Origin
Minnetonka Mills, MN
Evening in Minnetonka Mills on Sunday
Local time
5:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
30m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minnetonka Mills, MN
Tom Fisk
Co on Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
If you are looking to get from Minnetonka Mills to Coon Rapids, you are in for a quick 19.3-mile trip that typically takes about 30 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a one-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the journey, making it a highly budget-friendly commute within the Midwest. The drive utilizes a mix of roads, including MN 100, Olson Memorial Highway, and East River Road, to navigate the area. Because the entire route remains within Minnesota, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a straightforward, practical drive that provides reliable transit between these two locations.
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
9.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between faster highway sections and local roads. With a highway share of 46%, you will spend nearly half of your time on more open stretches, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 6.1 miles on MN 100. The personality of the road shifts as you move from the initial highway portions onto local connectors like East River Road and Olson Memorial Highway. This variety keeps the 30-minute drive engaging without becoming tedious. You will find that the road conditions vary in pace, requiring you to adjust your speed as you move between the busier highway lanes and the more localized segments of the trip.
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 0.1 miles in near CR 5 / Minnetonka Boulevard.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 19.3 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 0.1 miles (CR 5 / Minnetonka Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto CR 5 / Minnetonka Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward US 169 North
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 55 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 100 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| East River Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Olson Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| US 169 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Minnetonka Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| I 694 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Mississippi Boulevard Northwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Shady Oak Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka Mills, MN and Co on Rapids, MN.
Start on CR 61
Turn right onto CR 5
Turn left
Merge onto US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 55
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 100
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 694
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on CR 1
Turn left onto Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short 19.3-mile journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, allowing you to easily plan around local traffic patterns. You won't need to worry about pacing stops, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go without needing a break. Keep your fuel budget of $3 in mind, though it is small enough that you can easily manage it within your daily travel expenses. A specific tip for this route is to pay close attention to the transitions between MN 100 and the local roads like Olson Memorial Highway, as the road character changes quickly. By staying aware of these shifts, you can ensure a smooth transition from the high-speed sections to the rest 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.
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 19.3 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Co on Rapids, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Minnetonka Mills, 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 Minnetonka Mills, MN
This is one driving day of about 19.3 miles and 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from Minnetonka Mills, MN · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 19.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Co on Rapids, 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 Co on Rapids, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.76 one way
$5.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.34 | $6.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Minnetonka Mills on Sunday
Local time
5:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Co on Rapids on Sunday
Local time
5:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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