Origin
Burnsville, MN
Afternoon in Burnsville on Thursday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 1m
Distance
309.2 mi
498 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 49m
★
6 AM
6h 2m
8 AM
6h 28m
10 AM
6h 11m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnsville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Thief River Falls, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN covers 309.2 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W North, I 494 East, I 494 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.01 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
154.6 miles from Burnsville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 309.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 1m drive with frequent turns across 309.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W North 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 1m, 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 Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W North | — | — |
| I 494 East | — | — |
| I 494 West | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| Pine Street | — | — |
| Highway 25 | — | — |
| County Road 11 | — | — |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35W North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, MN and Thief River Falls, MN.
1
Start on Nicollet Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicollet Avenue South
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
3
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 35W North: Minneapolis
4
Merge slight left
5.4 mi
·
6 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 494 West, MN 5 West
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494 West, MN 5 West
7
Merge slight left
5.8 mi
·
7 min
8
Keep slight left
16 mi
·
19 min
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Saint Cloud
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 94 West: Saint Cloud
10
Continue straight
17 mi
·
18 min
11
Keep slight left
6.0 mi
·
6 min
12
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
13
Turn right onto Pine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
14
Continue on State Highway 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
15
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
County Road 11
16
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
17
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
18
Turn left
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
19
Keep slight left
38 mi
·
42 min
20
Turn straight
8.5 mi
·
9 min
21
Continue straight
11 mi
·
12 min
22
Turn slight right
66 ft
·
2 sec
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
24
Exit the roundabout
95 ft
·
1 sec
25
Turn straight
45 mi
·
51 min
26
Turn right
85 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
27
Turn left
482 ft
·
6 sec
28
Merge slight left
9.4 mi
·
11 min
29
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 154.6 miles from Burnsville, MN, or about 3h 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 68 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.6 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thief River Falls, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burnsville, 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 Burnsville, MN
This is one driving day of about 309.2 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Burnsville, 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 154.6 mi from Burnsville, MN · 3h 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 154.6 miles from Burnsville, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thief River Falls, MN
The final approach into Thief River 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 Thief River 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
$46.01 one way
$92.03 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $49.58 | $99.16 |
| premium | $4.53 | $55.17 | $110.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.27 | $136.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.47 | $14.84 |
| Efficient EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.05 | $12.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.7 | 1 | $43.29 | $19.79 |
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
Thief River Falls, MN
Afternoon in Thief River Falls on Thursday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Avon, MN
155 mi in
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
12 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
6h 1m 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 Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN covers 309.2 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W North, I 494 East, I 494 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.6 miles from Burnsville, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.01 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 1m, 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 Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Burnsville, MN to Thief River Falls, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Thief River Falls, MN
Explore more options from Burnsville, MN or browse trips ending in Thief River Falls, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Burnsville, MN or Thief River Falls, MN on MapSof.net.