How far is Minnetonka Mills, MN from Cottage Grove, MN?

The driving distance from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Cottage Grove, MN is about 31.3 miles (50.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.6 miles (41.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
31.32 mi
00h 44m
Flight
25.61 mi
41.22 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Minnetonka Mills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.61 mi
Kilometers
41.22 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.32 mi
Kilometers
50.41 km
Drive Time
00h 44m

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 00h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cottage Grove
Thu, Apr 16, 2:39 PM CDT
Return by in Minnetonka Mills
Thu, Apr 16, 3:24 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Minnetonka Mills
2026-04-16T13:54
Arrive Cottage Grove
Thu, Apr 16, 2:39 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Minnetonka Mills
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Mendota
MN

City in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Minnetonka Mills
15.7 mi
00h 22m
To Cottage Grove
15.7 mi
00h 22m

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
0 to 15 mph SE
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Minnetonka Mills and Cottage Grove.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka Mills and Cottage Grove.

  1. 1

    Start on Shady Oak Road

    3037 ft · 1 min · Shady Oak Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Shady Oak Road

    3.2 mi · 6 min · Shady Oak Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward MN 62 East

    1866 ft · 27 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Crosstown Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Crosstown Highway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Crosstown Highway

    16.9 mi · 22 min · Crosstown Highway

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10 East, US 61 South: Hastings

    1.1 km · 50 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward 80th Street, Grange Boulevard

    1685 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 80th Street South

    1895 ft · 52 sec · 80th Street South

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Point Douglas Road South

    1046 ft · 35 sec · East Point Douglas Road South

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Point Douglas Road South

    1543 ft · 49 sec · East Point Douglas Road South

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Hillside Trail

    1.1 km · 2 min · Hillside Trail

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Hyde Avenue South

    18 m · 3 sec · Hyde Avenue South

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hyde Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Minnetonka Mills and Cottage Grove.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Crosstown Highway
21.2 mi · 68%
Shady Oak Road
3.8 mi · 12%
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veteran
3.42 mi · 11%
US 10 East
0.67 mi · 2%
Hillside Trail
0.66 mi · 2%
East Point Douglas Road South
0.49 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Crosstown Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Crosstown Highway

16.9 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 44m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
25.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
00h 22m from Minnetonka Mills
Leave By
7:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Minnetonka Mills and Sunny near Cottage Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Minnetonka Mills to Cottage Grove?

The road trip is about 31.3 miles (50.4 km) and usually takes 00h 44m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.7 miles from Minnetonka Mills and 15.7 miles from Cottage Grove.

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

The direct path is about 25.6 miles (41.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.93 one way or $7.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Minnetonka Mills and Sunny near Cottage Grove.

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Mendota and the surrounding midpoint area.
Minneapolis City Hall
Scenic stop 6.7 mi away

Minneapolis City Hall

Minneapolis , MN
350 S 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Rating 4.3/5 28 reviews City Hall,Tourist attraction
City of Bloomington
Meeting point 7.2 mi away

City of Bloomington

Bloomington , MN
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431
Rating 3.6/5 25 reviews City Hall,City government office
Mall of America®
Nearby stop 3.6 mi away

Mall of America®

Bloomington , MN
60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425, United States
Rating 4.6/5 44,911 reviews Shopping mall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mendota.

RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

9 mi away
Midway Station
RAIL

Red Wing station

61 mi away
420 Levee Street
BUS

Menomonie, WI

98 mi away
302 10th Avenue East
RAIL

St. Cloud

108 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Minnetonka Mills and Cottage Grove. Straight-line distance: 25.61 mi (41.22 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Minnetonka Mills

A city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population50,117
Coordinates44.9410700, -93.4419000
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Cottage Grove

#2 Cottage Grove

City in Minnesota, United States

Population38,170
Coordinates44.8277400, -92.9438200
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Start: Minnetonka Mills (-93.4419, 44.94107)
End: Cottage Grove (-92.94382, 44.82774)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 50 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.1 gal
4.18 L · about $3.93
Round trip
$7.85
2.2 gal · 8.36 L
Estimated CO2
9.8 kg one way
Round trip: 19.6 kg / 43 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $3.93 $7.85
Mid-grade $3.92 $4.31 $8.63
Premium $4.39 $4.83 $9.66
Diesel $4.86 $5.35 $10.70

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 Minnetonka Mills and Cottage Grove. The current time is 13:54:31.

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.