Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 50–57°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Partly sunny52°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Mostly cloudy50°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Isolated very light rain showers57°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–53°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Partly sunny48°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Mostly sunny49°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny48°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Sunny53°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–53°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Sunny45°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Sunny41°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Sunny45°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Mostly sunny48°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–60°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Mostly sunny57°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny60°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Partly sunny58°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 50–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Partly sunny50°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Partly sunny58°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–57°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F I-94 near Albertville7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny49°F Saint Cloud8 AM CDT Partly sunny52°F I-94 near Alexandria9 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Fergus Falls9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Fargo10:45 AM CDT Partly sunny57°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Minneapolis (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Minneapolis, MNStart 840 ftelevation
- I-94 near Albertville, MNMile 28 · 31 min 928 ftelevation
- Saint Cloud, MNMile 62 · 1 h 1 min 1,037 ftelevation
- I-94 near Alexandria, MNMile 128 · 2 h 1 min 1,445 ftelevation
- Fergus Falls, MNMile 176 · 2 h 44 min 1,184 ftelevation
- Fargo, NDMile 234 · 3 h 39 min 903 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Minneapolis, I-94 near Alexandria and Fargo.
| Month | Minneapolis Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport station · 872 ft | I-94 near Alexandria Alexandria station · 1,416 ft | Fargo 900 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 24° / 9° | 3.3 | 19° / 2° | 18° / 0° | 2.6 |
| Feb | 29° / 13° | 2.8 | 24° / 6° | 23° / 4° | 2.6 |
| Mar | 42° / 25° | 2.4 | 37° / 19° | 36° / 18° | 2.5 |
| Apr | 57° / 38° | 0.8 | 52° / 33° | 54° / 32° | 1.1 |
| May | 69° / 50° | 0 | 66° / 46° | 69° / 44° | 0 |
| Jun | 79° / 60° | 0 | 76° / 56° | 78° / 56° | 0 |
| Jul | 83° / 65° | 0 | 80° / 61° | 82° / 59° | 0 |
| Aug | 81° / 63° | 0 | 78° / 59° | 81° / 57° | 0 |
| Sep | 73° / 54° | 0 | 70° / 50° | 72° / 48° | 0 |
| Oct | 58° / 41° | 0.1 | 55° / 37° | 56° / 35° | 0.4 |
| Nov | 42° / 28° | 1.9 | 38° / 23° | 38° / 21° | 1.8 |
| Dec | 29° / 15° | 3.3 | 24° / 10° | 24° / 8° | 3.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP (USW00014922, 872 ft); ALEXANDRIA MUNI AP (USW00014910, 1,416 ft); FARGO HECTOR INTL AP (USW00014914, 900 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Minnesota and North Dakota rather than repeat them.
- Minnesota · MnDOT511MN road conditions
- North Dakota · NDDOTTravel information map
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Minneapolis to Fargo with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Minneapolis to Fargo?
234 miles, about 3½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-94. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-94 near Alexandria, at 1,445 ft. It comes at mile 128, about 2 h 1 min of driving after you leave Minneapolis.
How cold does it get on I-94 near Alexandria in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Alexandria (1,416 ft), averages a high of 19°F and a low of 2°F in January (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Fargo in January?
Fargo averages a high of 18°F and a low of 0°F in January (1991–2020 normals).