Trip from Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN

Drive Time

50m

Distance

34.6 mi

56 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 47m ★

6 AM

0h 51m

8 AM

0h 59m

10 AM

0h 54m

12 PM

0h 53m

3 PM

0h 54m

5 PM

0h 59m

8 PM

0h 48m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Saint Francis to Minneapolis, you are looking at a manageable 34.6-mile journey that typically takes about 50 minutes. This route is an ideal candidate for a quick day trip, as it does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of 7th Avenue Northwest, US 10, and I-94 to reach the city center. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this is a budget-friendly commute or weekend excursion. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, the drive offers a familiar regional transition from the smaller community of Saint Francis to the urban landscape of Minneapolis.

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

17.3 miles from Saint Francis, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 34.6-mile trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with major interstate travel. Approximately 47% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced local stretches. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment on US 10, which spans 5.6 miles. As you transition from the local streets of Saint Francis onto the busier lanes of I-94, the character of the road shifts from neighborhood driving to a more standard highway flow. Expect a functional drive that trades scenic variety for direct, efficient transit between the two points.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Ambassador Boulevard Northwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ambassador Boulevard Northwest	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rum River Boulevard Northwest	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rum River Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Roanoke Street Northwest	Unavailable	Refreshing
165th Avenue Northwest	Unavailable	Refreshing
7th Avenue Northwest	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 10 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
MN 610	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Ambassador Boulevard Northwest — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Francis, MN and Minneapolis, MN.

Start on Bridge Street Northwest

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Bridge Street Northwest

Turn left onto Ambassador Boulevard Northwest

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Ambassador Boulevard Northwest

Continue on Rum River Boulevard Northwest

4.1 mi · 5 min · Rum River Boulevard Northwest

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Rum River Boulevard

121 ft · 3 sec · Rum River Boulevard

Exit the roundabout onto Rum River Boulevard

2.1 mi · 2 min · Rum River Boulevard

Continue on Roanoke Street Northwest

2.0 mi · 2 min · Roanoke Street Northwest

Continue on 165th Avenue Northwest

0.4 mi · 36 sec · 165th Avenue Northwest

Continue on 7th Avenue Northwest

4.6 mi · 7 min · 7th Avenue Northwest

Turn left onto US 10 East, MN 47 South

0.2 mi · 28 sec · US 10 East, MN 47 South

Merge slight left

5.6 mi · 6 min

Keep slight right

1.2 mi · 1 min

Take the exit slight right toward MN 610: Minneapolis

0.4 mi · 53 sec · MN 610: Minneapolis

Merge slight left onto MN-610

1.7 mi · 1 min · MN-610

Take the exit slight right toward MN 252 South: Minneapolis

0.9 mi · 1 min · MN 252 South: Minneapolis

Continue straight

3.4 mi · 4 min

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 East: Minneapolis

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 94 East: Minneapolis

Merge slight right

4.4 mi · 5 min

Keep slight right

0.4 mi · 25 sec

Keep slight left to continue on 4th Street North

1.0 mi · 2 min · 4th Street North

Keep slight right to continue on 2nd Avenue North

0.3 mi · 40 sec · 2nd Avenue North

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North

0.2 mi · 36 sec · 2nd Avenue North

Turn right onto North Washington Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue

Continue on Washington Avenue South

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Washington Avenue South

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 50-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip is direct with zero planned stops, you can easily complete the entire 34.6-mile distance in one go. Be mindful that your travel time may fluctuate depending on traffic density once you merge onto I-94 heading into Minneapolis. Since your fuel costs are low at around $5, you can focus your planning on navigating the transition between US 10 and the interstate system. A helpful tip for this specific route is to check real-time traffic alerts for the I-94 corridor before you leave Saint Francis to ensure your travel time remains close to the 50-minute estimate.

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 17.3 miles from Saint Francis, MN, or about 25m into the drive.

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 34.6 miles or 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 17.3 miles or 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 43m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Saint Francis, 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 Saint Francis, MN

This is one driving day of about 34.6 miles and 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Francis, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.3 mi from Saint Francis, MN · 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blaine, MN

17 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

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Blaine, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Saint Francis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Minneapolis, MN

The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, 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

$4.95 one way

$9.90 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$5.34	$10.68
premium	$4.39	$5.98	$11.97
diesel	$5.64	$7.69	$15.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	10.4	$3.63	$1.66
Efficient EV	8.7	$3.03	$1.38
EV Truck/SUV	13.8	$4.84	$2.21

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Saint Francis, MN

Late night in Saint Francis on Monday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Minneapolis, MN

Late night in Minneapolis on Monday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

40°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

4 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

50m 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 Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 34.6 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Ambassador Boulevard Northwest, Rum River Boulevard Northwest, Rum River Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 17.3 miles from Saint Francis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.95 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 Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Saint Francis, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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