16m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benson, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, MN
This is one driving day of about 133 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Brooklyn Park, 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 MN 23 for about 40 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.5 mi from Brooklyn Park, MN · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.5 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Benson, MN
The final approach into Benson, 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 Benson, 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
$19.79 one way
$39.59 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $21.33 | $42.65 |
| premium | $4.53 | $23.73 | $47.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.36 | $58.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| Efficient EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.64 | $5.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.62 | $8.51 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Benson, MN
Night in Benson on Thursday
Local time
9:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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 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 40m 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 Brooklyn Park, MN to Benson, MN covers 133 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 23, I 94, MN 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.5 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.79 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 133 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 1.4 miles (CR 81 / Bottineau Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brooklyn Park, MN to Benson, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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