Origin
Virginia, MN
Morning in Virginia on Monday
Local time
11:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
210.4 mi
339 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 210.4 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 2nd Avenue West, the route, I 35 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.09 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
105.2 miles from Virginia, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 12m drive with frequent turns across 210.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 2nd Avenue West 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 2nd Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Saint Paul | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR 96 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Centerville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35E South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 2nd Avenue West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Chestnut Street
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Avenue West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 2nd Avenue West
3
At the end of the road, turn left
3.9 mi
·
5 min
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
5
Exit the roundabout
37 mi
·
43 min
6
Take the exit slight right
15 mi
·
19 min
7
Continue straight
3.9 mi
·
7 min
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
I 35 South
9
Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 South
10
Merge slight left
110 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on Saint Paul
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Saint Paul
12
Take the exit slight right toward CR 96
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CR 96
13
Turn right
492 ft
·
12 sec
14
Turn left onto Centerville Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Centerville Road
15
Turn left onto County Road E
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road E
16
Take the ramp slight right toward I 35E South: Saint Paul
226 ft
·
5 sec
·
I 35E South: Saint Paul
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 35E South
18
Merge slight right
1.6 mi
·
2 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
20
Keep slight right
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
21
Take the exit slight left toward I 35E South
14 mi
·
18 min
·
I 35E South
22
Take the exit slight right toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
MN 77: Cedar Avenue
23
Keep slight left to continue on MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
24
Keep slight right to continue on MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
25
Merge slight left onto Cedar Avenue
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.2 miles from Virginia, MN, or about 1h 36m 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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
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 Virginia, 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 Virginia, MN
This is one driving day of about 210.4 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Virginia, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.2 mi from Virginia, MN · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.2 miles from Virginia, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apple Valley, MN
The final approach into Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, 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
$30.09 one way
$60.19 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $32.48 | $64.96 |
| premium | $4.39 | $36.38 | $72.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.74 | $93.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.09 | $10.10 |
| Efficient EV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.41 | $8.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.46 | $13.47 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Monday
Local time
11:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
21 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
3h 12m 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 Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 210.4 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 2nd Avenue West, the route, I 35 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.2 miles from Virginia, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Virginia, MN to Apple Valley, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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