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Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

109.8 mi

177 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m

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

city in Brown County, Minnesota

Sleepy Eye, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN covers 109.8 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 212, State Highway 15, US Highway 212 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41 miles on US 212. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.34 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

54.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 21m highway drive covering 109.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 212 and State Highway 15. The longest continuous stretch is about 41 miles on US 212.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 41 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 15. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 109.8 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 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

8
3.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5B-A Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-X...
7
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MN 100 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward MN 100 South
7
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MN 100 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward MN 100 South
7
5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MN 100 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward MN 100 South

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 212 41 mi 48m
State Highway 15 29.7 mi 37m
US Highway 212 12.8 mi 15m
US Highway 14 10.8 mi 14m
MN 100 4.7 mi 5m
I 394 3.3 mi 4m
Crosstown Highway 1.7 mi 2m
North Broadway 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 212 — 41 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Sleepy Eye, MN.

1

Start on CR 152

0.4 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue South
2

Turn left onto North 1st Avenue

426 ft · 18 sec · North 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto North 3rd Street

418 ft · 16 sec · North 3rd Street
4

Turn straight onto I 394

3.3 mi · 4 min · I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 11 sec
Exit 5B-A Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward MN 100 South: Park Place-Xenia
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Toward MN 100 South Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

402 ft · 9 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward MN 100 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward MN 100 South Use the slight left lane.
11

Merge onto MN 100

4.7 mi · 5 min · MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward MN 62 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto MN 62

1.7 mi · 2 min · Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto US 212

4.6 mi · 5 min · US 212
Exit 106A Toward US 212 Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto US 212

36 mi · 43 min · US 212
Use the slight left lane.
16

Enter roundabout onto US 212

145 ft · 2 sec · US Highway 212
17

Continue on US 212

13 mi · 15 min · US Highway 212
18

Turn left onto MN 15

30 mi · 37 min · State Highway 15
Use the straight / left lanes.
19

Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 15

141 ft · 6 sec · US Highway 14
20

Continue on US 14; MN 15

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US Highway 14
21

Continue on US 14; MN 15

0.3 mi · 44 sec · 7th North Street
22

Turn right onto US 14; MN 68

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Continue on US 14; MN 68

0.3 mi · 36 sec · 20th North Street
Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on US 14; MN 68

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Highway 14 West
Use the straight lane.
25

Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 68

140 ft · 1 sec · Highway 14 West
26

Continue on US 14; MN 68

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Highway 14 West
27

Continue on US 14; MN 68

0.6 mi · 1 min · US Highway 14
Use the straight lane.
28

Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 68

97 ft · 4 sec · US Highway 14
29

Continue on US 14; MN 68

10.0 mi · 13 min · US Highway 14
Use the straight / left lanes.
30

Continue on US 14; MN 68

0.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street East
Use the straight / left lanes.
31

Arrive at destination

US 14; MN 68

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 54.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 54.9 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sleepy Eye, 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 109.8 miles and 2h 21m.

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 US 212 for about 41 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 54.9 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 1h 9m into the drive

city in Devon, England

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Plymouth, MN

55 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

Plymouth, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albertville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sleepy Eye, MN

The final approach into Sleepy Eye, 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 Sleepy Eye, 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

$16.34 one way

$32.68 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $17.61 $35.21
premium $4.53 $19.59 $39.18
diesel $5.61 $24.24 $48.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.9 0 $11.53 $5.27
Efficient EV 27.5 0 $9.61 $4.39
EV Truck/SUV 43.9 0 $15.37 $7.03

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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 4 hours ago

Origin

Minneapolis, MN

Morning in Minneapolis on Wednesday

Local time

6:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sleepy Eye, MN

Morning in Sleepy Eye on Wednesday

Local time

6:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

39°F

Plymouth, MN

55 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

6 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

2h 21m 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 Sleepy Eye, MN covers 109.8 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, State Highway 15, US Highway 212. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.9 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 $16.34 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 109.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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