Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
10:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Atwater, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
80.1 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Atwater, MN covers 80.1 miles and takes about 1h 48m 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, Babcock Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.92 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
40 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 48m drive with frequent turns across 80.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 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 Atwater, MN is easy. At 1h 48m 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 Atwater, 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 |
| Babcock Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 60th Street Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nelson Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacific Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Street | 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 Atwater, 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
Turn straight
9.4 mi
·
12 min
5
Keep slight left
12 mi
·
15 min
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Babcock Boulevard;County Road 90
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard;County Road 90
7
Exit the rotary onto Babcock Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
8
Keep slight right to continue on Babcock Boulevard
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
9
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
10
Continue on 60th Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
11
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 12
12
Turn slight right onto 60th Street Southeast
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
13
Merge slight left onto US 12
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12
14
Continue on Nelson Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
15
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
16
Continue on Pacific Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
17
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
18
Continue on 6th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
19
Continue on 60th Street Southwest
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
20
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
21
Continue on Cokato Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokato Street
22
Continue on 50th Street Southwest
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
50th Street Southwest
23
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
24
Continue on Parker Avenue East
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Parker Avenue East
25
Turn right onto North Sibley Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sibley Avenue
26
Continue on US Highway 12
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 12
27
Turn left onto Main Street North
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street North
28
Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft
·
9 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue
29
Turn right
135 ft
·
10 sec
30
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 40 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 54m 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 54m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwater, 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 80.1 miles and 1h 48m.
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 40 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 40 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atwater, MN
The final approach into Atwater, 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 Atwater, 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
$11.92 one way
$23.84 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $12.84 | $25.69 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.29 | $28.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.69 | $35.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24 | 0 | $8.41 | $3.84 |
| Efficient EV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Atwater, MN
Morning in Atwater on Wednesday
Local time
10:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
40 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
1 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 48m 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 Atwater, MN covers 80.1 miles and takes about 1h 48m 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, Babcock Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40 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 $11.92 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 Atwater, MN is easy. At 1h 48m 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 Atwater, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Atwater, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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