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Trip from Co on Rapids, MN to Waseca, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

86.2 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Co on Rapids, MN, MN

Co on Rapids, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Waseca, MN, MN

Waseca, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Co on Rapids, MN to Waseca, MN covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35W, State Highway 13, Morristown Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.8 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.11 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.

Midpoint

43.1 miles from Co on Rapids, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 86.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and State Highway 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.8 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 18 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 47.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and State Highway 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 1 / East River Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 (CR 1 / East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 1 / East River Road

Turn right onto CR 1 / East River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
4.4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 94 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 35B Toward I 94 East
6
9.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.7 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 233B Toward I 35W South
7
61.4 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MN 60 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 56 Toward MN 60 West

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35W 47.8 mi 54m
State Highway 13 9 mi 12m
Morristown Boulevard 7.8 mi 9m
I 94 7.7 mi 9m
State Highway 60 5.4 mi 6m
East River Road 3.7 mi 6m
North State Street 1.7 mi 3m
Highway 60 West 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 35W — 47.8 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Waseca, MN.

1

Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2

Turn right onto CR 1

3.7 mi · 6 min · East River Road
Use the left lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto I 694

0.3 mi · 18 sec · I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 35B Toward I 94 East Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto I 94

4.4 mi · 5 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

3.3 mi · 4 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 233B Toward I 35W South Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto MN 65

0.2 mi · 14 sec · MN 65
Toward I-35W South
10

Merge onto I 35W

48 mi · 54 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 56 Toward MN 60
12

Keep slight left at fork

251 ft · 8 sec
Exit 56 Toward MN 60 West
13

Turn left onto MN 60; I 35 ALT

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highway 60 West
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Continue on MN 60; I 35 ALT

7.8 mi · 9 min · Morristown Boulevard
15

Continue on MN 60

5.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 60
16

Turn left onto MN 13

9.0 mi · 12 min · State Highway 13
17

Continue on MN 13

1.7 mi · 3 min · North State Street
18

Arrive at destination

MN 13

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 43.1 miles from Co on Rapids, MN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.8 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 19 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.1 miles or 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waseca, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Co on Rapids, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Co on Rapids, MN

This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Co on Rapids, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 47.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.1 mi from Co on Rapids, MN · 54m into the drive

Downtown Bloomington, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, MN

43 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

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakeville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Co on Rapids, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waseca, MN

The final approach into Waseca, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Lake and Bryant Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12.3

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+16126594450

Visit website

FIKA Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1.1 mi

Lake & Irving Restaurant & Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1.5 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Caffetto Coffee House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Hours: 7 am–12 pm

+16128720911

Visit website

Fawkes Alley Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

0.5 mi

SK Coffee: Whittier

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Minneapolis, Minnesota

0.5 mi

Lake and Bryant Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+16126594450

Visit website

FIKA Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+16125245108

Visit website

Lake & Irving Restaurant & Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 4–9 pm

+16123542453

Visit website

Patrick's Bakery & Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 18.5

Richfield, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16128617570

Visit website

Sovereign Grounds

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 18.5

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+16128256157

Visit website

Aster Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 4–11 pm

+16123793138

Visit website

Hamdi Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+16128239660

Visit website

Phoever ❤️ Vietnamese Cuisine & Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6.2

Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17632088754

Visit website

Caffetto Coffee House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–12 pm

+16128720911

Visit website

Fawkes Alley Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

SK Coffee: Whittier

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+16128706114

Visit website

Spyhouse Coffee Roasters | Downtown / Emery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Muhim’s Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7:30 am–11 pm

+16123232202

Visit website

Curioso Coffee Bar: Uptown

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16122089794

Visit website

Heights Coffee Bar

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 6.2

Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16123149027

Visit website

Cairo Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Blaine, Minnesota

Bad Axe Throwing Minneapolis City Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $40 to $50 mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6–9:30 pm

+18448180999

Visit website

Wild Things Indoor Playground

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 36.9

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19529608796

Visit website

Prince The Tour

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 12.3

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16127102923

Missing Pieces Escape Games

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 18.5

Edina, Minnesota

Hours: 12–7:30 pm

+19526588974

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.11 one way

$24.22 round trip

$3.57/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $13.31 $26.61
premium $4.39 $14.91 $29.81
diesel $4.86 $16.51 $33.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.9 0 $9.05 $4.14
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.54 $3.45
EV Truck/SUV 34.5 0 $12.07 $5.52

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Co on Rapids, MN

Night in Co on Rapids on Friday

Local time

9:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Mostly Cloudy

NW 15 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 17 at 12:43PM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 8:21AM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Waseca, MN

Night in Waseca on Friday

Local time

9:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Mostly Cloudy

NW 20 to 25 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 17 at 12:43PM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 8:21AM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

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

3 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

1h 49m 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 Co on Rapids, MN to Waseca, MN covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35W, State Highway 13, Morristown Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 43.1 miles from Co on Rapids, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.11 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 86.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 (CR 1 / East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Co on Rapids, MN to Waseca, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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