Commute · Downtown Minneapolis
Living in Forest Lake and commuting to downtown Minneapolis
Forest Lake is about 42 minutes from downtown Minneapolis by car in light traffic, the 114th shortest drive of the 149 cities in our guides. Homes there sold for a median $429,900 over the 12 months through September 2026.
- Drive to downtown Minneapolis42 minlight traffic, from the city center
- Rank114thshortest of 149 cities
- Median sale price$429,90012 months through September 2026
- Average commute24.2 minresidents, all destinations (Census)
Shorter drives to downtown Minneapolis at a similar price
Cities with a shorter drive where homes sold for no more than 15% above Forest Lake's median.
| City | Drive | Median sale price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Bonifacius | 41 min | $375,000 | St. Bonifacius guide |
| Farmington | 41 min | $392,000 | Farmington guide |
| Columbus | 41 min | $480,000 | Forest Lake vs. Columbus |
| Bayport | 40 min | $485,000 | Bayport guide |
| Stillwater | 39 min | $460,000 | Forest Lake vs. Stillwater |
| Rosemount | 39 min | $438,000 | Rosemount guide |
Other drives from Forest Lake
- Downtown Saint Paul40 min
- MSP Airport51 min
- University of Minnesota39 min
- Mall of America55 min
Drive times are light-traffic estimates from each city’s center (OpenStreetMap routing). Your trip depends on your address and the time of day; allow more at rush hour.
Forest Lake community guideForest Lake market reportForest Lake homes for saleEvery city by drive to downtown Minneapolis
Quick answers
Forest Lake to downtown Minneapolis
How long is the drive from Forest Lake to downtown Minneapolis?
About 42 minutes in light traffic from the center of Forest Lake, roughly 24 miles in a straight line. Rush hour and your exact address can add time.
How long is the average commute in Forest Lake?
24.2 minutes each way, the average travel time to work for Forest Lake residents in the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), to all destinations.
Which cities have a shorter drive to downtown Minneapolis at a similar price?
St. Bonifacius (41 minutes, median $375,000), Farmington (41 minutes, median $392,000), Columbus (41 minutes, median $480,000), Bayport (40 minutes, median $485,000), among cities in our guides with at least 30 sales over the 12 months through September 2026.
What do homes cost in Forest Lake?
The median sale price was $429,900 over the 12 months through September 2026 (301 sales), according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update.
Shorter commute, right home
Find a home that makes the drive easy.
Tell us where you need to be each day and your budget. A Huerkamp Home Group agent will send homes that fit both, and tell you how the drive really feels at rush hour. There's no cost to buyers.