Minnesota ER wait times by hospital
How long a typical emergency room visit lasts at 120 Minnesota hospitals, from arrival to going home, ranked shortest to longest.
In an emergency, call 911. These are yearly medians, not live wait times. Don't pick an ER from this list when someone needs help now.
Minnesota median
2 hr 6 min
−22 min vs US US median is 2 hr 28 min
Under 2 hours
48 ERs
2 take 4 hours or more
Minnesota emergency rooms ranked by median visit time
Times are for patients treated and sent home, not admitted. The bar shows each ER against the slowest in the state; the tick marks the Minnesota median.
How to read this list
Each time is the median for a full year, so half of visits were shorter and half longer. Busy hospitals treat sicker patients, so a longer time is not by itself a mark against a hospital. "Left before seen" is the share of patients who walked out before a clinician saw them. How this measure works.
Showing the 25 shortest of 120 hospitals
| # | Hospital | Median visit | Left before seen | ER volume | CMS rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mille Lacs Health SystemOnamia 1% left before seen Low volume | 42 min 1 hr 24 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 2 | Cass Lake Indian Health Services HospitalCass Lake 3% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 8 min 58 min faster | 3% | Low | Not rated |
| 3 | Riverview HospitalCrookston 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 18 min 48 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 4 | Red Lake HospitalRed Lake 4% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 22 min 44 min faster | 4% | Low | Not rated |
| 5 | Essentia Health FosstonFosston 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 24 min 42 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 6 | Cannon Falls Med Ctr MayoCannon Falls 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 25 min 41 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 7 | Deer River Healthcare CenterDeer River 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 31 min 35 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 8 | Waseca Medical Center-Mayo Health SystemWaseca 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 34 min 32 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 9 | St Elizabeth Medical CenterWabasha 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 35 min 31 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 10 | Riverwood Healthcare CenterAitkin 3% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 36 min 30 min faster | 3% | Low | Not rated |
| 11 | St James Medical Center - Mayo Health SystemSt James 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 38 min 28 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 12 | Essentia Health AdaAda 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 39 min 27 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 13 | Windom Area HospitalWindom 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 39 min 27 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 14 | Avera Granite FallsGranite Falls | 1 hr 39 min 27 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 15 | Fairmont Medical CenterFairmont 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 1 hr 39 min 27 min faster | 0% | Low | |
| 16 | New Ulm Medical CenterNew Ulm 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 1 hr 40 min 26 min faster | 0% | Low | |
| 17 | Ely Bloomenson Community HospitalEly | 1 hr 40 min 26 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 18 | Essentia Health SandstoneSandstone 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 42 min 24 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 19 | Cuyuna Regional Medical CenterCrosby 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 1 hr 42 min 24 min faster | 1% | Low | |
| 20 | Wheaton Community HospitalWheaton 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 43 min 23 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 21 | Minnesota Valley Health CenterLe Sueur 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 45 min 21 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 22 | Sanford Canby Medical CenterCanby 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 46 min 20 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 23 | Chippewa County HospitalMontevideo 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 46 min 20 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 24 | Sanford Medical Center Thief River FallsThief River Falls 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 47 min 19 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 25 | Sleepy Eye Municipal HospitalSleepy Eye | 1 hr 47 min 19 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 26 | Madison HospitalMadison 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 48 min 18 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 27 | Centracare Health System - Sauk CentreSauk Centre 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 49 min 17 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 28 | St Francis Healthcare CampusBreckenridge 1% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 50 min 16 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 29 | Lake City Medical Center Mayo Health SystemLake City 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 50 min 16 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 30 | Kittson Memorial HospitalHallock 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 51 min 15 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 31 | Tyler Healthcare CenterTyler | 1 hr 52 min 14 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 32 | Northern Pines Medical CenterAurora 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 52 min 14 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 33 | Essentia Health Moose LakeMoose Lake 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 52 min 14 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 34 | Sanford Westbrook Medical CenterWestbrook 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 52 min 14 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 35 | Cook HospitalCook | 1 hr 53 min 13 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 36 | Sibley Medical CenterArlington 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 53 min 13 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 37 | North Valley Health CenterWarren 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 54 min 12 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 38 | Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical CenterBrainerd 1% left before seen Medium volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 1 hr 54 min 12 min faster | 1% | Medium | |
| 39 | Sanford Worthington Medical CenterWorthington 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 1 hr 55 min 11 min faster | 1% | Low | |
| 40 | Hendricks Community HospitalHendricks 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 55 min 11 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 41 | Sanford Luverne Medical CenterLuverne 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 56 min 10 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 42 | Swift County Benson HospitalBenson 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 56 min 10 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 43 | Murray County Memorial HospitalSlayton 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 56 min 10 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 44 | Owatonna HospitalOwatonna 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 1 hr 56 min 10 min faster | 1% | Low | |
| 45 | Sanford TracyTracy 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 56 min 10 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 46 | Mayo Clinic Health System New PragueNew Prague 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 2/5 CMS | 1 hr 57 min 9 min faster | 1% | Low | |
| 47 | Lifecare Medical CenterRoseau 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 57 min 9 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 48 | Lakewood Health CenterBaudette 0% left before seen Low volume | 1 hr 58 min 8 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 49 | Ortonville Area Health ServicesOrtonville 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 6 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 50 | Madelia Community HospitalMadelia 2% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 1 min 5 min faster | 2% | Low | Not rated |
| 51 | Meeker Memorial HospitalLitchfield | 2 hr 2 min 4 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 52 | Centracare Health System - Long PrairieLong Prairie 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 3 min 3 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 53 | Community Memorial HospitalCloquet 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 3 min 3 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 54 | Sanford Jackson Medical CenterJackson 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 4 min 2 min faster | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 55 | Paynesville Area HospitalPaynesville 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 4 min 2 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 56 | Lake View Memorial HospitalTwo Harbors 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 4 min 2 min faster | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 57 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and AustinAlbert Lea 2% left before seen High volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 2 hr 4 min 2 min faster | 2% | High | |
| 58 | Olivia Hospital & ClinicOlivia 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 2/5 CMS | 2 hr 4 min 2 min faster | 0% | Low | |
| 59 | Bigfork Valley HospitalBigfork | 2 hr 5 min 1 min faster | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 60 | Johnson Memorial HospitalDawson 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 6 min At state median | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 61 | Avera Marshall Regional Medical CtrMarshall 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 6 min At state median | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 62 | Lakewood Health SystemStaples 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 6 min At state median | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 63 | Redwood Area HospitalRedwood Falls 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 8 min 2 min slower | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 64 | River's Edge Hospital & ClinicSt Peter 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 8 min 2 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 65 | Allina Health Faribault Medical CenterFaribault 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 8 min 2 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 66 | United Hospital DistrictBlue Earth 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 2 hr 8 min 2 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 67 | Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health ServicesElbow Lake 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 8 min 2 min slower | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 68 | North Shore HealthGrand Marais 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 9 min 3 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 69 | Holy Trinity HospitalGraceville 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 11 min 5 min slower | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 70 | Rainy Lake Medical CenterInternational Falls 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 11 min 5 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 71 | Virginia Regional Medical CenterVirginia 3% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 11 min 5 min slower | 3% | Low | |
| 72 | Centracare Health - MonticelloMonticello 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 12 min 6 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 73 | Pipestone County Medical Center Ashton CcPipestone | 2 hr 12 min 6 min slower | Not reported | Not reported | Not rated |
| 74 | Olmsted Medical CenterRochester 1% left before seen Medium volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 15 min 9 min slower | 1% | Medium | |
| 75 | Perham Memorial Hospital & HomePerham 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 15 min 9 min slower | 0% | Low | |
| 76 | Alomere HealthAlexandria 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 16 min 10 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 77 | Welia HealthMora 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 17 min 11 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 78 | Appleton Municipal HospitalAppleton 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 17 min 11 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 79 | Buffalo HospitalBuffalo 1% left before seen Medium volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 2 hr 18 min 12 min slower | 1% | Medium | |
| 80 | Astera HealthWadena 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 18 min 12 min slower | 0% | Low | |
| 81 | St Marys Regional Health CenterDetroit Lakes 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 20 min 14 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 82 | Glacial Ridge HospitalGlenwood 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 20 min 14 min slower | 0% | Low | |
| 83 | Hutchinson Area Health CareHutchinson 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 20 min 14 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 84 | Ridgeview Medical CenterWaconia 2% left before seen High volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 20 min 14 min slower | 2% | High | |
| 85 | Cambridge Medical CenterCambridge 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 20 min 14 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 86 | Centracare Health System - Melrose HospitalMelrose 0% left before seen Low volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 2 hr 21 min 15 min slower | 0% | Low | |
| 87 | St Gabriels HospitalLittle Falls 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 21 min 15 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 88 | Winona Health ServicesWinona 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 2/5 CMS | 2 hr 22 min 16 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 89 | Northfield HospitalNorthfield 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 24 min 18 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 90 | Rice Memorial HospitalWillmar 3% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 26 min 20 min slower | 3% | Low | |
| 91 | Grand Itasca Clinic and HospitalGrand Rapids 3% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 29 min 23 min slower | 3% | Low | |
| 92 | Fairview Northland Regional HospitalPrinceton 1% left before seen Medium volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 30 min 24 min slower | 1% | Medium | |
| 93 | St Francis Regional Medical CenterShakopee 1% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 31 min 25 min slower | 1% | Very high | |
| 94 | St Josephs Area Health ServicesPark Rapids 3% left before seen Low volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 31 min 25 min slower | 3% | Low | |
| 95 | Fairview Red Wing HospitalRed Wing 2% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 32 min 26 min slower | 2% | Low | |
| 96 | Glencoe Regional Health ServicesGlencoe 1% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 38 min 32 min slower | 1% | Low | Not rated |
| 97 | Healtheast Woodwinds HospitalWoodbury 2% left before seen Medium volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 38 min 32 min slower | 2% | Medium | |
| 98 | Sanford Bagley Medical CenterBagley 2% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 40 min 34 min slower | 2% | Low | Not rated |
| 99 | Stevens Community Medical CenterMorris 0% left before seen Low volume | 2 hr 46 min 40 min slower | 0% | Low | Not rated |
| 100 | Lakeview Memorial HospitalStillwater 1% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 48 min 42 min slower | 1% | Low | |
| 101 | Range Regional Health ServicesHibbing 4% left before seen Low volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 49 min 43 min slower | 4% | Low | |
| 102 | University of Minnesota Medical Center, FairviewMinneapolis 2% left before seen High volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 2 hr 54 min 48 min slower | 2% | High | |
| 103 | Mercy HospitalCoon Rapids 3% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 2 hr 58 min 52 min slower | 3% | Very high | |
| 104 | United HospitalSt Paul 3% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 3 hr 2 min 56 min slower | 3% | Very high | |
| 105 | Mayo Clinic Health System - MankatoMankato 2% left before seen Medium volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 3 hr 3 min 57 min slower | 2% | Medium | |
| 106 | Abbott Northwestern HospitalMinneapolis 3% left before seen Very high volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 3 hr 3 min 57 min slower | 3% | Very high | |
| 107 | Fairview Lakes Health ServicesWyoming 2% left before seen Medium volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 3 hr 6 min 1 hr slower | 2% | Medium | |
| 108 | Healtheast St John's HospitalMaplewood 2% left before seen High volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 3 hr 8 min 1 hr 2 min slower | 2% | High | |
| 109 | Fairview Ridges HospitalBurnsville 2% left before seen Very high volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 3 hr 10 min 1 hr 4 min slower | 2% | Very high | |
| 110 | Sanford Bemidji Medical CenterBemidji 4% left before seen Medium volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 3 hr 13 min 1 hr 7 min slower | 4% | Medium | |
| 111 | Maple Grove HospitalMaple Grove 3% left before seen High volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 3 hr 14 min 1 hr 8 min slower | 3% | High | |
| 112 | Essentia Health St Mary's Medical CenterDuluth 3% left before seen High volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 3 hr 21 min 1 hr 15 min slower | 3% | High | |
| 113 | North Memorial Medical CenterRobbinsdale 6% left before seen Very high volume ★ 1/5 CMS | 3 hr 24 min 1 hr 18 min slower | 6% | Very high | |
| 114 | Fairview Southdale HospitalEdina 4% left before seen Very high volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 3 hr 24 min 1 hr 18 min slower | 4% | Very high | |
| 115 | St Cloud HospitalSt Cloud 6% left before seen High volume ★ 4/5 CMS | 3 hr 37 min 1 hr 31 min slower | 6% | High | |
| 116 | St Lukes HospitalDuluth 4% left before seen Medium volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 3 hr 47 min 1 hr 41 min slower | 4% | Medium | |
| 117 | Regions HospitalSt Paul 4% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 3 hr 51 min 1 hr 45 min slower | 4% | Very high | |
| 118 | Hennepin County Medical CenterMinneapolis 4% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 3 hr 55 min 1 hr 49 min slower | 4% | Very high | |
| 119 | Mayo Clinic - Saint Marys HospitalRochester 3% left before seen Very high volume ★ 5/5 CMS | 4 hr 6 min 2 hr slower | 3% | Very high | |
| 120 | Park Nicollet Methodist HospitalSaint Louis Park 3% left before seen Very high volume ★ 3/5 CMS | 4 hr 17 min 2 hr 11 min slower | 3% | Very high |
No Minnesota hospitals match that search. Try a city name, or .
ER wait times in Minnesota's largest cities
Median visit time across the hospitals listed in each city. Pick a city to filter the list above.
| City | ERs | Median | Shortest in the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 hr 3 min | University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview · 2 hr 54 min | |
| 2 | 3 hr 10 min | Olmsted Medical Center · 2 hr 15 min | |
| 2 | 3 hr 26 min | United Hospital · 3 hr 2 min | |
| 2 | 3 hr 34 min | Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center · 3 hr 21 min |
Questions about Minnesota ER wait times
Which Minnesota ER has the shortest wait?
Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, with a median visit of 42 min. Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital in Cass Lake is next at 1 hr 8 min.
Which Minnesota ER has the longest wait?
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, at 4 hr 17 min. The busiest emergency departments tend to have the longest visits because they treat more patients and more complex cases.
How long is the average ER visit in Minnesota?
The median is 2 hr 6 min, 22 min shorter than the US median of 2 hr 28 min. 48 of 120 Minnesota ERs come in under two hours and 2 take four hours or more.
Are these live wait times?
No. They are 12-month medians for patients who were treated and sent home, published by CMS. They show what is typical, not what is happening tonight. In an emergency, call 911.
Why are big hospitals slower?
Low-volume Minnesota ERs have a median visit of 2 hr. High and very-high-volume ERs come in at 3 hr 12 min. Large hospitals see more patients and sicker ones, and many are trauma centers.
ER wait times in neighboring states
Source: CMS Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting, measure OP-18b (median time from ED arrival to departure for discharged patients), published July 2026. Updated when CMS publishes new data.
Hospitals with too few cases to report are not listed; they still have a page in the Minnesota hospital directory. Campuses that CMS reports under one facility number appear once. Not affiliated with CMS.