Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
147.8 mi
238 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cross Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN covers 147.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 1st Avenue, North 3rd Street, I 94 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.00 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
73.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 11m drive with frequent turns across 147.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 1st Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN is easy. At 3h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 1st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-94 W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 101 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 169 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North 1st Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Cross Lake, MN.
1
Start on Washington Avenue South
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue South
2
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
427 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
417 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 3rd Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 94 West
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 94 West
5
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
15 min
6
Continue on I-94 W
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I-94 W
7
Take the exit slight right toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
8
Keep slight right to continue on MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
MN 101 North Bypass
9
Merge slight left
6.4 mi
·
7 min
10
Continue on US Highway 169
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 169
11
Keep slight right to continue on US Highway 169
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US Highway 169
12
Continue on Central Avenue
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue
13
Continue on US Highway 169
37 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 169
14
Turn left onto State Highway 18
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 18
15
Turn right onto State Highway 6
9.4 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 6
16
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Front Street
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Front Street
17
Turn right onto Archibald Road
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
Archibald Road
18
Continue on Voyageur Highway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Voyageur Highway
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Main Street
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
20
Exit the roundabout onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
21
Turn right
4.7 mi
·
8 min
22
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Road 11
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road 11
24
Exit the roundabout onto County Road 11
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 11
25
Turn right onto County Road 39
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 39
26
Turn right onto Fawn Lake Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Fawn Lake Road
27
Turn left onto County Road 11
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 11
28
Arrive at your 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 73.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 35m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cross Lake, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 147.8 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minneapolis, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.9 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cross Lake, MN
The final approach into Cross Lake, 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 Cross Lake, 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
$22.00 one way
$43.99 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $23.70 | $47.40 |
| premium | $4.53 | $26.37 | $52.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.63 | $65.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.52 | $7.09 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.93 | $5.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.1 | 0 | $20.69 | $9.46 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Cross Lake, MN
Late night in Cross Lake on Wednesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
29 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
3h 11m 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 Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN covers 147.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 1st Avenue, North 3rd Street, I 94 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.00 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.
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN is easy. At 3h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Cross Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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