Origin
Minnetonka Mills, MN
Night in Minnetonka Mills on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Faribault, MN
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
54.4 mi
87 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 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minnetonka Mills, MN
Tom Fisk
Faribault, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Faribault, MN covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, I 494, Lyndale Avenue North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.7 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.10 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
27.2 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 54.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and I 494. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.7 miles on I 35W.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 37.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 494. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 494 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 494 South
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
5
13.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 37.7 mi | 41m |
| I 494 | 11.6 mi | 14m |
| Lyndale Avenue North | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Minnetonka Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street Northwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Highway 60 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 35 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| McGinty Road West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 37.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka Mills, MN and Faribault, MN.
1
Start on CR 61
320 ft
·
16 sec
·
Shady Oak Road
2
Turn left onto CR 5; CR 61
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Minnetonka Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto CR 16
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
McGinty Road West
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 494 South
5
Merge onto I 494
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
8
Merge onto I 35W
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
296 ft
·
3 sec
Toward MN 21
10
Continue on I 35 Business
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward MN 21, I 35 Business
11
Continue on MN 21; I 35 Business; I 35 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Shieldsville Boulevard
12
Continue on I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Lyndale Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto MN 60
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Highway 60 West
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on MN 60
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street Northwest
15
Turn left
69 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at 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 27.2 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 54.4 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.2 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Faribault, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 54.4 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minnetonka Mills, 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 I 35W for about 37.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Minnetonka Mills, MN · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 54.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Faribault, MN
The final approach into Faribault, 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 Faribault, 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
$8.10 one way
$16.19 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.72 | $17.45 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.71 | $19.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
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
Faribault, MN
Night in Faribault on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
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
1 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
1h 6m 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 Minnetonka Mills, MN to Faribault, MN covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 494, Lyndale Avenue North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.10 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Faribault, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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