Origin
Morgan Park, MN
Afternoon in Morgan Park on Thursday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morgan Park, MN to Ely, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
118.9 mi
191 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morgan Park, MN
Tom Fisk
Ely, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Morgan Park, MN to Ely, MN covers 118.9 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, Highway 169, State Highway 169 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.1 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.69 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Morgan Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 118.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 36m highway drive covering 118.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and Highway 169. The longest continuous stretch is about 59.1 miles on US 53.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 59.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and Highway 169. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 88th Avenue West.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (88th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Becks Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (CH 13 / Midway Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
88th Avenue West
Turn left onto 88th Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Becks Road
Turn right onto Becks Road
Navigation decision point
4
13.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CH 13 / Midway Road
Enter roundabout onto CH 13 / Midway Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
15.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CH 13 / Midway Road
Enter roundabout onto CH 13 / Midway Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
16.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 53
Turn left onto US 53
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 59.1 mi | 1h 10m |
| Highway 169 | 28.6 mi | 40m |
| State Highway 169 | 14.4 mi | 19m |
| Midway Road | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| Becks Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Idaho Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Commonwealth Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 88th Avenue West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 59.1 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morgan Park, MN and Ely, MN.
1
Start on Falcon Street
152 ft
·
12 sec
·
Falcon Street
2
Turn left onto 88th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
88th Avenue West
3
Continue on Idaho Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Idaho Street
4
Turn left onto MN 23
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Grand Avenue
5
Continue on MN 23
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue
6
Turn right onto Becks Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Becks Road
7
Continue on CH 13
470 ft
·
9 sec
·
County Highway 13
8
Continue on CH 13
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Midway Road
9
Enter roundabout onto CH 13
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
Midway Road
10
Continue on CH 13
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Midway Road
11
Enter roundabout onto CH 13
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
Midway Road
12
Continue on CH 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Midway Road
13
Turn left onto US 53
49 mi
·
56 min
·
US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 53
113 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 53
15
Continue on US 53
10 mi
·
13 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Toward MN 169: Ely
17
Continue on MN 169
14 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Continue on MN 169
29 mi
·
40 min
·
Highway 169
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
MN 1; MN 169
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.4 miles from Morgan Park, MN, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.1 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ely, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Morgan Park, 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 Morgan Park, MN
This is one driving day of about 118.9 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Morgan Park, 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 53 for about 59.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.4 mi from Morgan Park, MN · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Morgan Park, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ely, MN
The final approach into Ely, 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 Ely, 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
$17.69 one way
$35.39 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $19.07 | $38.13 |
| premium | $4.53 | $21.21 | $42.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.25 | $52.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.48 | $5.71 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.65 | $7.61 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Ely, MN
Afternoon in Ely on Thursday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Virginia, MN
59 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
2 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
2h 36m 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 Morgan Park, MN to Ely, MN covers 118.9 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 53, Highway 169, State Highway 169. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 miles from Morgan Park, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.69 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (88th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Becks Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (CH 13 / Midway Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Morgan Park, MN to Ely, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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