Origin
Oak Park Heights, MN
Evening in Oak Park Heights on Friday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Park Heights, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
25.8 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Oak Park Heights to Minneapolis is 25.8 miles and takes about 36 minutes via MN 36 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a quick, highway-focused hop within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that's ideal for a same-day trip. It's a short distance, so you won't need to worry about extensive planning or overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 25.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 92% of it on major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on MN 36, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 19.6 miles. The journey transitions to I-35W, offering a consistent, high-speed experience for most of the trip. The profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than scenic byways, making it a predictable commute.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 36 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and I 35W. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 57th Street North.
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 25.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (57th Street North): Navigation decision point; near the start (Penrose Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
57th Street North
Turn left onto 57th Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Penrose Avenue North
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
20.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
25.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 19.6 mi | 24m |
| I 35W | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 60th Street North (South Frontage Road) | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Penrose Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Osgood Ave North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 57th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 36
— 19.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park Heights, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 57th Street North
72 ft
·
5 sec
·
57th Street North
3
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Penrose Avenue North
4
At end of road, turn left onto CH 23
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
60th Street North (South Frontage Road)
5
Turn right
282 ft
·
20 sec
6
Turn right onto CH 24
224 ft
·
8 sec
·
Osgood Ave North
7
Turn left onto MN 36
20 mi
·
24 min
·
MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.84 one way
$7.68 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.60 | $9.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Minneapolis, MN
Evening in Minneapolis on Friday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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 Oak Park Heights, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 25.8 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 36, I 35W, Washington Avenue South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.9 miles from Oak Park Heights, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.84 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 25.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (57th Street North): Navigation decision point; near the start (Penrose Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Oak Park Heights, MN to Minneapolis, 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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