How far is Brainerd, MN from Burnsville, MN?

The driving distance from Brainerd, MN to Burnsville, MN is about 145.9 miles (234.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.6 miles (190.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
145.92 mi
02h 21m
Flight
118.6 mi
190.87 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brainerd.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.6 mi
Kilometers
190.87 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
145.92 mi
Kilometers
234.83 km
Drive Time
02h 21m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Burnsville
Mon, May 4, 10:46 PM CDT
Return by in Brainerd
Tue, May 5, 1:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brainerd
2026-05-04T20:24
Arrive Burnsville
Mon, May 4, 10:46 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:22 AM to 12:22 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brainerd
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Clear Lake
MN

City in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States

From Brainerd
70.9 mi
01h 10m
To Burnsville
75 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Monday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Brainerd and Burnsville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brainerd and Burnsville.

  1. 1

    Start on South 6th Street

    821 ft · 26 sec · South 6th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Laurel Street

    2735 ft · 1 min · Laurel Street

  3. 3

    Continue on West Laurel Street

    3165 ft · 1 min · West Laurel Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Highland Scenic Drive South

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Highland Scenic Drive South

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highland Scenic Drive South

    33 m · 3 sec · Highland Scenic Drive South

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Highland Scenic Drive South

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Highland Scenic Drive South

  7. 7

    Turn left onto C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway

    25.8 mi · 30 min · C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    28.3 mi · 33 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    26.1 mi · 31 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  11. 11

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road 11

    1.1 km · 58 sec · County Road 11

  13. 13

    Turn right onto State Highway 25

    540 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 25

  14. 14

    Continue on Pine Street

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Pine Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Broadway Street East

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street East

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Fenning Avenue

    1727 ft · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue

  17. 17

    Take the ramp left

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South

    2227 ft · 32 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    21.9 mi · 27 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

    1038 ft · 25 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on I 35W South: Albert Lea

    2054 ft · 50 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward MN 13 North

    1006 ft · 24 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    2721 ft · 42 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Nicollet Avenue South

    1.1 km · 2 min · Nicollet Avenue South

  27. 27

    Continue on Nicollet Avenue South

    88 m · 13 sec · Nicollet Avenue South

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Nicollet Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brainerd and Burnsville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
28 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
80.3 mi · 55%
I 494 South
22.3 mi · 15%
Fenning Avenue
21.8 mi · 15%
I 35W South
6.46 mi · 4%
Highland Scenic Drive South
2.53 mi · 2%
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway

Merge slight right

28.3 mi · 00h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.3 mi
118.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clear Lake
01h 10m from Brainerd
Leave By
1:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Brainerd and Mostly Sunny near Burnsville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Brainerd to Burnsville?

The road trip is about 145.9 miles (234.8 km) and usually takes 02h 21m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Clear Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.9 miles from Brainerd and 75 miles from Burnsville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 118.6 miles (190.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.38 one way or $36.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Brainerd and Mostly Sunny near Burnsville.

Stop Ideas Near Clear Lake

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Clear Lake, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clear Lake.

RAIL

St. Cloud

18 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

83 mi away
Midway Station
RAIL

Staples

118 mi away
First & Fourth Aves

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brainerd and Burnsville. Straight-line distance: 118.6 mi (190.87 km).

Brainerd

#1 Brainerd

City in Minnesota

Population13,449
Coordinates46.3580200, -94.2008300
Altitude371
CountryUnited States
Burnsville

#2 Burnsville

The most populous city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Population62,170
Coordinates44.7677400, -93.2777200
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Start: MN 210 (-94.200832, 46.358067)
End: Nicollet Avenue South (-93.277664, 44.76774)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 235 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.15 gal
19.49 L · about $18.38
Round trip
$36.76
10.3 gal · 38.98 L
Estimated CO2
45.8 kg one way
Round trip: 91.5 kg / 202 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $18.38 $36.76
Mid-grade $3.92 $20.19 $40.39
Premium $4.39 $22.62 $45.24
Diesel $4.86 $25.05 $50.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Brainerd and Burnsville. The current time is 20:24:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.