Emergency rooms · Minnesota
ER Wait Times in Minnesota: 119 Hospitals Compared
119 hospitals in Minnesota report how long their emergency room patients stay. The middle value here is 126 minutes; national (Medicare): 162 minutes.
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not drive farther to save a few minutes: these are averages of past visits, and the sickest patients are always seen first.
What this time means
Each hospital’s number is Medicare measure OP-18b: the median (middle) time from arriving at the emergency room to leaving it, for patients who were treated and went home. Half of these patients left sooner, half later. It is not the time before seeing a doctor, and it leaves out patients who were admitted to the hospital, transferred, or seen for mental health.
Medicare’s name for the measure: “Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, excluding patients transferred to another facility or psychiatric care/mental health patients. A lower number of minutes is better”. Patients seen October 2024 to September 2025.
Emergency rooms in Minnesota, shortest time first
Ranked by Medicare's median time (OP-18b), shortest first; hospitals with the same time share a rank. Left without being seen: share of ER patients who left before a doctor or nurse saw them (January 2024 to December 2024; national 2%). ER volume: patients per year, as Medicare groups it.
| # | Hospital | City | Median time in the ER | Left without being seen | ER volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mille Lacs Health System | Onamia | 42 min | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 2 | Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital | Cass Lake | 68 min (1 h 8 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | Riverview Hospital | Crookston | 78 min (1 h 18 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 4 | Red Lake Hospital | Redlake | 82 min (1 h 22 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 5 | Essentia Health Fosston | Fosston | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 6 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Cannon Falls | Cannon Falls | 85 min (1 h 25 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 7 | Essentia Health Deer River | Deer River | 91 min (1 h 31 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 8 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Waseca | Waseca | 94 min (1 h 34 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 9 | St Elizabeth Medical Center | Wabasha | 95 min (1 h 35 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 10 | Riverwood Healthcare Center | Aitkin | 96 min (1 h 36 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 11 | Mayo Clinic Health System St. James | St James | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Avera Granite Falls | Granite Falls | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | Not reported | — |
| 12 | Essentia Health Ada | Ada | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Fairmont | Fairmont | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Windom Area Health | Windom | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 16 | Ely - Bloomenson Community Hospital | Ely | 100 min (1 h 40 min)† | Not reported | — |
| 16 | New Ulm Medical Center | New Ulm | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Cuyuna Regional Medical Center | Crosby | 102 min (1 h 42 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Essentia Health Sandstone | Sandstone | 102 min (1 h 42 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 20 | Sanford Wheaton Medical Center | Wheaton | 103 min (1 h 43 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 21 | Minnesota Valley Health Center Inc | Le Sueur | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Chippewa County Hospital | Montevideo | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Sanford Canby Medical Center | Canby | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center | Thief River Falls | 107 min (1 h 47 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Sleepy Eye Medical Center | Sleepy Eye | 107 min (1 h 47 min) | Not reported | — |
| 26 | Madison Hospital | Madison | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 27 | CentraCare Health System - Sauk Centre | Sauk Centre | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 28 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City | Lake City | 110 min (1 h 50 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 28 | St Francis Medical Center | Breckenridge | 110 min (1 h 50 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Kittson Healthcare | Hallock | 111 min (1 h 51 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Avera Tyler Hospital | Tyler | 112 min (1 h 52 min) | Not reported | — |
| 31 | Essentia Health Moose Lake | Moose Lake | 112 min (1 h 52 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Essentia Health Northern Pines Medical Center | Aurora | 112 min (1 h 52 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Sanford Westbrook Medical Center | Westbrook | 112 min (1 h 52 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 35 | Cook Hospital | Cook | 113 min (1 h 53 min) | Not reported | — |
| 35 | Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center | Arlington | 113 min (1 h 53 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 37 | Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical Center | Brainerd | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 37 | North Valley Health Center | Warren | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 39 | Hendricks Community Hospital | Hendricks | 115 min (1 h 55 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 39 | Sanford Worthington Medical Center | Worthington | 115 min (1 h 55 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | CentraCare - Benson | Benson | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Murray County Memorial Hospital | Slayton | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Owatonna Hospital | Owatonna | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Sanford Luverne Medical Center | Luverne | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Sanford Tracy Medical Center | Tracy | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Lifecare Medical Center | Roseau | 117 min (1 h 57 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Mayo Clinic Health System New Prague | New Prague | 117 min (1 h 57 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 48 | Lakewood Health Center | Baudette | 118 min (1 h 58 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 49 | Ortonville Area Health Services | Ortonville | 120 min (2 h) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 50 | Madelia Health | Madelia | 121 min (2 h 1 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 51 | Meeker Memorial Hospital | Litchfield | 122 min (2 h 2 min) | Not reported | — |
| 52 | CentraCare - Long Prairie Hospital | Long Prairie | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 52 | Community Memorial Hospital | Cloquet | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | Aspirus Lake View Hospital | Two Harbors | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | CentraCare - Paynesville Hospital | Paynesville | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin | Albert Lea | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 54 | Olivia Hospital & Clinic | Olivia | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | Sanford Jackson Medical Center | Jackson | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 59 | Bigfork Valley Hospital | Bigfork | 125 min (2 h 5 min) | Not reported | — |
| 60 | Avera Marshall Regional Medical Ctr | Marshall | 126 min (2 h 6 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 60 | Johnson Memorial Hospital | Dawson | 126 min (2 h 6 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 60 | Lakewood Health System | Staples | 126 min (2 h 6 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | Allina Health Faribault Medical Center | Faribault | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | CentraCare - Redwood | Redwood Falls | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services | Elbow Lake | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | River's Edge Hospital & Clinic | St Peter | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | United Hospital District | Blue Earth | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 68 | North Shore Health | Grand Marais | 129 min (2 h 9 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 69 | Essentia Health Holy Trinity Hospital | Graceville | 131 min (2 h 11 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 69 | Essentia Health Virginia | Virginia | 131 min (2 h 11 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 69 | Rainy Lake Medical Center | International Falls | 131 min (2 h 11 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 72 | CentraCare Health - Monticello | Monticello | 132 min (2 h 12 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 72 | Pipestone County Medical Center | Pipestone | 132 min (2 h 12 min) | Not reported | — |
| 74 | Olmsted Medical Center | Rochester | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 74 | Perham Health | Perham | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 76 | Alomere Health | Alexandria | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 77 | Appleton Area Health | Appleton | 137 min (2 h 17 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 77 | Welia Health | Mora | 137 min (2 h 17 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 79 | Astera Health | Wadena | 138 min (2 h 18 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 79 | Buffalo Hospital | Buffalo | 138 min (2 h 18 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 81 | Cambridge Medical Center | Cambridge | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 81 | Essentia Health St Marys - Detroit Lakes | Detroit Lakes | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 81 | Glacial Ridge Hospital | Glenwood | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 81 | Hutchinson Health | Hutchinson | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 81 | Ridgeview Medical Center | Waconia | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 86 | St Gabriels Hospital | Little Falls | 141 min (2 h 21 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 87 | Winona Health Services | Winona | 142 min (2 h 22 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 88 | Northfield Hospital | Northfield | 144 min (2 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 89 | Centracare- Rice Memorial Hospital | Willmar | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 90 | Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital | Grand Rapids | 149 min (2 h 29 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 91 | Fairview Northland Regional Hospital | Princeton | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 92 | St Francis Regional Medical Center | Shakopee | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 92 | St Josephs Area Health Services | Park Rapids | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 94 | Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing | Red Wing | 152 min (2 h 32 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 95 | Glencoe Regional Health | Glencoe | 158 min (2 h 38 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 95 | M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital | Woodbury | 158 min (2 h 38 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 97 | Sanford Bagley Medical Center | Bagley | 160 min (2 h 40 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 98 | Stevens Community Medical Center Inc | Morris | 166 min (2 h 46 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 99 | Lakeview Memorial Hospital | Stillwater | 168 min (2 h 48 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 100 | Range Regional Health Services | Hibbing | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 101 | M Health Fairview University of MN Medical Center | Minneapolis | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 102 | Mercy Hospital | Coon Rapids | 178 min (2 h 58 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 103 | Allina United Hospital | Saint Paul | 182 min (3 h 2 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 104 | Abbott Northwestern Hospital | Minneapolis | 183 min (3 h 3 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 104 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato | Mankato | 183 min (3 h 3 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 106 | Fairview Lakes Health Services | Wyoming | 186 min (3 h 6 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 107 | M Health Fairview St John's Hospital | Maplewood | 188 min (3 h 8 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 108 | M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital | Burnsville | 190 min (3 h 10 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 109 | Sanford Bemidji Medical Center | Bemidji | 193 min (3 h 13 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 110 | Maple Grove Hospital | Maple Grove | 194 min (3 h 14 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 111 | Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center | Duluth | 201 min (3 h 21 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 112 | M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital | Edina | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 112 | North Memorial Health Hospital | Robbinsdale | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 6% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 114 | CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital | Saint Cloud | 217 min (3 h 37 min) | 6% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 115 | St Lukes Hospital | Duluth | 227 min (3 h 47 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 116 | Regions Hospital | Saint Paul | 231 min (3 h 51 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 117 | Hennepin County Medical Center | Minneapolis | 235 min (3 h 55 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 118 | Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester | Rochester | 246 min (4 h 6 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 119 | Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital | Saint Louis Park | 257 min (4 h 17 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
† Medicare footnote 3: the result is based on a shorter period than required.
ER wait times by city in Minnesota
Common questions
Which ER in Minnesota has the shortest wait?
In Medicare's data for October 2024 to September 2025, Mille Lacs Health System had the shortest median time patients spent in the emergency room before going home: 42 minutes. This is the total time of the visit, not the time before seeing a doctor, and it is an average of past patients, not a promise for your visit.
What is the average ER wait time in Minnesota?
The middle value of the 119 hospitals listed here is 126 minutes. The national figure published by Medicare is 162 minutes. Each hospital's number is the median time from arriving at the emergency room to leaving it, for patients who were treated and went home.
Should I drive to a farther ER to wait less?
No. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. These times are past averages; emergency rooms see the sickest patients first, and minutes lost on the road can matter more than minutes in a waiting room.
Does a shorter time mean a better emergency room?
Not by itself. Busier emergency rooms and hospitals that treat more serious cases usually have longer times, so the ER volume is shown next to each time. The time is one measure among many on each hospital’s page.
Sources and dates
- Timely and Effective Care - Hospital — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), data updated July 22, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026. Times: patients seen October 2024 to September 2025; left without being seen: January 2024 to December 2024.
- Timely and Effective Care - National — CMS, data updated July 22, 2026 (the national figures).
Only open hospitals that list an emergency room and report this time are included. The state and city figures are the median of the hospitals listed, calculated by us from the same CMS hospital file. Wording last revised November 11, 2026. Not medical advice.