Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Cloquet, MN

Drive Time

2h 50m

Distance

150.6 mi

242 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Trip Overview

The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 150.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cedar Avenue, I 35E North, Purple Heart Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.16 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.3 miles from Apple Valley, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 150.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cedar Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Cedar Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
I 35E North Unavailable Refreshing
Purple Heart Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing
US 10 West Unavailable Refreshing
MN 33 Unavailable Refreshing
the route Unavailable Refreshing
Cloquet Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
4th Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Cedar Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Cloquet, MN.

1

Start on County Road 42

36 ft · 6 sec · County Road 42
2

Turn right onto Cedar Avenue

2.9 mi · 4 min · Cedar Avenue
3

Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Saint Paul

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 35E North: Saint Paul
4

Merge slight left

11 mi · 13 min
5

Keep slight left

2.7 mi · 4 min
6

Keep slight left

0.4 mi · 36 sec
7

Merge slight right onto Purple Heart Memorial Highway

351 ft · 5 sec · Purple Heart Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit slight left toward I 35E North, US 10 West

5.2 mi · 6 min · I 35E North, US 10 West
9

Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East

0.3 mi · 20 sec · US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North, I 694 East

0.5 mi · 35 sec · I 35E North, I 694 East
11

Merge slight left

0.8 mi · 1 min
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North: Duluth

18 mi · 19 min · I 35E North: Duluth
13

Keep slight left

105 mi · 1 hr 52 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
15

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

128 ft · 2 sec · the route
16

Exit the roundabout

2.1 mi · 3 min
17

Turn right onto Cloquet Avenue

466 ft · 15 sec · Cloquet Avenue
18

Turn right onto 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
19

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 1h 25m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.3 miles or 1h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cloquet, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Apple Valley, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Apple Valley, MN

This is one driving day of about 150.6 miles and 2h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Apple Valley, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.3 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 1h 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Circle Pines, MN

75 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Circle Pines, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Circle Pines, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.3 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cloquet, MN

The final approach into Cloquet, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cloquet, MN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.16 one way

$42.32 round trip

$3.57/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $23.25 $46.50
premium $4.39 $26.04 $52.08
diesel $4.86 $28.84 $57.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.2 0 $15.81 $7.23
Efficient EV 37.7 0 $13.18 $6.02
EV Truck/SUV 60.2 0 $21.08 $9.64

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Apple Valley, MN

Morning in Apple Valley on Saturday

Local time

8:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Cloquet, MN

Morning in Cloquet on Saturday

Local time

8:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

29°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

71°F

Circle Pines, MN

75 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

26 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 50m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 150.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cedar Avenue, I 35E North, Purple Heart Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.3 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 $21.16 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Cloquet, MN to Apple Valley, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

151.1 mi 2h 15m

Explore more options from Apple Valley, MN or browse trips ending in Cloquet, MN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.

Explore maps for Apple Valley, MN or Cloquet, MN on MapSof.net.