Origin
Bloomington, MN
Afternoon in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, MN to Blue Earth, MN
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
124.1 mi
200 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Tom Fisk
Blue Earth, MN
Nothing Ahead
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 124.1 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, I 90, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.8 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.75 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.1 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 17m highway drive covering 124.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.8 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 15 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 81.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Bloomington Freeway.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 12 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 (West Bloomington Freeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Bloomington Freeway
Turn left onto West Bloomington Freeway
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35W South
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
82 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
5
124.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 81.8 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 90 | 39.2 mi | 42m |
| North Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| US Highway 169 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Fairgrounds Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Bloomington Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 81.8 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on West 90th Street
207 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 90th Street
2
Turn left onto West Bloomington Freeway
150 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Bloomington Freeway
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 35W South
4
Merge onto I 35W
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
I 35W
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 90
39 mi
·
42 min
·
I 90
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 169: Blue Earth
8
Turn left onto US 169
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
US Highway 169
9
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft
·
1 sec
·
Fairgrounds Road
10
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Fairgrounds Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
12
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 7th Street
13
Turn right
53 ft
·
6 sec
14
Turn right
58 ft
·
4 sec
15
Arrive at 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.1 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.8 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.1 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, MN
This is one driving day of about 124.1 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bloomington, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 81.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.1 mi from Bloomington, MN · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.1 miles from Bloomington, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35W if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.8 miles.
Arriving in Blue Earth, MN
The final approach into Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth, 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
$17.75 one way
$35.50 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $19.16 | $38.31 |
| premium | $4.39 | $21.46 | $42.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.57 | $55.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.03 | $5.96 |
| Efficient EV | 31 | 0 | $10.86 | $4.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.37 | $7.94 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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
Blue Earth, MN
Afternoon in Blue Earth on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
2h 17m 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 Blue Earth, MN covers 124.1 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 90, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.1 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 $17.75 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 2h 17m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Bloomington Freeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bloomington, MN to Blue Earth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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