Origin
International Falls, MN
Afternoon in International Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from International Falls, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
301.8 mi
486 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Traveling from International Falls to Maple Grove covers 301.8 miles through the heart of Minnesota. You should expect roughly 4 hours and 48 minutes of drive time, making this a manageable journey for a single day of travel. Since the route relies on local roads like 8th Avenue, 5th Street, and 3rd Avenue rather than major interstates, plan for a fuel budget of approximately $42. While it is certainly feasible to complete this trip in one go, the nature of the terrain means you will want to stay alert. This path keeps you entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you head south toward the Twin Cities area.
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
150.9 miles from International Falls, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate surface roads for the duration of the 301.8-mile trek. You won’t find long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on 8th Avenue requires constant attention to your surroundings. The road demands active driving, so prepare for a more hands-on experience compared to typical highway cruising. It is a practical, direct way to move through Minnesota if you prefer local roads over high-speed traffic.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from International Falls, MN to Maple Grove, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Speaker Irvin N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
8th Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between International Falls, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on the route
75 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto 8th Avenue
112 ft
·
9 sec
·
8th Avenue
3
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
4
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
3rd Avenue
5
Continue on 2nd Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue
6
Continue on Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
8
Exit the roundabout onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
96 mi
·
2 hr
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
9
Continue straight
4.6 mi
·
6 min
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
11
Exit the roundabout
37 mi
·
43 min
12
Take the exit slight right
15 mi
·
19 min
13
Continue straight
3.9 mi
·
7 min
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
I 35 South
15
Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 South
16
Merge slight left
110 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 35W: Minneapolis
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W: Minneapolis
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 694 West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 694 West
19
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
15 min
20
Take the exit slight left toward I 494 South
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 494 South
21
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
CR 10: Bass Lake Road
23
Turn right onto Bass Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Bass Lake Road
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 48 minute duration, try to leave early in the morning to avoid fatigue on these local roads. Since the route is turn-heavy, you will appreciate having at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $42 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency on lower-speed, stop-and-go roads. Because this is a single-day trip, embrace the flexibility of your schedule to pace yourself comfortably. Specifically, ensure your GPS is updated for local turns, as you will be navigating 5th Street and 3rd Avenue frequently throughout the journey.
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 150.9 miles from International Falls, MN, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.9 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving International Falls, 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 International Falls, MN
This is one driving day of about 301.8 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from International Falls, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.9 mi from International Falls, MN · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.9 miles from International Falls, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
The final approach into Maple Grove, 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 Maple Grove, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.17 one way
$86.33 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $46.59 | $93.18 |
| premium | $4.39 | $52.19 | $104.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.05 | $134.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.5 | 1 | $31.69 | $14.49 |
| Efficient EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.41 | $12.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.7 | 1 | $42.25 | $19.32 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Sunday
Local time
3:26 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
5 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 48m 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 International Falls, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 301.8 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Avenue, 5th Street, 3rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.9 miles from International Falls, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.17 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 straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from International Falls, MN to Maple Grove, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from International Falls, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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