Spicer, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN is 101.1 miles and takes about 1h 59m via I 94 and MN 23, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll primarily be on the interstate, making it a straightforward drive. Plan for this to be a single-day journey, easily completed with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Spicer, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 101.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the mileage on major roads like I 94 and MN 23. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 47.9 miles on I 94, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the interstate forms the backbone, the inclusion of County Road 81 near the end introduces a slight shift in scenery and driving experience before you reach your destination.
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 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 23. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 44.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.1 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.5 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
44.2 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward Interstate 94 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Interstate 94 East
5
44.6 mi into trip|~54m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
92.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|MN 610
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
8
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A-B
Toward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek Boulevard
4
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|CR 81 / County Road 81
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 81 / County Road 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spicer, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 South along the way.
Cr 81 South
95.1 mi in|~1h 49m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
47.9 mi
51m
MN 23
44.2 mi
54m
County Road 81
3 mi
4m
MN 610
2.6 mi
2m
Brooklyn Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Bottineau Boulevard
1.3 mi
1m
Zane Avenue North
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 47.9 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spicer, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN.
1
Start on MN 23
0.1 mi·20 sec·MN 23
2
Continue on MN 23
44 mi·53 min·MN 23
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Interstate 94 EastUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 94
48 mi·51 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto MN 610
2.6 mi·2 min·MN 610
Exit 212Toward MN 610 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 2A-BToward CR 81 South, CR 130: Elm Creek BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on CR 81
2.4 mi·3 min·County Road 81
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 81
0.6 mi·59 sec·County Road 81
9
Continue on CR 81
1.3 mi·1 min·Bottineau Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 130
1.4 mi·2 min·Brooklyn Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 14
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, under-2-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave mid-morning will help you avoid the typical rush hour in the Twin Cities metro area. While there are no designated stops mentioned, you can easily pull off on I 94 for a quick break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the longest stretch without a major exit is nearly 48 miles on the interstate; it's wise to fill up before you begin or at your last major town.
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 50.5 miles from Spicer, MN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn Park, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spicer, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Spicer, MN
This is one driving day of about 101.1 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Spicer, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 47.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.5 mi from Spicer, MN
· 1h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.05 one way
$30.09 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$16.21
$32.42
premium
$4.53
$18.04
$36.08
diesel
$5.61
$22.32
$44.64
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: 35.4 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
30.3
0
$10.62
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.85
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
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 15, 2026
Origin
Spicer, MN
Afternoon
in Spicer on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brooklyn Park, MN
Afternoon
in Brooklyn Park on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
3 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
1h 59m 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 Spicer, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN covers 101.1 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, MN 23, County Road 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.5 miles from Spicer, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.05 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.1 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.5 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Spicer, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 81 South along the way.
