Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Night in Maple Grove on Wednesday
Local time
10:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maple Grove, MN to Nashwauk, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
182.3 mi
293 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 31m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Nashwauk, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Maple Grove, MN to Nashwauk, MN covers 182.3 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 23, State Highway 65, MN 27 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.8 miles on MN 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.13 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
91.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 44m highway drive covering 182.3 miles, with most of the trip on MN 23 and State Highway 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.8 miles on MN 23.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and State Highway 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 182.3 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: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward I 494 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 494 North
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 494 North
8
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
10.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk...
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
MN 101 North Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maple Grove, MN and Nashwauk, MN, road signs point toward Cr 81 and Elk River.
Cr 81
10.9 mi in
|
~13m
Elk River
10.9 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 23 | 37.8 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 65 | 35.8 mi | 45m |
| MN 27 | 33.6 mi | 42m |
| US Highway 169 | 32.8 mi | 37m |
| MN 65 | 18.9 mi | 23m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| US 169 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 37.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Nashwauk, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
2
Turn left
316 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 494 North
4
Merge onto I 494
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
MN 101 North Bypass
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto MN 101
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 169
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 169
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 169
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
13
Turn right onto MN 23
18 mi
·
20 min
·
MN 23
14
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi
·
24 min
·
MN 23; MN 65
15
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi
·
42 min
·
MN 27; MN 65
16
At end of road, turn left onto MN 210; MN 65
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 210
17
Turn right onto MN 65
36 mi
·
45 min
·
State Highway 65
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 65
146 ft
·
1 sec
·
MN 65
19
Continue on MN 65
19 mi
·
23 min
·
MN 65
20
Turn right onto US 169; MN 65
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 169; MN 65
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
22
Turn left onto MN 65
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
23
Turn right
79 ft
·
5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
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 91.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.2 miles or 1h 47m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashwauk, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maple Grove, 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 Maple Grove, MN
This is one driving day of about 182.3 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Maple Grove, 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 MN 23 for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.2 mi from Maple Grove, MN · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nashwauk, MN
The final approach into Nashwauk, 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 Nashwauk, 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
$27.13 one way
$54.26 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $29.23 | $58.47 |
| premium | $4.53 | $32.53 | $65.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.25 | $80.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.14 | $8.75 |
| Efficient EV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.95 | $7.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.9 | 0 | $25.52 | $11.67 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Nashwauk, MN
Night in Nashwauk on Wednesday
Local time
10:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
15 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
3h 44m 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 Maple Grove, MN to Nashwauk, MN covers 182.3 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 23, State Highway 65, MN 27. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.2 miles from Maple Grove, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.13 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 18 significant decision points across 182.3 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: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Maple Grove, MN and Nashwauk, MN, road signs point toward Cr 81 and Elk River.
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