Origin
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Friday
Local time
1:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maple Grove, MN to Sauk Centre, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
93.7 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Sauk Centre, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Maple Grove, MN to Sauk Centre, MN covers 93.7 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, Main Street South, I 494 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.94 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.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Maple Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 93.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 93.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and Main Street South. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.6 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 89.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,253 ft
882 ft
Total Climb
469 ft
Total Descent
161 ft
Highest Point
1,253 ft
~93.7 mi in
Elevation Range
371 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Main Street South. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 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 8 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
4
19.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
92.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 89.6 mi | 1h 36m |
| Main Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 494 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Sinclair Lewis Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 89.6 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove, MN and Sauk Centre, 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
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
73 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
9
Turn right onto US 71; MN 28
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street South
10
Turn left onto CR 17
147 ft
·
4 sec
·
Sinclair Lewis Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
CR 17
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.9 miles from Maple Grove, MN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.6 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sauk Centre, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maple Grove, MN
This is one driving day of about 93.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Maple Grove, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 89.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from Maple Grove, MN · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Maple Grove, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.6 miles.
Arriving in Sauk Centre, MN
The final approach into Sauk Centre, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.94 one way
$27.89 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $15.03 | $30.05 |
| premium | $4.53 | $16.72 | $33.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.69 | $41.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.12 | $6.00 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Sauk Centre, MN
Afternoon in Sauk Centre on Friday
Local time
1:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
22 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
1h 43m 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 Sauk Centre, MN covers 93.7 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, Main Street 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 46.9 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 $13.94 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 93.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 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.
The route from Maple Grove, MN to Sauk Centre, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 882 ft to 1,253 ft elevation with about 469 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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