Origin
Wheaton, MN
Morning in Wheaton on Monday
Local time
11:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Drive Time
3h
Distance
184.9 mi
298 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 184.9 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Street South, 2nd Avenue South, Dakota Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.45 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
92.5 miles from Wheaton, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h drive with frequent turns across 184.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Street South 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 Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 3h 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 Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dakota Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Viking Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
5th Street South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on Broadway
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn right onto 5th Street South
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
5th Street South
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue South
34 mi
·
50 min
·
2nd Avenue South
4
Continue on Dakota Avenue
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Dakota Avenue
5
Continue on Viking Trail
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Viking Trail
6
Continue on State Highway 27
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 27
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward I 94, US 52, MN 27: St. Cloud
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
I 94, US 52, MN 27: St. Cloud
8
Exit the roundabout onto I 94, US 52, MN 27: St. Cloud
123 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 94, US 52, MN 27: St. Cloud
9
Keep slight right
6.1 mi
·
7 min
10
Keep slight right
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
11
Keep slight left to continue on 4th Street North
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street North
12
Keep slight right to continue on 2nd Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
14
Turn right onto North Washington Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
15
Continue on Washington Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
16
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 92.5 miles from Wheaton, MN, or about 1h 30m 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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.5 miles or 1h 30m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, MN
This is one driving day of about 184.9 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wheaton, 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 92.5 mi from Wheaton, MN · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, 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
$26.45 one way
$52.89 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $28.54 | $57.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $31.97 | $63.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.08 | $82.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.41 | $8.88 |
| Efficient EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.18 | $7.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74 | 0 | $25.89 | $11.83 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Minneapolis, MN
Morning in Minneapolis on Monday
Local time
11:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
37°F
Avon, MN
92 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 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 Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 184.9 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Street South, 2nd Avenue South, Dakota Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.5 miles from Wheaton, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.45 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.
The drive from Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN is easy. At 3h 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 Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wheaton, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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