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Trip from Blue Earth, MN to Bloomington, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

124.4 mi

200 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Minnesota, United States

Blue Earth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bloomington, MN, MN

Bloomington, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Blue Earth, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 124.4 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 35, I 90, I 35W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.51 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.

Midpoint

62.2 miles from Blue Earth, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 75 mi 1h 20m
I 90 39.6 mi 42m
I 35W 7.1 mi 8m
South Main Street 1 mi 2m
US Highway 169 0.5 mi <1m
Fairgrounds Road 0.4 mi <1m
East Bloomington Freeway <0.1 mi <1m
West 90th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 75 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Earth, MN and Bloomington, MN.

1

Start on this road

58 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left

53 ft · 9 sec
3

Turn left onto East 7th Street

150 ft · 8 sec · East 7th Street
4

Turn right onto CR 6

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
5

Turn right onto CR 44

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Fairgrounds Road
6

Enter roundabout onto US 169

293 ft · 12 sec · US Highway 169
7

Continue on US 169

0.5 mi · 40 sec · US Highway 169
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albert Lea
9

Merge onto I 90

40 mi · 42 min · I 90
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto I 35

75 mi · 1 hr 20 min · I 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 7B Toward 90th Street Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn straight onto East Bloomington Freeway

193 ft · 10 sec · East Bloomington Freeway
15

Turn left onto West 90th Street

163 ft · 4 sec · West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16

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 62.2 miles from Blue Earth, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 27 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.2 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth, MN

This is one driving day of about 124.4 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Blue Earth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 75 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Walcott, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Walcott, MN

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

Northwood, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Walcott, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.2 miles from Blue Earth, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Green Mill Restaurant & Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lakeville, Minnesota

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 115.5

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19524358100

Visit website

Green Mill Restaurant & Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 115.5

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19524358100

Visit website

Patrick's Bakery & Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 124.4

Richfield, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+16128617570

Visit website

Nawal Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 124.4

Burnsville, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19524566701

Constellation Coffee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 115.5

Apple Valley, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19529525448

Visit website

Owatonna Arts Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 71.1

Owatonna, Minnesota

+15074510533

Visit website

Missing Pieces Escape Games

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 124.4

Edina, Minnesota

Hours: 12–7:30 pm

+19526588974

Visit website

Wild Things Indoor Playground

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 115.5

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19529608796

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

7
41.8 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
6
117.1 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
124.2 mi into trip | ~2h 16m 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
124.4 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | West 90th Street

Turn left onto West 90th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.51 one way

$37.03 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $19.95 $39.90
premium $4.53 $22.20 $44.39
diesel $5.61 $27.47 $54.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.3 0 $13.06 $5.97
Efficient EV 31.1 0 $10.89 $4.98
EV Truck/SUV 49.8 0 $17.42 $7.96

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Blue Earth, MN

Afternoon in Blue Earth on Saturday

Local time

3:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, MN

Afternoon in Bloomington on Saturday

Local time

3:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Walcott, MN

62 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

1 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

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.

What kind of drive is this?

124.4 mi in 2h 17m, mostly highway — 75 mi of that is on I 35.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 90. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 124.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Blue Earth, MN to Bloomington, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.

Saint Paul

41.8 mi in | ~47m

About the Cities

Arriving in Bloomington, MN

Full guide →

Bloomington, Minnesota is a suburb of Minneapolis. It is near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) and home to the Mall of America, the United States' largest shopping mall. Bloomington has a population of 89,000 people (as of 2021). Bloomington was established as a post–World War II housing boom suburb connected to Minneapolis's urban street grid, and is served by two major freeways: Interstate 35W and Interstate 494.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 124.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 75 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bloomington, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, MN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bloomington, MN to Blue Earth, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

124.1 mi 2h 17m

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