# Interstate 94 in Minnesota

Interstate 94 (I-94) in the US state of Minnesota runs 259 miles (417 km) east–west through the central portion of the state. The highway connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul. Authorized in 1956, it was mostly constructed in the 1960s. For its whole length, it runs concurrently with either US Highway 52 (US 52) or US 12.

## Route description

I-94 enters the state from North Dakota at the city of Moorhead and heads southeast after serving Moorhead.
Traveling southeast from Moorhead, there are several places where the elevation of I-94 rises slightly; these are "beaches" that formed as the glacial lake rose or fell. Finally, at Rothsay, I-94 climbs the last beach line and enters terrain more typical for Minnesota. From Rothsay to the Twin Cities, the terrain of I-94 is rolling with frequent lakes visible from the highway.
I-94 traverses by Fergus Falls, Alexandria, and Sauk Centre on its way to St. Cloud. The "original main street" in Sauk Centre near I-94 commemorates the Sinclair Lewis novel that skewered this town.
Monticello is roughly the midpoint exurb for both St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Between exits 201 (Albertville) and 194 (Monticello) sits the Minnesota Road Research Facility.
Upon arrival to the Twin Cities, I-94 first approaches Minneapolis from the north, then the highway turns east after passing through the Lowry Hill Tunnel and heads to Saint Paul while traveling east.
The road crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis between the Prospect Park and Seward neighborhoods. The highway joins Minneapolis and Saint Paul together where it meets Minnesota State Highway 280 (MN 280). In Saint Paul, the routing of I-94 is set through the historic Rondo neighborhood, which, prior to the highway's construction, was the largest Black community in Saint Paul.
Upon leaving Saint Paul, the route travels through suburban Washington County and exits the state into Wisconsin between Lakeland, Minnesota, and Hudson, Wisconsin, while crossing the St. Croix River.
Legally, the Minnesota section of I-94 is defined as unmarked Legislative Route 392 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(4). I-94 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.

### Transit

Intercity bus service is provided along the entire length of the I-94 corridor. Service northwest of the Twin Cities is provided by Jefferson Lines, while Greyhound, Flixbus, and Wisconsin Coach Lines provide service east of the Twin Cities. Local bus services operated by Metro Transit and Maple Grove Transit also utilize I-94 in the Twin Cities metro.

## History

I-94 in Minnesota was authorized as part of the original Interstate System in 1956. It was mostly constructed in the 1960s.
I-94 follows the original route of old US Highway 52 (US 52) from Moorhead to St. Cloud, then I-94 stays south of the Mississippi River along the former route of old MN 152 between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. I-94 then passes through both downtowns and exits toward Wisconsin along the former route of old US 12.
The first section of I-94 in Minnesota constructed was between Moorhead and Albany in the early 1960s, as an extension of the existing highway in North Dakota.
The section of I-94 between Minneapolis and Saint Paul was completed in 1968 and dedicated December 9. In the Twin Cities, the construction of the highway was politically charged. The highway was built primarily through many working-class and Black neighborhoods. In Saint Paul, the routing of I-94 displaced the historic Rondo Neighborhood, which, prior to the highway's construction, was the largest Black community in Saint Paul.
The section of I-94 between Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center was completed in 1969, between St. Augusta and Maple Grove in 1973 and between Albany and St. Augusta in 1977.
The section of I-94 from Brooklyn Center through north Minneapolis was completed in 1984. Like the Rondo neighborhood in the 1960s, this segment was through a primarily Black and working-class neighborhood.
The last section of I-94 in Minnesota constructed was the 10 miles (16 km) between its junction with I-494/I-694 at Woodbury and the Wisconsin state line at Lakeland. This was completed in 1985.
In 2004, a third lane was constructed between Brooklyn Boulevard at Brooklyn Center and Hemlock Lane at Maple Grove. This is located immediately east of the I-494/I-694/I-94 interchange in Maple Grove, also known locally as the Fish Lake Interchange.
From September 2007 to October 2008, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) added a temporary extra lane to I-94 between northbound I-35W and MN 280 in the Twin Cities to help relieve traffic congestion caused by the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge. As a result, this portion of I-94 was not up to Interstate Highway standards during this time period.

### Rethinking I-94

In 2016, MnDOT launched a project known as Rethinking I-94, which is aimed at reconnecting neighborhoods, revitalizing communities, and ensuring that residents have a voice in transportation decisions. The construction of I-94 between Minneapolis and Saint Paul was controversial and has been a political debate for many years. MnDOT is considering reconnecting those neighborhoods that were destroyed and separated in 1960.

## Exit list

| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Red River of the North | Red River of the North | 0.000 | 0.000 | | I-94 west / US 52 west – Fargo, Bismarck | Continuation into North Dakota |
| North Dakota–Minnesota state line |||
| Clay | Moorhead | 0.577 | 0.929 | 1A | US 75 – Moorhead, Breckenridge | Breckenridge only signed eastbound; also access to Heritage-Hjemkomst Center, Concordia College, Minnesota State University, Bluestem Trollwood |
| Clay | Moorhead | 1.538 | 2.475 | 1B | 20th Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only |
| Clay | Moorhead | 2.709 | 4.360 | 2 | I-94 BL west (34th Street) / CSAH 52 (Main Avenue Southeast) | Signed as exits 2A (Main Avenue Southeast) and 2B (34th Street) eastbound |
| Clay | Glyndon Township | 6.075 | 9.777 | 6 | MN 336 / CSAH 11 – Sabin | Sabin only signed eastbound; also access to US 10, Detroit Lakes, Airport, Glyndon, Dilworth |
| Clay | Elkton Township | 15.239 | 24.525 | 15 | CSAH 10 – Downer, Sabin | Sabin only signed westbound |
| Clay | Barnesville–Humboldt township line | 22.700 | 36.532 | 22 | MN 9 – Barnesville | Barnesville only signed eastbound |
| Clay | Barnesville | 24.542 | 39.497 | 24 | MN 34 – Detroit Lakes, Barnesville | Detroit Lakes only signed eastbound and Barnesville only signed westbound |
| Wilkin | Prairie View Township | 32.500 | 52.304 | 32 | MN 108 / CSAH 30 – Pelican Rapids | |
| Wilkin–Otter Tail county line | Rothsay | 38.226 | 61.519 | 38 | Rothsay | |
| Otter Tail | Fergus Falls Township | 50.479– 50.899 | 81.238– 81.914 | 50 | US 59 north / CSAH 88 – Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Detroit Lakes | Northern end of US 59 overlap; Fergus Falls only signed eastbound, and Pelican Rapids/Detroit Lakes only signed westbound |
| Otter Tail | Fergus Falls | 54.167 | 87.173 | 54 | MN 210 west – Fergus Falls, Breckenridge | Western end of MN 210 overlap; also access to Lincoln Avenue, Airport, Central Lakes State Trail |
| Otter Tail | Fergus Falls | 55.860 | 89.898 | 55 | CSAH 1 – Fergus Falls, Wendell | Wendell only signed eastbound |
| Otter Tail | Buse Township | 57.888 | 93.162 | 57 | MN 210 east / CSAH 25 – Fergus Falls | Eastern end of MN 210 overlap; also access to Lake Region Hospital |
| Otter Tail | Buse–Dane Prairie township line | 61.677 | 99.260 | 61 | US 59 south / CSAH 82 – Elbow Lake, Fergus Falls | Southern end of US 59 overlap; Elbow Lake only signed eastbound, and Fergus Falls only signed westbound |
| Otter Tail | Tumuli Township | 67.624 | 108.830 | 67 | CSAH 35 – Dalton | |
| Grant | Pelican Lake Township | 77.099 | 124.079 | 77 | MN 78 / CSAH 10 – Ashby, Barrett | Also access to Battle Lake, Prairie Ridge Hospital |
| Douglas | Evansville Township | 82.908 | 133.427 | 82 | MN 79 west / CSAH 41 – Evansville, Elbow Lake | |
| Douglas | Brandon Township | 90.096 | 144.995 | 90 | CSAH 7 – Brandon | |
| Douglas | La Grand Township | 97.415 | 156.774 | 97 | MN 114 south / CSAH 40 – Garfield, Lowry | |
| Douglas | Alexandria | 100.685 | 162.037 | 100 | MN 27 west / CSAH 46 – Alexandria | Western end of MN 27 overlap; Alexandria only signed eastbound; also access to Alomere Health Hospital |
| Douglas | Alexandria | 103.037 | 165.822 | 103 | MN 29 – Alexandria, Glenwood | Also access to Alexandria Tech & Community College, Central Lakes State Trail, Alomere Health Hospital |
| Douglas | Orange Township | 114.361 | 184.046 | 114 | MN 27 east / CSAH 3 – Osakis, Westport | Eastern end of MN 27 overlap; also access to Central Lakes State Trail |
| Todd | West Union Township | 119.148 | 191.750 | 119 | CSAH 46 – West Union | |
| Stearns | Sauk Centre Township | 124.730 | 200.733 | 124 | CSAH 72 (Sinclair Lewis Avenue) | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only |
| Stearns | Sauk Centre | 127.179 | 204.675 | 127 | US 71 / MN 28 – Sauk Centre, Willmar, Glenwood | Willmar only signed eastbound, Glenwood only signed westbound; also access to Sauk Centre Hospital |
| Stearns | Melrose Township | 131.079 | 210.951 | 131 | MN 4 south – Meire Grove, Paynesville | |
| Stearns | Melrose | 134.974 | 217.220 | 135 | CSAH 13 – Melrose | Also access to Melrose Area Hospital |
| Stearns | Oak Township | 137.864 | 221.871 | 137 | CSAH 12 / CSAH 65 – New Munich | |
| Stearns | Freeport | 140.865 | 226.700 | 140 | CSAH 11 – Freeport | |
| Stearns | Albany | 146.916 | 236.438 | 147 | MN 238 / CSAH 10 – Albany | |
| Stearns | Avon | 153.313 | 246.733 | 153 | CSAH 9 – Avon | Also access to Holdingford |
| Stearns | Avon Township | 156.531 | 251.912 | 156 | CR 159 – St. John's University | |
| Stearns | St. Joseph Township | 158.142 | 254.505 | 158 | CSAH 75 – St. Cloud | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only; also access to St. Cloud Hospital |
| Stearns | St. Joseph Township | 160.436 | 258.197 | 160 | CSAH 2 – St. Joseph, Cold Spring | |
| Stearns | St. Joseph Township | 164.514 | 264.760 | 164 | MN 23 – St. Cloud, Rockville, Waite Park, Paynesville | Signed as "St. Cloud, Rockville" eastbound and "Waite Park, Paynesville" westbound |
| Stearns | St. Cloud | 167.137 | 268.981 | 167 | MN 15 – St. Cloud, Kimball | Signed as exits 167A (south) and 167B (north); also access to Waite Park |
| Stearns | St. Cloud | 171.223 | 275.557 | 171 | CSAH 75 – St. Augusta, St. Cloud | Also access to St. Cloud Hospital |
| Stearns | St. Cloud | 173.674 | 279.501 | 173 | Opportunity Drive (CSAH 75) | |
| Wright | Clearwater | 178.953 | 287.997 | 178 | MN 24 – Clearwater, Annandale | Also access to Clear Lake |
| Wright | Silver Creek Township | 184.131 | 296.330 | 183 | CSAH 8 – Hasty, Silver Creek | Also access to Maple Lake |
| Wright | Monticello | 194.075 | 312.333 | 193 | MN 25 – Monticello, Buffalo | Also access to Big Lake, Lake Maria State Park |
| Wright | Monticello | 195.577 | 314.751 | 194 | CSAH 18 / CSAH 39 – Monticello | Also access to Monticello Hospital |
| Wright | Albertville | 201.939 | 324.989 | 201 | CSAH 19 – Albertville, St. Michael | Eastbound exit is a collector–distributor ramp for exits 201 and 202 |
| Wright | Albertville | 202.693 | 326.203 | 202 | CSAH 37 – Albertville | Westbound exit is a distributor ramp for exits 202 and 201 and signed as 202&201 |
| Wright | St. Michael | 205.679 | 331.008 | 205 | MN 241 west / CSAH 36 – St. Michael | Separate exit ramps westbound; Signed as 205A (MN 241) and 205B (CR 36) |
| Hennepin | Rogers | 208.352 | 335.310 | 207 | MN 101 (North Bypass) / CSAH 81 – Elk River, Rogers | Westbound exit signed as 207A (south CR 81 and north MN 101) and 207B (north MN 101 flyover ramp bypassing Diamond Lake Road); eastbound signed as exits 207A and 207B; also access to Otsego |
| Hennepin | Dayton | | | 210 | Dayton Parkway | Diverging diamond interchange opened November 5, 2021 |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove | | | 212 | MN 610 east | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; opened December 2016 |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove | 214.367 | 344.990 | 213 | CSAH 30 (Maple Grove Parkway) | |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove | 216.326 | 348.143 | 215 | CSAH 109 (Weaver Lake Road) | |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove | 216.990– 217.593 | 349.212– 350.182 | 216 | I-494 south / I-694 east | Western end of I-694 overlap; I-494/I-694 exit 27 |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove | 218.084 | 350.972 | 28 | CSAH 61 (Hemlock Lane) | |
| Hennepin | Maple Grove–Brooklyn Park city line | 219.603 | 353.417 | 29 | US 169 | Signed as exits 29A (south) and 29B (north) |
| Hennepin | Brooklyn Park | 220.153 | 354.302 | 30 | Boone Avenue | |
| Hennepin | Brooklyn Park | 221.078 | 355.791 | 31 | CSAH 81 (Bottineau Boulevard) | |
| Hennepin | Brooklyn Center | 223.103 | 359.049 | 33 | CSAH 152 (Brooklyn Boulevard) | |
| Hennepin | Brooklyn Center | 224.258 | 360.908 | 34 | Shingle Creek Parkway to MN 100 | |
| Hennepin | Brooklyn Center | 223.816– 225.620 | 360.197– 363.100 | 225 | I-694 east / MN 252 north | Eastern end of I-694 overlap, I-694 exit 35B; Minneapolis–St. Paul Bypass |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 226.350– 227.351 | 364.275– 365.886 | 226 | 53rd Avenue North/49th Avenue North | |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 228.519 | 367.766 | 228 | Dowling Avenue North | |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 230.246– 230.590 | 370.545– 371.099 | 229 | CSAH 81 west (West Broadway Avenue) / CSAH 66 / CSAH 152 (North Washington Avenue) | Washington Avenue not signed eastbound |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 231.350 | 372.322 | 230 | MN 55 west (Olson Memorial Highway) / 4th Street North/7th Street North | Western end of MN 55 overlap |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 231.929– 232.234 | 373.254– 373.744 | 231A | I-394 / US 12 west | Western end of US 12 overlap; no access to I-394/12 east; I-394 exit 8B |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 232.403– 232.688 | 374.016– 374.475 | Lowry Hill Tunnel | Lowry Hill Tunnel | Lowry Hill Tunnel |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 232.862 | 374.755 | 231B | CSAH 22 south (Lyndale Avenue) / Hennepin Avenue | Virginia Triangle |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 233.609 | 375.957 | 233B | I-35W south | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-35W exit 16A; access via old MN 65 |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 233.737 | 376.163 | 233A | 11th Street | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 233.696 | 376.097 | 233C | I-35W north | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-35W exit 16A |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | | | | 5th Avenue | Eastbound entrance only |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 233.904 | 376.432 | 233B | I-35W south | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-35W exit 16B |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 234.473 | 377.348 | 234A | MN 55 east (Hiawatha Avenue) | Eastern end of MN 55 overlap |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 234.473 | 377.348 | 234B | 7th Street | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 234.730 | 377.761 | 234C | CSAH 152 (Cedar Avenue) | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 235.296– 235.433 | 378.672– 378.893 | 235A | 25th Avenue / Riverside Avenue | Also access to Augsburg University, M Health Fairview |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 235.716– 235.906 | 379.348– 379.654 | Dartmouth Bridge over the Mississippi River | Dartmouth Bridge over the Mississippi River | Dartmouth Bridge over the Mississippi River |
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 235.951– 236.085 | 379.726– 379.942 | 235B | Huron Boulevard | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 237.081 | 381.545 | 236 | MN 280 / University Avenue/Pelham Boulevard | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 237.757 | 382.633 | 237 | Cretin Avenue/Vandalia Street | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 239.065 | 384.738 | 238 | MN 51 / Snelling Avenue | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 239.564 | 385.541 | 239A | Hamline Avenue | Westbound exit only |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 240.063 | 386.344 | 239B | CSAH 51 (Lexington Parkway) | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 241.059 | 387.947 | 240 | CSAH 53 (Dale Street) | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 241.868 | 389.249 | 241A | CSAH 56 north (Marion Street) / Kellogg Boulevard – State Capitol | Also access to Saint Paul College |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 242.040 | 389.526 | 241B | 10th Street / 5th Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; also access to Regions Hospital |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 242.045 | 389.534 | 242A | 12th Street – State Capitol | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only; also access to Regions Hospital |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 242.252– 242.554 | 389.867– 390.353 | 241C | I-35E south | Western end of I-35E overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance only; I-35E exit 107B |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 242.768– 243.146 | 390.697– 391.306 | 242B | I-35E north / US 10 west | Eastern end of I-35E overlap; western end of US 10 overlap; I-35E exit 107A |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 243.067 | 391.178 | 242C | 7th Street | Eastbound exit only |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 243.448 | 391.792 | 242D | US 52 south / 6th Street | Eastern end of US 52 overlap; 6th Street not signed eastbound |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 244.070 | 392.793 | 243 | US 61 north (Mounds Boulevard) / Kellogg Boulevard | Western end of US 61 overlap |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 245.566 | 395.200 | 244 | US 10 east / US 61 south | Eastern end of US 10/US 61 overlap |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 246.370 | 396.494 | 245 | CSAH 65 (White Bear Avenue) | |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 246.866 | 397.292 | 246A | Ruth Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul–Maplewood city line | 247.370 | 398.103 | 246 | CSAH 68 (McKnight Road) | |
| Ramsey | Maplewood | 248.328 | 399.645 | 247 | MN 120 north / CSAH 23 south / Century Avenue | |
| Washington | Woodbury–Oakdale city line | 249.449– 249.848 | 401.449– 402.091 | 249 | I-494 south / I-694 north | Minneapolis–St. Paul Bypass via I-694 |
| Washington | Woodbury–Lake Elmo city line | 250.838 | 403.685 | 250 | CSAH 13 (Inwood Avenue, Radio Drive) | |
| Washington | Woodbury–Lake Elmo city line | 251.378 | 404.554 | 251 | CSAH 19 (Keats Avenue, Woodbury Drive) | |
| Washington | Woodbury–Lake Elmo city line | 253.377 | 407.771 | 253 | MN 95 south / CSAH 15 (Manning Avenue) | Western end of MN 95 overlap |
| Washington | Lakeland | 258.918 | 416.688 | 258 | MN 95 north / CSAH 18 – Stillwater | Eastern end of MN 95 overlap |
| St. Croix River | St. Croix River | 259.663 | 417.887 | Minnesota–Wisconsin state line | Minnesota–Wisconsin state line | Minnesota–Wisconsin state line |
| St. Croix River | St. Croix River | 259.663 | 417.887 | | I-94 east / US 12 east – Eau Claire | Continuation into Wisconsin |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Incomplete access |||||||

## Auxiliary routes

* I-394, direct link between Minneapolis and western suburbs
* I-494, southern/western portion of beltway loop
* I-694, northern/eastern portion of beltway loop