Origin
Bloomington, MN
Late night in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, MN to Afton, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.4 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Afton, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bloomington, MN to Afton, MN is 28.4 miles and takes about 39m via I 494, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, making it a convenient local excursion. The drive is a mixed bag, offering a brief taste of interstate travel followed by local road navigation. It's the perfect length for a quick getaway, whether you're looking to explore a new area or simply break up your routine. Consider this route for a straightforward journey with minimal time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 28.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 54% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a 14.4-mile stretch on I 494, which provides a taste of faster, more direct travel. Following that, the drive transitions to local roads like Bailey Road and 40th Street South, requiring a shift in pace and attention. Expect a blend of interstate cruising and suburban street driving as you make your way toward Afton. The character of the drive changes as you move from the efficiency of the interstate to the more nuanced navigation of local thoroughfares.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 494 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 28.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 35W North
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
16 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Wakota Bridge
Take the exit onto Wakota Bridge toward CH 38: Maxwell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63C
Toward CH 38: Maxwell Avenue
6
16.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CH 38 / Maxwell Avenue
Turn left onto CH 38 / Maxwell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 14.4 mi | 18m |
| Bailey Road | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| 40th Street South | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Afton Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 35W | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Maxwell Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Wakota Bridge | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 14.4 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Afton, MN.
1
Start on West 90th Street
163 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 90th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 35W North
3
Merge onto I 35W
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
14 mi
·
18 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto Wakota Bridge
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Wakota Bridge
Exit 63C
Toward CH 38: Maxwell Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto CH 38
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Maxwell Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on CH 18
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Bailey Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
11
Continue on CH 18
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bailey Road
12
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
13
Continue on CH 18
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Bailey Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
123 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
15
Continue on CH 18
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Bailey Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on CH 18
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
40th Street South
17
Continue on CH 18
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Afton Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
CH 18
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.23 one way
$8.45 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.55 | $9.11 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.07 | $10.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.27 | $12.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Afton, MN
Late night in Afton on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
39m 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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bloomington, MN to Afton, MN covers 28.4 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 494, Bailey Road, 40th Street South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Bloomington, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.23 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 28.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bloomington, MN to Afton, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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