The drive from Maple Grove, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 169, I 494, US 212 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.3 miles on US 169.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.56 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
62.4 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 124.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 41m highway drive covering 124.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 169 and I 494. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.3 miles on US 169.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 169 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 124.7 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 494 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 South
8
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 South
8
14.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
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 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
16 mi into trip|~21m in|US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 169
87.3 mi
1h 50m
I 494
13.7 mi
17m
US 212
12.7 mi
14m
County Road 11
5.4 mi
8m
Jonathan Carver Parkway
2 mi
3m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
County Road 40
0.6 mi
<1m
Bass Lake Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 87.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
0.5 mi·54 sec·Bass Lake Road
2
Take the ramp
293 ft·7 sec
Toward I 494 SouthUse the right lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 494
14 mi·17 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 11CToward MN 5 West, US 212 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
1.1 mi·1 min·US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
12 mi·13 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CR 11
310 ft·5 sec·County Road 11
10
Continue on CR 11
1.1 mi·1 min·Jonathan Carver Parkway
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 11
111 ft·2 sec·Jonathan Carver Parkway
12
Continue on CR 11
0.9 mi·1 min·Jonathan Carver Parkway
13
Continue on CR 11; CR 40
0.6 mi·55 sec·County Road 40
14
Turn left onto CR 11
5.4 mi·7 min·County Road 11
15
Turn right onto US 169
5.7 mi·6 min·US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on US 169
3.8 mi·4 min·US 169
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 169
24 mi·29 min·US 169
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 169; MN 99
14 mi·18 min·US 169; MN 99
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 169; MN 60
3.4 mi·4 min·US 169; MN 60
20
Turn left onto US 169
36 mi·47 min·US 169
21
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft·1 sec·Fairgrounds Road
22
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Fairgrounds Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
24
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft·8 sec·East 7th Street
25
Turn right
53 ft·6 sec
26
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
27
Arrive at 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 62.4 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, 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 124.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 US 169 for about 87.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.4 mi from Maple Grove, MN
· 1h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.56 one way
$37.12 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$20.00
$39.99
premium
$4.53
$22.25
$44.50
diesel
$5.61
$27.53
$55.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.99
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
EV Truck/SUV
49.9
0
$17.46
$7.98
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Morning
in Maple Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Earth, MN
Morning
in Blue Earth on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Jordan, MN
62 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
1 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
2h 41m 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 Blue Earth, MN covers 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 169, I 494, US 212. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.4 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 $18.56 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 124.7 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Maple Grove, MN to Blue Earth, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
