Origin
Waconia, MN
Evening in Waconia on Wednesday
Local time
6:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
38m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waconia, MN
Tom Fisk
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 30.5 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Elm Street, Main Street East, Highway 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.54 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
15.3 miles from Waconia, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 30.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Elm Street 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 Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN is easy. At 38m 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 Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elm Street | — | — |
| Main Street East | — | — |
| Highway 5 | — | — |
| Arboretum Boulevard | — | — |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Hazeltine Boulevard | — | — |
| Highway 7 | — | — |
| I 494 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waconia, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on the route
49 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
217 ft
·
18 sec
3
Turn right onto North Elm Street
207 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Elm Street
4
Turn left onto Main Street East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street East
5
Turn left onto State Highway 5
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 5
6
Continue on Arboretum Boulevard
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Arboretum Boulevard
7
Continue on Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
8
Turn left onto Hazeltine Boulevard
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Hazeltine Boulevard
9
Turn right onto Minnesota State Highway 7
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
10
Keep slight left to continue on Minnesota State Highway 7
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 North
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 494 North
12
Merge slight left
9.6 mi
·
12 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
CR 10: Bass Lake Road
14
Turn left onto Bass Lake Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
15
Arrive at your destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 15.3 miles from Waconia, MN, or about 19m 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 30.5 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.3 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Waconia, MN.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waconia, MN
This is one driving day of about 30.5 miles and 38m.
At 30.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.3 mi from Waconia, MN · 19m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Waconia, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Maple Grove, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.54 one way
$9.08 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.44 | $10.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.73 | $13.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Maple Grove, MN
Evening in Maple Grove on Wednesday
Local time
6:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
38m 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 Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 30.5 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Elm Street, Main Street East, Highway 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.3 miles from Waconia, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.54 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 Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN is easy. At 38m 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 Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waconia, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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