Origin
Edina, MN
Afternoon in Edina on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edina, MN to Brainerd, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
129.9 mi
209 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edina, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Brainerd, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Edina, MN to Brainerd, MN covers 129.9 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 10, MN 371, I-94 W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.33 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
64.9 miles from Edina, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 54.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| MN 371 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| MN 100 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| I 94 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Bottineau Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| 165th Avenue Southeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edina, MN and Brainerd, MN.
1
Start on MN 100
10 mi
·
12 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 12B
Toward CR 81 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Merge onto CR 81
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road 81
4
Continue on CR 81
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Bottineau Boulevard
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West, I 694 West
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 94; I 694
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 94; I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
10
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
11
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
12
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
County Road 11
13
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
14
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
15
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 10
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
27 mi
·
31 min
·
MN 371
17
Turn right onto MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 210
18
Continue on MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
19
Turn right onto MN 371 Business
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
South 6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
MN 371 Business
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 64.9 miles from Edina, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.9 miles or 1h 19m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brainerd, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Edina, 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 Edina, MN
This is one driving day of about 129.9 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Edina, 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 US 10 for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 64.9 miles from Edina, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 10.3 and 34.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CR 81 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward CR 81 North
8
14 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 94 West, I 694 West
5
14.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 94; I 694
Merge onto I 94; I 694
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
17.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 94 / I-94 W
Continue onto I 94 / I-94 W toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
4
34.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.33 one way
$38.66 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $20.83 | $41.66 |
| premium | $4.53 | $23.18 | $46.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.68 | $57.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39 | 0 | $13.64 | $6.24 |
| Efficient EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.37 | $5.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52 | 0 | $18.19 | $8.31 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Brainerd, MN
Afternoon in Brainerd on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
9 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 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
129.9 mi in 2h 37m, mostly highway — 54.4 mi of that is on US 10.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 129.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 94; I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,211 ft
860 ft
Total Climb
375 ft
Total Descent
76 ft
Highest Point
1,211 ft
~129.9 mi in
Elevation Range
350 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Edina, MN to Brainerd, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 North along the way.
Cr 81 North
10.3 mi in
|
~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 129.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Brainerd, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 94; I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brainerd, MN before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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