The drive from La Crescent, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 170.1 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 52, I 90, MN 55 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.2 miles on US 52.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.90 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
85 miles from La Crescent, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 170.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 19m highway drive covering 170.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 52 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.2 miles on US 52.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 52 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Walnut Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.1 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: near the start (South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 135.3 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Walnut Street
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North 2nd Street
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
8
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|MN 55
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55 toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 121
Toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
8
148.6 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|MN 62 / Crosstown Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62 / Crosstown Highway toward I 35W South, MN 62
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W South, MN 62
7
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 52
75.2 mi
1h 27m
I 90
52.6 mi
56m
MN 55
13.2 mi
17m
I 494
11.6 mi
14m
Crosstown Highway
8.5 mi
10m
US 14
6.8 mi
8m
Bass Lake Road
0.6 mi
1m
South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crescent, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on South 1st Street
54 ft·7 sec·South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·South Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
458 ft·20 sec·North 2nd Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; US 61
6.8 mi·8 min·US 14; US 61
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
53 mi·56 min·I 90
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 218Toward US 52: Rochester
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward US 52 North: Rochester
8
Merge onto US 52
9.7 mi·11 min·US 52
9
Continue on US 52; US 63
17 mi·19 min·US 52; US 63
10
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi·10 min·US 52
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 52
40 mi·45 min·US 52
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55
13 mi·17 min·MN 55
Exit 121Toward MN 55 West: MinneapolisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62
8.5 mi·10 min·Crosstown Highway
Toward I 35W South, MN 62Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 494 North
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 494 North
16
Merge onto I 494
12 mi·14 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 26Toward CR 10: Bass Lake RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CR 10
0.6 mi·1 min·Bass Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
CR 10
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 85 miles from La Crescent, MN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.2 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 36m 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 39m
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 La Crescent, 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 La Crescent, MN
This is one driving day of about 170.1 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from La Crescent, 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 US 52 for about 75.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85 mi from La Crescent, MN
· 1h 36m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.86
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.88
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.81
$10.89
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
La Crescent, MN
Morning
in La Crescent on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Morning
in Maple Grove on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Vermillion, MN
85 mi in
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
38 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
3h 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from La Crescent, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 170.1 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 52, I 90, MN 55. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85 miles from La Crescent, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.90 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.1 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: near the start (South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 135.3 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from La Crescent, MN to Maple Grove, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
