Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Bloomington, MN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
15m
Distance
10.2 mi
16 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 10.2 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, County Road 42, East Bloomington Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.3 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
5.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 15m highway drive covering 10.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and County Road 42. The longest continuous stretch is about 6.3 miles on I 35W.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 6.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and County Road 42. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 42 / County Road 42.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 42 / County Road 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 42 / County Road 42
Depart onto CR 42 / County Road 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35W North
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward 90th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| County Road 42 | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| East Bloomington Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 6.3 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 42
Use the left lane.
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W North
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 35W
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
Use the slight right lane.
5
Turn straight onto East Bloomington Freeway
193 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Bloomington Freeway
6
Turn left onto West 90th Street
163 ft
·
4 sec
·
West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 10 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.1 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Apple Valley, MN.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apple Valley, MN
This is one driving day of about 10.2 miles and 15m.
At 10.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 6.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.1 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 8m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bloomington, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bloomington, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.52 one way
$3.04 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.64 | $3.27 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.82 | $3.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.25 | $4.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bloomington, MN
Evening in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 5 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 21 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 10.2 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, County Road 42, East Bloomington Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.1 miles from Apple Valley, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 42 / County Road 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Apple Valley, MN to Bloomington, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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