Origin
Mountain Iron, MN
Morning in Mountain Iron on Friday
Local time
11:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mountain Iron, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
206.4 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountain Iron, MN
Tom Fisk
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mountain Iron, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 206.4 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 53, MN 33 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.7 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.72 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
103.2 miles from Mountain Iron, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 206.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 59m highway drive covering 206.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 53. The longest continuous stretch is about 109.7 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 206.4 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 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward US 53 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 53 South
7
176.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
191 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
6
203.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 494 South
7
205.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 109.7 mi | 1h 57m |
| US 53 | 42.9 mi | 51m |
| MN 33 | 19.7 mi | 26m |
| I 35W | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| I 694 | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| US 169 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| I 494 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Mineral Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain Iron, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on Mesabi Avenue
26 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mesabi Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 708
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto CH 102
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Mineral Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto CH 102
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Mineral Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto US 169
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 169
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 53 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
9
Continue on US 53
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto US 53
114 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 53
11
Continue on US 53
37 mi
·
43 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto MN 33
15 mi
·
18 min
·
MN 33
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on MN 33
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 33
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
MN 33
Toward I 35 South
15
Continue on MN 33
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
MN 33
Toward I 35 South
16
Merge onto I 35
110 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 694
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 494 South
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on I 494
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 10
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.2 miles from Mountain Iron, MN, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 45 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.2 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mountain Iron, 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 Mountain Iron, MN
This is one driving day of about 206.4 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Mountain Iron, 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 I 35 for about 109.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.2 mi from Mountain Iron, MN · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.2 miles from Mountain Iron, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.7 miles.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
The final approach into Maple Grove, 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 Maple Grove, 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
$30.72 one way
$61.43 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $33.10 | $66.19 |
| premium | $4.53 | $36.83 | $73.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.57 | $91.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.67 | $9.91 |
| Efficient EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.06 | $8.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.90 | $13.21 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Maple Grove, MN
Morning in Maple Grove on Friday
Local time
11:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
16 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
3h 59m 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 Mountain Iron, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 206.4 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 53, MN 33. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.2 miles from Mountain Iron, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 206.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mountain Iron, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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