Origin
Olmsted County, MN
Evening in Olmsted County on Thursday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Olmsted County, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
73.1 mi
118 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olmsted County, MN
Tom Fisk
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Olmsted County, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 73.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 52, 160th Street East, East Circle Drive Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on US 52. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.88 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.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Olmsted County, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 73.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 52 and 160th Street East. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.6 miles on US 52.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 52 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and 160th Street East. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
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 73.1 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: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Eastwood Road Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: 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.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Eastwood Road Southeast
Turn left onto Eastwood Road Southeast
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp toward US 52 North, US 63 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 52 North, US 63 North
5
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Olmsted County, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 46 along the way.
Cr 46
62.4 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 54.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| 160th Street East | 8 mi | 11m |
| East Circle Drive Northeast | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| 37th Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Brandel Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Cedar Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Towne Club Parkway Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 30th Avenue Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olmsted County, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
2
Turn slight left
0.2 mi
·
2 min
3
Turn right
138 ft
·
19 sec
4
Turn left onto Eastwood Road Southeast
170 ft
·
4 sec
·
Eastwood Road Southeast
5
Turn right onto Towne Club Parkway Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Towne Club Parkway Southeast
6
Continue on CR 22
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
30th Avenue Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on CR 22
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East Circle Drive Northeast
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on 37th Street Northeast
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
37th Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right
198 ft
·
3 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 52 North, US 63 North
11
Merge onto US 52; US 63
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 52; US 63
12
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 52
32 mi
·
36 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward CR 46
15
Turn left onto CR 46
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Brandel Drive
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on CR 46
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
160th Street East
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 23
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
CR 42
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 36.6 miles from Olmsted County, MN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apple Valley, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Olmsted County, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Olmsted County, MN
This is one driving day of about 73.1 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Olmsted County, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 52 for about 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.6 mi from Olmsted County, MN · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Olmsted County, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apple Valley, MN
The final approach into Apple Valley, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.88 one way
$21.76 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.72 | $23.44 |
| premium | $4.53 | $13.04 | $26.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Thursday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
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
1h 35m 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 Olmsted County, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 73.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 52, 160th Street East, East Circle Drive Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 miles from Olmsted County, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.88 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 73.1 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: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Eastwood Road Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Olmsted County, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 46 along the way.
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Return Trip
Apple Valley, MN to Olmsted County, MNPlan the drive back the other way.
77.1 mi
1h 44m
Continue From Apple Valley, MN
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