The drive from Ely, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 245.2 miles and takes about 4h 53m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 53, I 35W for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.7 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.49 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
122.6 miles from Ely, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 245.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 53m highway drive covering 245.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 53. The longest continuous stretch is about 109.7 miles on I 35.
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 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
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 245.2 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
43 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 53 South: Virginia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
43.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
220.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
244.2 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
244.4 mi into trip|~4h 51m 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 35
109.7 mi
1h 57m
US 53
42 mi
50m
I 35W
23.4 mi
27m
MN 1
21.5 mi
29m
West Sheridan Street
20.1 mi
28m
MN 33
19.7 mi
26m
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
5.5 mi
7m
Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on MN 1; MN 169
20 mi·28 min·West Sheridan Street
2
Continue on MN 1; MN 169
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Turn straight onto MN 1; MN 169
21 mi·29 min·MN 1; MN 169
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
Continue on MN 169
0.3 mi·21 sec·MN 169
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
6
Merge onto US 53
5.5 mi·7 min·Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 53
4.6 mi·6 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 53
114 ft·1 sec·US 53
9
Continue on US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
15 mi·18 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MN 33
3.9 mi·7 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
77 ft·1 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
13
Continue on MN 33
0.5 mi·40 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
14
Merge onto I 35
110 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
23 mi·27 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Exit 17CToward Washington AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.6 miles from Ely, MN, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 54 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.6 miles or 2h 37m 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 1m
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 Ely, 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 Ely, MN
This is one driving day of about 245.2 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Ely, 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 I 35 for about 109.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122.6 mi from Ely, MN
· 2h 37m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.49 one way
$72.98 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$39.32
$78.64
premium
$4.53
$43.75
$87.50
diesel
$5.61
$54.14
$108.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.46
$9.81
EV Truck/SUV
98.1
1
$34.33
$15.69
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Ely, MN
Morning
in Ely on Saturday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Morning
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
34 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
4h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ely, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 245.2 miles and takes about 4h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 53, I 35W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.6 miles from Ely, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 245.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ely, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
