Origin
Circle Pines, MN
Afternoon in Circle Pines on Monday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Circle Pines, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Circle Pines, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Circle Pines, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 16.2 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, Lake Drive Northeast, Washington Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.4 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.32 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
8.1 miles from Circle Pines, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 23m highway drive covering 16.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and Lake Drive Northeast. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.4 miles on I 35W.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 12.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Lake Drive Northeast. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Turn right onto CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
15.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Crossway Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pine Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 12.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Circle Pines, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Crossway Drive
329 ft
·
14 sec
·
Crossway Drive
2
Turn right onto Pine Drive
287 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pine Drive
3
Turn right onto CH 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W South
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 35W
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.1 miles from Circle Pines, MN, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 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 16.2 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.1 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
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 Circle Pines, 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 Circle Pines, MN
This is one driving day of about 16.2 miles and 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Circle Pines, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 12.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.1 mi from Circle Pines, MN · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.1 miles from Circle Pines, 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
$2.32 one way
$4.63 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $2.50 | $5.00 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.80 | $5.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Monday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
31 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
23m 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 Circle Pines, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 16.2 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, Lake Drive Northeast, Washington Avenue South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.1 miles from Circle Pines, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Circle Pines, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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