Highway 218 ran generally north-south, passing through Brainerd, Pierz, Foley, Becker, Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rosemount, Farmington, Northfield, Faribault, and Owatonna.

The route ran through the counties of Rice, Dakota, Ramsey, Hennepin, Anoka, Sherburne, Benton, Morrison, and Crow Wing.

State Highway 218 was authorized in 1933 from St. Paul to Brainerd.

In 1949, it was extended north of Brainerd to the town of Merrifield.

The bulk of the road south of St. Paul became State Highway 3, and most of the route north of Becker became State Highway 25.