Minnesota driving guide

Heading to the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Get to know the rules of the road, ready for a scenic drive through Minnesota. Our guide covers everything from car seat requirements for families with children, to speed limits and toll roads in Minnesota to help you plan your route. It’s time to hit the road.

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between Minnesota and other states
• Driving conditions 

Quick rules of the road

• The vehicle entering or crossing a roadway from a place other than a roadway gives the right of way to all vehicles coming on to the roadway.
• You should always turn on your headlights when driving:

         - Between sunset and sunrise

         - In bad weather conditions

         - At other times of low visibility.

• You can only use your cell phone for calls, SMS, audio and navigation, solely through voice command or single-touch activation – no touching the device.

Speed limits in Minnesota

When planning for your trip, it can help to know the speed limit for different road types in Minnesota.

Toll roads in Minnesota

There aren’t any toll roads in Minnesota, but there are two toll bridges – International Falls Bridge and Fargo-Moorhead Bridge – and some express lanes in the Minneapolis-St Paul area.

International Falls Bridge

This popular bridge connects Minnesota to Ontario and is one of the busiest crossings between the US and Canada. You’ll find the toll booth on the Canadian side, with payment required on entry into the country.

From: International Falls, Minnesota

To: Fort Frances, Ontario

Cost for car: $7.00

Cost for truck: $16.00

How to pay: Cash only.

Fargo-Moorhead Toll Bridge

This short toll bridge crosses the Red River that runs between Minnesota and North Dakota.

From: Moorhead, Minnesota

To: Fargo, North Dakota

Cost for car: $0.75

How to pay: Cash only.

E-ZPass Express Lanes (I-394 and I-35)

Previously part of the MnPASS, the E-ZPass Express Lanes on I-394E, I-35W and I-35E offer drivers an alternative option when commuting in and out of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The express lanes operate at certain times of day, based on congestion levels on the highways.

Cost for car: $0.25-$8.00, depending on traffic levels

How to pay: E-ZPass 

Driving ages and license requirements in Minnesota

• The legal driving age in Minnesota 17.
• The minimum age to rent a car in Minnesota is 21.

You can find out more about renting a car with Hertz when you’re under 25 in our young drivers’ guide.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in Minnesota

In your vehicle, you must have:

• Driver’s license
• Car registration
• Winter equipment during colder months, including an ice scraper, warm blanket and gloves.

Minnesota speed violations, infractions and penalties

Breaking the speed limit in Minnesota is a petty misdemeanor, punishable by fines – but no jail time. If you’re caught going above the speed limit, it’ll set you back anywhere between $40 to $150, relative to the driving speed at the time. Expect to pay double if you’re:

• In a school zone
• More than 20 miles over the limit
• Not slowing down for emergency services with active sirens.

It’s going to put you $300 out of pocket if you’re driving above the limit in and around road workers or closed lanes.

In addition to the above fees, speed limit violations in Minnesota carry additional charges of $75 for criminal surcharge, as well as a law library cost of $10.

Although breaking the speed limit is classed as a petty misdemeanor, that can change in light of certain circumstances, such as situations that put people or property in danger, or if it’s the third ‘strike’ – your third driving violation of the same year. These situations can result in up to 90 days of incarceration and a maximum $1,000 fine.

Driving with children in Minnesota

A child needs to travel in a restraint until they are either 4ft 9in tall, or 8 years of age.

• Rear-facing child seats – should be used until the child’s height and weight reaches maximum capacity allowed by the car seat’s manufacturers.
• Forward-facing car seat requirements in MN – when the child outgrows the rear-facing seat, put them in a forward-facing car seat with a strap and lock until they reach the maximum dimensions stated by the manufacturers.
• Minimum height for sitting in the front – 4ft 9in.

Gas prices in Minnesota

The average gas price in Minnesota is $3.63 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Chevrolet Spark, that’s about $0.09 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Nissan Pathfinder, it works out at $0.13 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated October 27, 2022.

Electric car charging in Minnesota

There are various level 1 and level 2 charging ports available throughout the Twin Cities region. But recent funding now means Minnesota can begin to expand its charging network statewide. Check the official map for fast charging stations in Minnesota, to help you plan your route.

Driving between Minnesota

Hopping over to another state? The likes of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin share state borders with Minnesota.

With a Hertz car rental, you’re free to broaden your horizons to experience other parts of the country. Simply choose a vehicle of your choice from a pickup point, and you’re free to drop it off at one of our locations in another state.

Driving conditions in Minnesota

You can expect warm summers and freezing winters – with part cloud coverage most of the year. The range of temperature is huge, ranging from 9°F in the harsh months of winter to 83°F in the summer.