Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Monday
Local time
11:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN
Drive Time
6h
Distance
303.6 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 47m
★
6 AM
6h 0m
8 AM
6h 26m
10 AM
6h 10m
12 PM
6h 7m
3 PM
6h 11m
5 PM
6h 25m
8 PM
5h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN covers 303.6 miles and takes about 6h 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 $43.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
151.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h drive with frequent turns across 303.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, 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 |
| Pine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 11 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 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 Erie, 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
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
7
Keep slight left
6.0 mi
·
6 min
8
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
9
Turn right onto Pine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
10
Continue on State Highway 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
County Road 11
12
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
13
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
14
Turn left
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
15
Keep slight left
38 mi
·
42 min
16
Turn straight
8.5 mi
·
9 min
17
Continue straight
11 mi
·
12 min
18
Turn slight right
66 ft
·
2 sec
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
20
Exit the roundabout
95 ft
·
1 sec
21
Turn straight
45 mi
·
51 min
22
Turn right
85 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
23
Turn slight right onto Center Street East
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Center Street East
24
Turn left onto 350th Avenue Northeast
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
350th Avenue Northeast
25
Continue on 350th Avenue Northeast
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
350th Avenue Northeast
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 151.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 3h 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.8 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, 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 303.6 miles and 6h.
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 151.8 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 3h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 151.8 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Erie, MN
The final approach into Erie, 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 Erie, 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
$43.42 one way
$86.85 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $46.87 | $93.73 |
| premium | $4.39 | $52.50 | $104.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.45 | $134.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.88 | $14.57 |
| Efficient EV | 75.9 | 0 | $26.57 | $12.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.4 | 1 | $42.50 | $19.43 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Erie, MN
Morning in Erie on Monday
Local time
11:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
37°F
Avon, MN
152 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
2 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
6h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Erie, MN covers 303.6 miles and takes about 6h 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 151.8 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 $43.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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