Origin
Wells, MN
Afternoon in Wells on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wells, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
116.3 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wells, MN
Tom Fisk
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wells, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 116.3 miles and takes about 2h 27m 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 494, State Highway 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.3 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.31 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.
Midpoint
58.1 miles from Wells, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 116.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 116.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 494. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.3 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 27 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 31.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 85.9 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 116.3 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 85.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
85.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
94.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
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 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
94.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
101.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
115.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| I 494 | 20.1 mi | 25m |
| State Highway 60 | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| 35th Street | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| I 35W | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Morristown Boulevard | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| East Elysian Lake Road | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| 570th Avenue | 6.5 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 31.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wells, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on MN 109
120 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
2
Turn left onto MN 22; MN 109
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue Northwest
3
Continue on CH 29
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
570th Avenue
4
Continue on CR 3
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
20th Street
5
Turn right onto MN 30; CR 3
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 30
6
Turn left onto MN 83; CR 3
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 83
7
Turn right onto CR 3
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on CR 3; CR 4
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
35th Street
9
Continue on CR 3
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
355th Avenue
10
Continue on CR 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
30th Street
11
Continue on CR 3
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Main Street
12
Turn right onto CR 3
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
13
Turn left onto CR 3
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Owen Street
14
Continue on CR 3
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East Elysian Lake Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto MN 60
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 60
16
Continue on MN 60
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Morristown Boulevard
17
Continue on MN 60; I 35 ALT
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 60 West
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
19
Merge onto I 35
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
23
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto CR 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
CR 10
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 58.1 miles from Wells, MN, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 1h 18m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wells, 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 Wells, MN
This is one driving day of about 116.3 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Wells, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 31.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.1 mi from Wells, MN · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.1 miles from Wells, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
The final approach into Maple Grove, 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 Maple Grove, 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
$17.31 one way
$34.62 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $18.65 | $37.30 |
| premium | $4.53 | $20.75 | $41.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.68 | $51.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| Efficient EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.18 | $4.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.28 | $7.44 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
23 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
2h 27m 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 Wells, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 116.3 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 494, State Highway 60. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.1 miles from Wells, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.31 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 116.3 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 85.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Wells, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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