The drive from Thomson, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, I 35E, MN 210 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.8 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.49 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.6 miles from Thomson, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 151.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 151.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35E. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.8 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 107.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 151.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
7
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Saint Paul
7
121.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward CR 96
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 117
Toward CR 96
8
124.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South
8
126.7 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thomson, MN and Apple Valley, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Cr 96.
Saint Paul
111.8 mi in|~2h 2m|via I 35E
Cr 96
121.7 mi in|~2h 12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
107.8 mi
1h 55m
I 35E
31.7 mi
38m
MN 210
3.9 mi
6m
Cedar Avenue
3.2 mi
4m
Centerville Road
2.3 mi
4m
County Road E
0.4 mi
1m
CH 96
<0.1 mi
<1m
Dalles Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 107.8 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thomson, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on Dalles Avenue
292 ft·10 sec·Dalles Avenue
2
Turn right onto MN 210
3.9 mi·6 min·MN 210
3
Turn left
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, MinneapolisUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 35
108 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
9.9 mi·10 min·I 35E
Toward Saint PaulUse the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 117Toward CR 96Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto CH 96
492 ft·12 sec·CH 96
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto CH 59
2.3 mi·4 min·Centerville Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto CH 15
0.4 mi·1 min·County Road E
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
226 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E South: Saint PaulUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35E SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 35E
1.6 mi·2 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
5.5 mi·6 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St PaulUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
0.7 mi·48 sec·I 35E
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 35E
14 mi·18 min·I 35E
Exit 241CToward I 35E SouthUse the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 92Toward MN 77: Cedar AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar AvenueUse the right lane.
19
Merge onto MN 77
3.2 mi·4 min·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
CR 42
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Thomson, MN, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.8 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apple Valley, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thomson, 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 Thomson, MN
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Thomson, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 107.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.6 mi from Thomson, MN
· 1h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.49 one way
$44.97 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$24.23
$48.46
premium
$4.53
$26.96
$53.92
diesel
$5.61
$33.36
$66.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Thomson, MN
Evening
in Thomson on Thursday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Apple Valley, MN
Evening
in Apple Valley on Thursday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
28 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
2h 55m 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 Thomson, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35E, MN 210. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.6 miles from Thomson, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.49 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 151.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Thomson, MN and Apple Valley, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Cr 96.
