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Trip from Olmsted County, MN to Co on Rapids, MN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

100.3 mi

161 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Olmsted County, MN, MN

Olmsted County, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Co on Rapids, MN, MN

Co on Rapids, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Olmsted County, MN to Co on Rapids, MN covers 100.3 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 52, US 10, East River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.8 miles on US 52. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.93 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

50.2 miles from Olmsted County, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 100.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 9m highway drive covering 100.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 52 and US 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 72.8 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 24 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 72.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 100.3 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 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.6 miles (US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.7 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These 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

7
70.6 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | US 52

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 toward US 52 North: Saint Paul

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 52 North: Saint Paul
8
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | US 10

Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 242B Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | US 10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
7
96.4 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 52 72.8 mi 1h 26m
US 10 15.5 mi 19m
East River Road 3.6 mi 6m
East Circle Drive Northeast 3.5 mi 5m
37th Street Northeast 2.2 mi 4m
Towne Club Parkway Southeast 0.7 mi 1m
30th Avenue Southeast 0.7 mi 1m
I 94 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 52 — 72.8 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Olmsted County, MN and Co on Rapids, 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

40 mi · 45 min · US 52
Use the straight lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52

9.4 mi · 12 min · US 52
Toward US 52 North: Saint Paul Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 52
16

Merge onto I 94; US 10

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 94; US 10
17

Take the exit onto US 10

5.1 mi · 6 min · US 10
Exit 242B Toward I 35E North, US 10 West Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 10
Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on US 10

10 mi · 12 min · US 10
Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 36 Toward East River Road
21

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22

Turn straight onto CR 1

3.6 mi · 6 min · East River Road
23

Turn left onto Mississippi Boulevard Northwest

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
24

Arrive at destination

Mississippi Boulevard Northwest

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 50.2 miles from Olmsted County, MN, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.8 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 22 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 50.2 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Co on Rapids, 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.

+

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 Olmsted County, MN

This is one driving day of about 100.3 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 72.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.2 mi from Olmsted County, MN · 1h 5m into the drive

Downtown Empire, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Empire, MN

50 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.

Popular next leg

Empire, MN to Co on Rapids, MN

42.2 mi · 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Mazeppa, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Empire, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.2 miles from Olmsted County, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 52 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.8 miles.

Arriving in Co on Rapids, MN

The final approach into Co on Rapids, 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 Co on Rapids, 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

$14.93 one way

$29.85 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $16.08 $32.17
premium $4.53 $17.90 $35.79
diesel $5.61 $22.14 $44.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.1 0 $10.53 $4.81
Efficient EV 25.1 0 $8.78 $4.01
EV Truck/SUV 40.1 0 $14.04 $6.42

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Olmsted County, MN

Afternoon in Olmsted County on Thursday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Co on Rapids, MN

Afternoon in Co on Rapids on Thursday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Empire, MN

50 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

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

2h 9m 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 Co on Rapids, MN covers 100.3 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 52, US 10, East River Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.2 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 $14.93 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 100.3 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 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.6 miles (US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.7 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Olmsted County, MN to Co on Rapids, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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