Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Monday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Red Wing, MN
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
55.3 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Wing, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Red Wing, MN covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Avenue South, 11th Avenue South, South 6th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.91 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
27.7 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 55.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Washington Avenue South 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 Red Wing, MN is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Red Wing, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Red Wing Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Polk Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 316 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Washington Avenue South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Red Wing, MN.
1
Start on Washington Avenue South
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
2
Continue on Washington Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue South
3
Turn right onto 11th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
4
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South 6th Street
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 94 East
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 94 East
6
Merge slight left
10 mi
·
14 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 10 East, US 61 South
20 mi
·
26 min
·
US 10 East, US 61 South
8
Turn left onto Red Wing Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Red Wing Boulevard
62 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
10
Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Red Wing Boulevard
72 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
12
Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Red Wing Boulevard
75 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
14
Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Red Wing Boulevard
15
Continue on Polk Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Polk Avenue
16
Continue on Highway 316 Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 316 Boulevard
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Route 61
246 ft
·
3 sec
·
Route 61
18
Exit the roundabout onto Route 61
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Route 61
19
Keep slight right to continue on Route 61
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Route 61
20
Continue on Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
21
Turn right onto West Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Avenue
22
Turn left onto West 5th Street
285 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 5th Street
23
Arrive at your destination
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 27.7 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 39m 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 55.3 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.7 miles or 39m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Wing, 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 55.3 miles and 1h 18m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 55.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Red Wing, MN
The final approach into Red Wing, 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 Red Wing, 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
$7.91 one way
$15.82 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $8.54 | $17.07 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.29 | $24.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Red Wing, MN
Morning in Red Wing on Monday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
5 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 18m 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 Red Wing, MN covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Avenue South, 11th Avenue South, South 6th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 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 $7.91 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 Minneapolis, MN to Red Wing, MN is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Red Wing, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Red Wing, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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