Origin
Wayzata, MN
Afternoon in Wayzata on Thursday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wayzata, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
19m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wayzata, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Wayzata, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 13 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 394, US 12, Wayzata Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.3 miles on I 394. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 13 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 19m highway drive covering 13 miles, with most of the trip on I 394 and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.3 miles on I 394.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 394 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 394 and US 12. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Wayzata Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 13 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 0.1 miles (Wayzata Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.8 miles (I 394): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wayzata Boulevard
Turn left onto Wayzata Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 12
Merge onto US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 394
Merge onto I 394
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
12.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Continue onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 394 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| US 12 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Wayzata Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chicago Avenue North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 394
— 9.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wayzata, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Chicago Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Chicago Avenue North
2
Turn left onto Wayzata Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Wayzata Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Merge onto US 12
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12
4
Merge onto I 394
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
6
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.93 one way
$3.87 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.08 | $4.17 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.32 | $4.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Thursday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
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
19m 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 Wayzata, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 13 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 394, US 12, Wayzata Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.5 miles from Wayzata, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.93 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 13 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 0.1 miles (Wayzata Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.8 miles (I 394): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wayzata, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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