How far is Maple Grove, MN from Thief River Falls, MN?

The driving distance from Maple Grove, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is about 281.7 miles (453.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.1 miles (397.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
281.69 mi
05h 26m
Flight
247.06 mi
397.6 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Maple Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
247.06 mi
Kilometers
397.6 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
281.69 mi
Kilometers
453.34 km
Drive Time
05h 26m

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 05h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Thief River Falls
Thu, Apr 16, 6:23 AM CDT
Return by in Maple Grove
Thu, Apr 16, 11:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Maple Grove
2026-04-16T00:57
Arrive Thief River Falls
Thu, Apr 16, 6:23 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:27 AM to 1:27 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Maple Grove
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Wadena
MN

City in Wadena County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Maple Grove
140.7 mi
02h 43m
To Thief River Falls
141 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 18 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Maple Grove and Thief River Falls.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maple Grove and Thief River Falls.

  1. 1

    Start on Bass Lake Road

    1 km · 1 min · Bass Lake Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto I 494 North

    96 m · 10 sec

  3. 3

    Keep slight left to continue on I 494 North

    1772 ft · 45 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Saint Cloud

    3250 ft · 50 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    6 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    2016 ft · 53 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Pine Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Pine Street

  10. 10

    Continue on State Highway 25

    540 ft · 19 sec · State Highway 25

  11. 11

    Turn left onto County Road 11

    1.1 km · 54 sec · County Road 11

  12. 12

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  13. 13

    Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  14. 14

    Turn left

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    38 mi · 43 min

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    10.9 mi · 12 min

  18. 18

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 2 sec

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    30 m · 2 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout

    29 m · 1 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight

    44.9 mi · 52 min

  22. 22

    Turn right

    85 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  23. 23

    Turn left

    147 m · 6 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    9.4 mi · 12 min

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 3rd Street East

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Maple Grove and Thief River Falls.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
165th Avenue Southeast
60.1 mi · 21%
I 94 West
23.6 mi · 8%
I 494 North
1.41 mi · 1%
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.38 mi
Pine Street
0.8 mi
County Road 11
0.65 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

85 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.6 mi
247.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wadena
02h 43m from Maple Grove
Leave By
6:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Maple Grove and Mostly Sunny near Thief River Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Maple Grove to Thief River Falls?

The road trip is about 281.7 miles (453.3 km) and usually takes 05h 26m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wadena is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.7 miles from Maple Grove and 141 miles from Thief River Falls.

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

The direct path is about 247.1 miles (397.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.6 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.73 one way or $73.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Maple Grove and Mostly Sunny near Thief River Falls.

Stop Ideas Near Wadena

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wadena, 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 Wadena.

RAIL

Staples

28 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

Detroit Lakes

68 mi away
116 Pioneer Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Maple Grove and Thief River Falls. Straight-line distance: 247.06 mi (397.6 km).

Maple Grove

#1 Maple Grove

The second most populous city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population72,881
Coordinates45.0724600, -93.4557900
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Thief River Falls

#2 Thief River Falls

City in Pennington County, Minnesota, USA

Population8,688
Coordinates48.1191400, -96.1811500
Altitude345
CountryUnited States
Start: Maple Grove (-93.45579, 45.07246)
End: Thief River Falls (-96.18115, 48.11914)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 453 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.29 gal
38.94 L · about $36.73
Round trip
$73.45
20.58 gal · 77.88 L
Estimated CO2
91.4 kg one way
Round trip: 182.9 kg / 403 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $36.73 $73.45
Mid-grade $3.92 $40.35 $80.69
Premium $4.39 $45.19 $90.39
Diesel $4.86 $50.05 $100.10

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 · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Maple Grove and Thief River Falls. The current time is 00:57:13.

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.