How far is Minneapolis, MN from Erie, MN?

The driving distance from Minneapolis, MN to Erie, MN is about 303.6 miles (488.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 243.6 miles (392 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 00m 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
303.58 mi
06h 00m
Flight
243.56 mi
391.97 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Minneapolis.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
243.56 mi
Kilometers
391.97 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
303.58 mi
Kilometers
488.57 km
Drive Time
06h 00m

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 06h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Thu, Apr 16, 5:26 AM CDT
Return by in Minneapolis
Thu, Apr 16, 11:27 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Minneapolis
2026-04-15T23:26
Arrive Erie
Thu, Apr 16, 5:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 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
5:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Minneapolis
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 Minneapolis
151.6 mi
03h 00m
To Erie
151.9 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Overnight

Patchy Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N
Destination
68°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Minneapolis and Erie.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis and Erie.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Avenue South

    1977 ft · 1 min · Washington Avenue South

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 1st Avenue

    130 m · 18 sec · North 1st Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 3rd Street

    127 m · 16 sec · North 3rd Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 94 West

    1.8 mi · 4 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    12.3 mi · 15 min

  6. 6

    Continue on I-94 W

    17.1 mi · 19 min · I-94 W

  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 slight right onto Center Street East

    15.4 mi · 19 min · Center Street East

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 350th Avenue Northeast

    1 mi · 3 min · 350th Avenue Northeast

  25. 25

    Continue on 350th Avenue Northeast

    2.6 mi · 6 min · 350th Avenue Northeast

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 350th Avenue Northeast

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Minneapolis and Erie.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
165th Avenue Southeast
50.7 mi · 17%
I-94 W
23.5 mi · 8%
Center Street East
15.4 mi · 5%
I 94 West
14.1 mi · 5%
350th Avenue Northeast
3.58 mi · 1%
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.38 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
06h 00m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60 mi
243.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wadena
03h 00m from Minneapolis
Leave By
5:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Minneapolis and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Minneapolis to Erie?

The road trip is about 303.6 miles (488.6 km) and usually takes 06h 00m 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 151.6 miles from Minneapolis and 151.9 miles from Erie.

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

The direct path is about 243.6 miles (392 km), while the road route adds roughly 60 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 5:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.22 one way or $76.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Minneapolis and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Erie.

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 Minneapolis and Erie. Straight-line distance: 243.56 mi (391.97 km).

Minneapolis

#1 Minneapolis

The largest city in Minnesota, Minneapolis is a major center for business, finance, and culture.

Population433,111
Coordinates44.9799700, -93.2638400
Altitude253
CountryUnited States
Erie

#2 Erie

Human settlement in Pennington County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population1,761
Coordinates48.0722200, -95.7250000
Altitude359
CountryUnited States
Start: Minneapolis (-93.26384, 44.97997)
End: Erie (-95.725, 48.07222)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 489 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.71 gal
40.55 L · about $38.22
Round trip
$76.45
21.42 gal · 81.1 L
Estimated CO2
95.2 kg one way
Round trip: 190.4 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $38.22 $76.45
Mid-grade $3.92 $41.99 $83.99
Premium $4.39 $47.04 $94.08
Diesel $4.86 $52.09 $104.19

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 Minneapolis and Erie. The current time is 23:26:21.

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.