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Trip from Brooklyn Park, MN to Arnold, MN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 6m

Distance

161.2 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 54m ★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m

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

suburb city of Minneapolis, located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Brooklyn Park, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Arnold, MN, MN

Arnold, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Brooklyn Park, MN to Arnold, MN covers 161.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m 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 35W, MN-610 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.8 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.99 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

80.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 161.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 6m highway drive covering 161.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35W. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.8 miles on I 35.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 161.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward MN 610 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward MN 610 East
5
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | MN 610 / MN-610

Merge onto MN 610 / MN-610

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.7 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 10

Merge onto US 10

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.2 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 35W North: Duluth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 236 Toward I 35W North: Duluth
6
152.9 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | MN 194 / Mesaba Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194 / Mesaba Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 123.8 mi 2h 14m
I 35W 16.5 mi 17m
MN-610 5.1 mi 5m
Howard Gnesen Road 4.1 mi 7m
US 10 3.4 mi 3m
Zane Avenue North 2.2 mi 4m
Kenwood Avenue 1.4 mi 3m
Mesaba Avenue 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 123.8 mi, about 2h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Arnold, MN.

1

Start on CR 14

2.2 mi · 4 min · Zane Avenue North
Use the left lane.
2

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward MN 610 East Use the right lane.
3

Merge onto MN 610

5.1 mi · 5 min · MN-610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto US 10

3.4 mi · 3 min · US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 236 Toward I 35W North: Duluth Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Merge onto I 35W

16 mi · 17 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

124 mi · 2 hr 14 min · I 35
8

Take the exit onto MN 194

0.3 mi · 38 sec · MN 194
9

Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194

0.4 mi · 24 sec · MN 194
10

Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194

1.3 mi · 1 min · Mesaba Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11

Turn right onto East 13th Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East 13th Street
12

Turn left onto East Skyline Parkway

0.4 mi · 57 sec · East Skyline Parkway
13

Turn straight onto Kenwood Avenue

1.4 mi · 3 min · Kenwood Avenue
14

Continue on CH 34

4.1 mi · 7 min · Howard Gnesen Road
15

Turn right onto CH 2

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Tischer Road
16

Turn left onto CH 36

55 ft · 1 sec · Arnold Road
17

Arrive at destination

CH 36

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.8 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 35 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 26m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, MN

This is one driving day of about 161.2 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Brooklyn Park, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 123.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.6 mi from Brooklyn Park, MN · 1h 30m into the drive

Downtown Hinckley, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hinckley, MN

81 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Finlayson, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, 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 123.8 miles.

Arriving in Arnold, MN

The final approach into Arnold, 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 Arnold, MN.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.99 one way

$47.98 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $25.85 $51.70
premium $4.53 $28.76 $57.52
diesel $5.61 $35.59 $71.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.4 0 $16.93 $7.74
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.10 $6.45
EV Truck/SUV 64.5 0 $22.57 $10.32

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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

Brooklyn Park, MN

Evening in Brooklyn Park on Thursday

Local time

5:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arnold, MN

Evening in Arnold on Thursday

Local time

5:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

39°F

Hinckley, MN

81 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

13 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

3h 6m 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 Brooklyn Park, MN to Arnold, MN covers 161.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35W, MN-610. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.6 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 161.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brooklyn Park, MN to Arnold, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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