Origin
Hopper, MN
Morning in Hopper on Saturday
Local time
8:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hopper, MN to Ely, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ely, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hopper, MN to Ely, MN covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 169, State Highway 169, US 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.6 miles on Highway 169. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 49.7 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 169 and State Highway 169. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.6 miles on Highway 169.
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.
Highway 169 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 169 and State Highway 169. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 169.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hopper, MN to Ely, MN is easy. At 1h 9m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US 169): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward US 53 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 53 North
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward MN 169: Ely
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MN 169: Ely
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 169 | 28.6 mi | 40m |
| State Highway 169 | 14.4 mi | 19m |
| US 53 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| US 169 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Mud Lake Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| McInnes Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Sheridan Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 169
— 28.6 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopper, MN and Ely, MN.
1
Start on CH 103
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Mud Lake Road
2
Continue on CH 109
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
McInnes Road
3
Turn right onto US 169
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 53 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 53
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Toward MN 169: Ely
7
Continue on MN 169
14 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Continue on MN 169
29 mi
·
40 min
·
Highway 169
Use the straight lane.
9
Arrive at destination
MN 1; MN 169
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.9 mi from Hopper, MN · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Hopper, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ely, MN
The final approach into Ely, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.40 one way
$14.79 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Ely, MN
Morning in Ely on Saturday
Local time
8:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
32°F
Gilbert, MN
25 mi in
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
1 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 9m 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 Hopper, MN to Ely, MN covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 169, State Highway 169, US 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.9 miles from Hopper, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.40 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.
The drive from Hopper, MN to Ely, MN is easy. At 1h 9m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US 169): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hopper, MN to Ely, 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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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