Origin
Pine City, MN
Evening in Pine City on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN
Drive Time
16m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pine City, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through the Minnesota Midwest, this 11.8-mile connection between Pine City and Mission Creek is an ideal choice. The trip takes approximately 14 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget about $2 for fuel, keeping costs minimal for this short transit. Navigating through 3rd Avenue Southeast, Main Street South, and Highway 61, you will find the journey efficient and easy to manage. Because the route is so brief, it serves as a practical, low-pressure drive for those exploring the local area. Whether you are running errands or simply heading to your next destination, this connection offers a reliable way to get across the region.
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
5.9 miles from Pine City, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul on this 11.8-mile stretch. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain entirely on local roads as you transition between the two towns. The road layout is intimate, with no long, uninterrupted segments like the 0 miles recorded on 3rd Avenue Southeast. You will experience a steady pace that requires consistent attention to turns rather than long periods of highway cruising. It is a functional, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish.
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.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Main Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South
Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest
Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North: Duluth
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 61: Mora along the way.
Cr 61: Mora
10.6 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Main Street South | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| CR 61 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Henriette Road Northwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| T-181 | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| County Highway 61 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Railroad Street Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 8.6 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine City, MN and Mission Creek, MN.
1
Start on Railroad Street Southeast
212 ft
·
14 sec
·
Railroad Street Southeast
2
Turn left onto CR 8
414 ft
·
15 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street South
4
Continue on I 35 BUS; CR 61
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
County Highway 61
5
Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Henriette Road Northwest
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
7
Merge onto I 35
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 35
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
9
Turn right onto CR 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CR 61
10
Turn left onto T-181
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
T-181
11
Arrive at destination
T-181
Trip Plan
Given the 14-minute duration, you have total flexibility in your departure time, as traffic is unlikely to dictate your schedule. Since there are 0 planned stops along the way, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. Keep your fuel budget around $2 in mind when planning your vehicle's needs for the short hop. Because this route relies on a series of local turns, stay alert for directional changes when transitioning from 3rd Avenue Southeast to Main Street South. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to keep your itinerary loose and stress-free.
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 5.9 miles from Pine City, MN, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 11.8 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.9 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mission Creek, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pine City, 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 Pine City, MN
This is one driving day of about 11.8 miles and 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pine City, 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 I 35 for about 8.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.9 mi from Pine City, MN · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 11.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.9 miles from Pine City, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mission Creek, MN
The final approach into Mission Creek, 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 Mission Creek, 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
$1.69 one way
$3.38 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $1.82 | $3.64 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.04 | $4.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Mission Creek, MN
Evening in Mission Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
16m 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 Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN covers 11.8 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Main Street South, CR 61. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 miles from Pine City, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.69 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 straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Pine City, MN to Mission Creek, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 61: Mora along the way.
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