Origin
Grand Rapids, MN
Afternoon in Grand Rapids on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 34m
Distance
167.4 mi
269 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
Brooklyn Park, MN
Sasha Zilov
Connecting Grand Rapids to Brooklyn Park, this 167.4-mile journey takes approximately 3 hours and 34 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly way to travel between these two Minnesota locations. The route relies primarily on US Highway 169, Voyageur Highway, and MN 101 to navigate through the heart of the Midwest. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, this straightforward drive offers a consistent path without unnecessary complexity.
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
83.7 miles from Grand Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 62% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 91 miles on US Highway 169, which requires a steady focus behind the wheel. The road transitions between these primary high-speed corridors and secondary stretches, offering a mix of transit speeds. While the drive is efficient, the varying road types mean you will need to pay attention to shifting speed limits as you move from more open northern stretches toward the busier environment near Brooklyn Park.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 169 and Voyageur Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 167.4 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 18.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54 miles (US Highway 169): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 158.8 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto US Highway 169
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 81 / County Road 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Grand Rapids, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 169 | 91 mi | 1h 45m |
| Voyageur Highway | 50 mi | 1h 12m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 94 | 4 mi | 4m |
| County Road 81 | 3 mi | 4m |
| MN 610 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North Pokegama Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN.
Start on Northwest 5th Street
Turn right onto North Pokegama Avenue
Continue on US 169
Turn left
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 169
Continue on US 169; MN 210
Turn left onto US 169
Continue on US 169
Enter roundabout onto US Highway 169
Continue on US Highway 169
Continue on US 169
Continue on US 169
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
Continue on US 169
Continue on MN 101
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit onto MN 610
Take the exit
Continue on CR 81
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 81
Continue on CR 81
Turn left onto CR 130
Arrive at destination
Planning for this trip is simple thanks to its manageable duration, but you should still account for at least one planned stop to keep your energy up. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain your estimated 3-hour and 34-minute arrival time. Since you have a single stop built into the itinerary, use that time to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final miles of the route. Given the significant distance covered on US Highway 169, keep a close watch on your fuel gauge during that 91-mile stretch to ensure you aren't caught off guard.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.7 miles or 1h 53m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn Park, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 167.4 miles and 3h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.7 mi from Grand Rapids, MN · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83.7 miles from Grand Rapids, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 169 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91 miles.
The final approach into Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.94 one way
$47.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $25.84 | $51.68 |
| premium | $4.39 | $28.95 | $57.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.19 | $74.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.58 | $8.04 |
| Efficient EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.65 | $6.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.71 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Grand Rapids on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Brooklyn Park on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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