Origin
Otsego, MN
Afternoon in Otsego on Saturday
Local time
2:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Otsego, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Otsego, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 31.4-mile drive from Otsego to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is easily managed in about 43 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 79% of the journey on major roads like I-94 and MN-101. You'll spend a little over $5 on fuel for this short hop. Given its brevity and the smooth progression, there's no need to consider an overnight stay. This quick connection through the Midwest is ideal for a simple commute or a short excursion into the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| MN 101 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 85th Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Quam Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| River Road Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Parrish Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 21.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Otsego, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on 85th Street Northeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
85th Street Northeast
2
Turn right onto CR 42
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Parrish Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on River Road Northeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road Northeast
4
Turn right onto Quam Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Quam Avenue Northeast
5
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
this road
Toward MN 101 South
6
Merge onto MN 101
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
8
Merge onto I 94
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward 4th Street North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
14
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 22.8 and 30.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
30.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
30.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.35 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.04 | $10.07 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.60 | $11.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
2:04 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
43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with nearly 80% of your 31.4 miles on major thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.2 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace. You'll also navigate segments on MN-101 and 85th Street Northeast, providing slight variations in the driving environment. While not a winding scenic byway, this route offers a practical and efficient transition from the surrounding Midwest landscape into the urban setting of Minneapolis.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Otsego, MN and Minneapolis, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and 4Th Street North.
Saint Paul
7 mi in
|
~10m
4Th Street North
29.3 mi in
|
~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Minneapolis, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Minneapolis, MN
More from Otsego, MN
More trips to Minneapolis, MN
Explore more options from Otsego, MN or browse trips ending in Minneapolis, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.