Origin
Jackson, MN
Afternoon in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
157.3 mi
253 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 157.3 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 71, I 90 East, MN 4 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.50 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
78.6 miles from Jackson, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 157.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 71 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 2h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 71 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 70th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broadway Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 60 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 71
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on US Highway 71
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 71
2
Take the exit right toward I 90 East: Albert Lea
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 90 East: Albert Lea
3
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
14 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward MN 4: Saint James, Sherburn
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
MN 4: Saint James, Sherburn
5
Turn right onto State Highway 4
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
State Highway 4
6
Continue on 70th Avenue
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
70th Avenue
7
Continue on State Highway 4
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 4
8
Continue on Broadway Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Broadway Avenue South
9
Continue on State Highway 4
14 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 4
10
Take the ramp slight right toward MN 60 East, MN 4 North: St. James, Mankato
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
MN 60 East, MN 4 North: St. James, Mankato
11
Merge slight left onto State Highway 60
20 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 60
12
Continue on MN 60 E
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
MN 60 E
13
Continue on State Highway 60
15 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 60
14
Continue straight
19 mi
·
24 min
15
Continue straight
12 mi
·
13 min
16
Continue straight
17 mi
·
19 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
18
Keep slight right to continue on MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
266 ft
·
8 sec
·
MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
19
Turn straight onto County Road 78
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
County Road 78
20
Continue on Chestnut Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Chestnut Boulevard
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 130th Street West
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
130th Street West
22
Exit the roundabout onto 130th Street West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
130th Street West
23
Turn left onto Marystown Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marystown Road
24
Take the ramp right toward US 169 North
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 169 North
25
Merge slight left
5.1 mi
·
5 min
26
Keep slight left
6.1 mi
·
7 min
27
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494 East, MN 5 East
28
Merge slight left
4.2 mi
·
5 min
29
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 35W North: Minneapolis
30
Merge slight left
7.6 mi
·
10 min
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 94 West
32
Keep slight left to continue on 5th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
5th Avenue South
33
Continue on 5th Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
34
Turn left onto Washington Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
35
Arrive at your destination
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 78.6 miles from Jackson, MN, or about 1h 19m 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.6 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 11m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, MN
This is one driving day of about 157.3 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jackson, 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 78.6 mi from Jackson, MN · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 78.6 miles from Jackson, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, 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
$22.50 one way
$45.00 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $24.28 | $48.56 |
| premium | $4.39 | $27.20 | $54.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.95 | $69.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.52 | $7.55 |
| Efficient EV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.76 | $6.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.02 | $10.07 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
6 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 39m 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 Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 157.3 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 71, I 90 East, MN 4. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.6 miles from Jackson, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.50 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 2h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Jackson, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Minneapolis, MN
More from Jackson, MN
More trips to Minneapolis, MN
Explore more options from Jackson, MN or browse trips ending in Minneapolis, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Jackson, MN or Minneapolis, MN on MapSof.net.