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Trip from Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

10m

Distance

6.2 mi

10 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 9m ★
6 AM
0h 10m
8 AM
0h 12m
10 AM
0h 11m
12 PM
0h 10m
3 PM
0h 11m
5 PM
0h 12m
8 PM
0h 10m

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

Downtown Osakis, MN, MN

Osakis, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN covers 6.2 miles and takes about 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Douglas County Highway 82, West Nokomis Street, Nelson Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.6 miles on Douglas County Highway 82. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.92 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

3.1 miles from Osakis, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 10m highway drive covering 6.2 miles, with most of the trip on Douglas County Highway 82 and West Nokomis Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 4.6 miles on Douglas County Highway 82.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Douglas County Highway 82 is the longest continuous segment at about 4.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Douglas County Highway 82 and West Nokomis Street. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 3 / West Nokomis Street.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN is easy. At 10m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 3 / West Nokomis Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (CR 9 / Nelson Street South): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (Hope Avenue West): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 3 / West Nokomis Street

Turn left onto CR 3 / West Nokomis Street

Navigation decision point

3
5.6 mi into trip | ~8m in | CR 9 / Nelson Street South

Turn right onto CR 9 / Nelson Street South

Navigation decision point

4
6.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | Hope Avenue West

Turn left onto Hope Avenue West

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Douglas County Highway 82 4.6 mi 6m
West Nokomis Street 1 mi 1m
Nelson Street South 0.6 mi 1m
Hope Avenue West <0.1 mi <1m
Central Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Douglas County Highway 82 — 4.6 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Osakis, MN and Nelson, MN.

1

Start on Central Avenue

37 ft · 7 sec · Central Avenue
2

Turn left onto CR 3

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Nokomis Street
3

Continue on CR 82

4.6 mi · 6 min · Douglas County Highway 82
4

Turn right onto CR 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · Nelson Street South
5

Turn left onto Hope Avenue West

95 ft · 4 sec · Hope Avenue West
6

Arrive at destination

Hope Avenue West

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 3.1 miles from Osakis, MN, or about 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.6 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 6.2 miles or 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 3.1 miles or 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 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nelson, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Osakis, 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 Osakis, MN

This is one driving day of about 6.2 miles and 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Osakis, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Douglas County Highway 82 for about 4.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.1 mi from Osakis, MN · 4m into the drive

city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avon, MN

3 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

Elbow Lake, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 6.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elbow Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.1 miles from Osakis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Nelson, MN

The final approach into Nelson, 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 Nelson, 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

$0.92 one way

$1.85 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 2 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $0.99 $1.99
premium $4.53 $1.11 $2.21
diesel $5.61 $1.37 $2.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 1.9 0 $0.65 $0.30
Efficient EV 1.6 0 $0.54 $0.25
EV Truck/SUV 2.5 0 $0.87 $0.40

Gas CO2

2 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (50% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Osakis, MN

Morning in Osakis on Wednesday

Local time

6:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nelson, MN

Morning in Nelson on Wednesday

Local time

6:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

37°F

Avon, MN

3 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

10m 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 Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN covers 6.2 miles and takes about 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Douglas County Highway 82, West Nokomis Street, Nelson Street 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 3.1 miles from Osakis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $0.92 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.
The drive from Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN is easy. At 10m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 3 / West Nokomis Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (CR 9 / Nelson Street South): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (Hope Avenue West): Navigation decision point.
The route from Osakis, MN to Nelson, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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