Origin
Chaska, MN
Morning in Chaska on Saturday
Local time
10:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaska, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN is 26.9 miles and takes about 37 minutes via US 212 and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within the Midwest region of Minnesota. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a quick commute or an easy addition to a larger regional journey. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering minimal travel time between these two Minnesota locales.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with about 70% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 212 and I 35W. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, including a continuous segment of 12.5 miles on US 212, which allows for steady progress. The route transitions through different highway systems as you approach Minneapolis, offering a typical urban approach. Expect a smooth, efficient drive suitable for those prioritizing getting to their destination quickly rather than a winding scenic tour.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near US 212.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 212
Merge onto US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
19.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 112A
Toward I 35W North
5
19.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
5
25.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward 5th Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 5th Avenue South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 35W | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Crosstown Highway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Chestnut Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| MN 65 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Chestnut Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 12.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaska, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on CR 61
317 ft
·
14 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Continue on CR 61
417 ft
·
20 sec
·
West 6th Street
3
Turn left onto MN 41
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto MN 41
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Chestnut Street
5
Continue on MN 41
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 212 East
7
Merge onto US 212
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 212
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on MN 62
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 112A
Toward I 35W North
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35W
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
MN 65
Toward 5th Avenue South
13
Continue on 5th Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn left onto CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.01 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.31 | $8.63 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.80 | $9.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
NW 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
42 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
37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 26.9 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, I 35W, Crosstown Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.5 miles from Chaska, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.00 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chaska, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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