Origin
Lino Lakes, MN
Evening in Lino Lakes on Sunday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lino Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Drive Time
32m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lino Lakes, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or day trip between Lino Lakes and Minneapolis, this 20.6-mile journey is about as straightforward as it gets. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 32 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting for the trip is simple, as you will likely only spend around $3 on fuel. Navigating this route involves a combination of Lake Drive Northeast, Birch Street, and I-35W. Because both the origin and destination sit firmly within the Midwest, the transition between these two Minnesota hubs is seamless. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick city visit, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection that fits easily into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.3 miles from Lino Lakes, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to a more substantial highway experience. You will spend about 60% of your time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 12.4 miles on I-35W. The initial segments through Lino Lakes provide a slower, local pace before you merge onto the interstate to cover the bulk of the distance. Expect a shift in intensity as you transition from the residential streets of Birch Street and Lake Drive Northeast into the faster-moving flow of the interstate. It is a functional, efficient drive that balances neighborhood navigation with the necessity of a quick highway transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 12.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near CR 34 / Birch Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (CR 34 / Birch Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 34 / Birch Street
Enter roundabout onto CR 34 / Birch Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Birch Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Black Duck Drive | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| Hodgson Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 12.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lino Lakes, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Black Duck Drive
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Duck Drive
2
Turn right onto CR 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Birch Street
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Birch Street
4
Continue on CR 34
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Birch Street
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Birch Street
6
Continue on CR 34
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Birch Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto CR 49
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hodgson Road
8
Turn left onto CH 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W South
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
11
Merge onto I 35W
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 35W
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 32-minute trip with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the drive is quick enough that you won't need to worry about long-distance fatigue, keep an eye on traffic patterns when entering the Minneapolis area. Given the 12.4-mile stretch on I-35W, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure your travel time remains consistent. With only $3 required for fuel, you can easily top off your tank before you leave Lino Lakes without stressing about the cost. Use the simplicity of this route to your advantage by focusing on your arrival time in Minneapolis rather than worrying about mid-trip logistics or rest stops.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.3 miles from Lino Lakes, MN, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 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 20.6 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.3 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
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 Lino Lakes, 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 Lino Lakes, MN
This is one driving day of about 20.6 miles and 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lino Lakes, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 12.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.3 mi from Lino Lakes, MN · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 20.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.3 miles from Lino Lakes, 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
$2.95 one way
$5.89 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.58 | $9.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
5:52 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
2 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
32m 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 Lino Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 20.6 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, Lake Drive Northeast, Birch Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Lino Lakes, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (CR 34 / Birch Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lino Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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