Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Lino Lakes, MN

Drive Time

32m

Distance

20.6 mi

33 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min

4 AM

0h 30m ★

6 AM

0h 32m

8 AM

0h 38m

10 AM

0h 34m

12 PM

0h 34m

3 PM

0h 34m

5 PM

0h 37m

8 PM

0h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lino Lakes, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the heart of Minneapolis to the northern suburbs of Lino Lakes, this 20.6-mile trip is an ideal day outing. You can expect to reach your destination in about 32 minutes, making it an efficient commute or a brief getaway. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should comfortably cover this short distance, as no overnight stay is required. The route keeps you entirely within the Midwest, moving from the urban center of Minnesota into a more suburban landscape. Because of the quick turnaround time, this journey offers maximum flexibility for your schedule. It is a straightforward, practical path that gets you where you need to go without any unnecessary complexity.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

10.3 miles from Minneapolis, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive features a mixed profile that balances high-speed efficiency with local navigation. You will spend roughly 59% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing I-35W to cover the bulk of the distance. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during a 12.1-mile run on I-35W, where you can settle into a steady cruising pace. As you transition off the interstate, the route shifts onto Lake Drive Northeast and Birch Street, bringing you into a more local, neighborhood-focused driving environment. Expect the road personality to change from the fast-paced flow of a major artery to the slower, more controlled pace of suburban surface streets.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 12.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 20.6 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 35W North

Navigation decision point

Toward I 35W North

4.8 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward MN 36

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22B Toward MN 36

5.4 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

12.5 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

13.5 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward Lake Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 31B Toward Lake Drive

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 35W	12.1 mi	15m
Lake Drive Northeast	2.9 mi	4m
Birch Street	2 mi	3m
Black Duck Drive	0.9 mi	3m
Hodgson Road	0.9 mi	1m
Washington Avenue South	0.9 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 35W — 12.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Lino Lakes, MN.

Start on CR 152

63 ft · 9 sec · Washington Avenue South

Continue on CR 152

0.9 mi · 2 min · Washington Avenue South

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 35W North

Merge onto I 35W

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 35W

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec

Exit 22B Toward MN 36 Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 35W

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 35W

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 35W

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 31B Toward Lake Drive Use the slight right lane.

Continue on CH 23

2.9 mi · 4 min · Lake Drive Northeast

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto CR 49

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hodgson Road

Turn left onto CR 34

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Birch Street

Enter roundabout onto CR 34

107 ft · 2 sec · Birch Street

Continue on CR 34

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Birch Street

Enter roundabout onto CR 34

96 ft · 1 sec · Birch Street

Continue on CR 34

1.1 mi · 1 min · Birch Street

Turn left onto Black Duck Drive

0.9 mi · 3 min · Black Duck Drive

Arrive at destination

Black Duck Drive

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 32-minute trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever works best for your personal schedule. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the 20.6-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that traffic patterns on I-35W can fluctuate, so checking road conditions before you pull out of your driveway is a smart move. Because the entire route is quite brief, there is no need to worry about complex fueling logistics or rest breaks. Focus your attention on the transition from the interstate onto Birch Street, as navigating local suburban turns requires a bit more focus than the highway portion of your drive.

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 10.3 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.1 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 20.6 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 10.3 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lino Lakes, 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 20.6 miles and 32m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 12.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 10.3 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Circle Pines, MN

10 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

Circle Pines, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Circle Pines, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 10.3 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lino Lakes, MN

The final approach into Lino Lakes, 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 Lino Lakes, 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

$2.95 one way

$5.89 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$3.18	$6.36
premium	$4.39	$3.56	$7.12
diesel	$5.64	$4.58	$9.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	6.2	$2.16	$0.99
Efficient EV	5.2	$1.80	$0.82
EV Truck/SUV	8.2	$2.88	$1.32

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Minneapolis, MN

Afternoon in Minneapolis on Sunday

Local time

4:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lino Lakes, MN

Afternoon in Lino Lakes on Sunday

Local time

4:28 PM

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

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

32m 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 Lino Lakes, MN covers 20.6 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35W, Lake Drive Northeast, Birch Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 10.3 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 $2.95 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.