Origin
Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN
Late night in Lake Saint Croix Beach on Friday
Local time
12:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
58m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN
Tom Fisk
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 45.1-mile drive from Lake Saint Croix Beach to Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a day trip. You'll navigate primarily on I-694 and I-494, with a portion on Saint Croix Trail South, offering a highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $7, which is quite budget-friendly. Given its short distance and efficient route, no overnight stays are necessary. This drive is ideal for those looking for a quick and practical transit within the Midwest region of Minnesota.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 69% of this 45.1-mile route. The majority of your travel will be on interstates, including a substantial longest stretch of 29.9 miles on I-694. While the interstates provide a consistent pace, the inclusion of Saint Croix Trail South offers a brief change of scenery before rejoining the interstate system. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing time on slower local roads.
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.
I 694 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 694 and Saint Croix Trail South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail South.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 45.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail South): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail South
Turn right onto CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint Paul
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Sain...
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 694 North, I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 249
Toward I 694 North, I 494 South
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 694 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 694 North
7
44.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 694 | 29.9 mi | 37m |
| Saint Croix Trail South | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 494 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street South | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Ramada Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 29.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on Ramada Avenue South
268 ft
·
17 sec
·
Ramada Avenue South
2
Turn left onto 19th Street South
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
19th Street South
3
Turn right onto CH 18
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
99 ft
·
1 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
5
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
7
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
9
Continue on CH 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
8.8 mi
·
9 min
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint Paul
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 249
Toward I 694 North, I 494 South
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 694 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 694
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 694
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 494 South
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.5 mi from Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Maple Grove, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.71 one way
$13.42 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.23 | $14.46 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.05 | $16.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Maple Grove, MN
Late night in Maple Grove on Friday
Local time
12:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
58m 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 Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 45.1 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 694, Saint Croix Trail South, I 494. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.5 miles from Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.71 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 45.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail South): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lake Saint Croix Beach, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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