Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Thursday
Local time
11:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h
Distance
303.6 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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 US 10, US 59, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.7 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.18 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 .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 303.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 6h highway drive covering 303.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 10 and US 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.7 miles on US 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 156.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and US 59. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 303.6 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 1st Avenue
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 94 / I-94 W
Continue onto I 94 / I-94 W toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
6
154.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 156.7 mi | 3h |
| US 59 | 85 mi | 1h 36m |
| I 94 | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| Center Street East | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| 350th Avenue Northeast | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| 165th Avenue Southeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 156.7 mi, about 3h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Erie, 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
Take the ramp
1.8 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 94 West
5
Merge onto I 94
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
10
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
53 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 onto US 10
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 10
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
38 mi
·
42 min
·
US 10
16
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 10; MN 210
17
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 10; IC A
18
Turn slight right
67 ft
·
2 sec
19
Enter roundabout
100 ft
·
1 sec
20
Continue
96 ft
·
1 sec
21
Turn straight onto US 10
45 mi
·
51 min
·
US 10
22
Turn right onto US 59; MN 34
85 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
US 59; MN 34
23
Turn slight right onto CH 3
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Center Street East
24
Turn left onto CH 26
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
350th Avenue Northeast
25
Continue on CH 26
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
350th Avenue Northeast
26
Arrive at destination
CH 26
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.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 67 miles or 1h 22m 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 51m
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 67 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.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 156.7 miles.
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 67 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.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.7 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.18 one way
$90.36 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $48.68 | $97.37 |
| premium | $4.53 | $54.17 | $108.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.03 | $134.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
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, 2026-04-13.
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 Thursday
Local time
11:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°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
30 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 US 10, US 59, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
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 $45.18 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 303.6 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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