Origin
Melrude, MN
Morning in Melrude on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
40.3 mi
65 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Hermantown, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN covers 40.3 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, Melrude Road, Ugstad Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.8 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 40.3 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 (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 58m highway drive covering 40.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and Melrude Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.8 miles on US 53.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 4 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,454 ft
1,319 ft
Total Climb
210 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
1,454 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
135 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and Melrude Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 38.3 miles in near Ugstad Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN is easy. At 58m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 38.3 miles (Ugstad Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
1 of 1 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
38.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Ugstad Road
Turn right onto Ugstad Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 34.8 mi | 40m |
| Melrude Road | 3.5 mi | 13m |
| Ugstad Road | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 34.8 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melrude, MN and Hermantown, MN.
1
Start on Melrude Road
3.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Melrude Road
2
Turn left onto US 53
35 mi
·
40 min
·
US 53
3
Turn right onto Ugstad Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ugstad Road
4
Arrive at destination
Ugstad Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Melrude, MN · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 20.1 miles from Melrude, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hermantown, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Hermantown, 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
$6.00 one way
$11.99 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.46 | $12.92 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.19 | $14.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.90 | $17.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Hermantown, MN
Morning in Hermantown on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Grand Lake, MN
20 mi in
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
24 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 Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN covers 40.3 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 53, Melrude Road, Ugstad Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 miles from Melrude, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.00 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.
The drive from Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN is easy. At 58m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 38.3 miles (Ugstad Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Melrude, MN to Hermantown, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1,319 ft to 1,454 ft elevation with about 210 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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