Trip from Brooklyn Park, MN to Cloquet, MN

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

136.1 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 21m ★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m

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

Downtown Brooklyn Park, MN, MN

Brooklyn Park, MN

Sasha Zilov

Downtown Cloquet, MN, MN

Cloquet, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Brooklyn Park to Cloquet, you are looking at a straightforward 136.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 31 minutes. Since this route is easily manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you want to extend your time in the area. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising along I-35, I-35W, and MN-610. Budgeting roughly $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip, making this a budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. Overall, this is a practical, highway-focused drive that connects two parts of Minnesota efficiently. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct path over winding backroads.

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

68.1 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient drive, as 97% of this journey is spent on major highways. The character of the road is defined by its interstate focus, highlighted by a significant 105-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-35 that allows for steady cruising. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can anticipate a consistent pace from start to finish. While the drive lacks the complexity of technical local roads, it offers the reliability of a well-maintained interstate system. You will find that the rhythm of the drive remains remarkably steady, helping you reach Cloquet without the fatigue often associated with navigating smaller, slower roadways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 105 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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 10 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 none / 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 none / 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
5
11.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 35W

Merge onto I 35W

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

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 105 mi 1h 52m
I 35W 16.5 mi 17m
MN-610 5.1 mi 5m
US 10 3.4 mi 3m
MN 33 2.7 mi 4m
Zane Avenue North 2.2 mi 4m
Cloquet Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
4th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 105 mi, about 1h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CR 14

2.2 mi · 4 min · Zane Avenue North
Use the none 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto US 10

3.4 mi · 3 min · US 10
Use the none / 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 none lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

105 mi · 1 hr 52 min · I 35
8

Take the exit onto MN 33

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
9

Enter roundabout onto MN 33

127 ft · 1 sec · MN 33
10

Continue on MN 33

2.1 mi · 3 min · MN 33
11

Turn right onto CR 45

465 ft · 14 sec · Cloquet Avenue
12

Turn right onto 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
13

Arrive at destination

4th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 136.1-mile trek, consider leaving early in the day to take full advantage of the highway-heavy route while traffic remains light. You only need to plan for one major stop, which provides the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refresh before completing the final leg of your journey. Since I-35 accounts for the longest stretch of your travel, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 105-mile segment to avoid any unnecessary stops in busier corridors. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the short duration gives you plenty of room to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Prioritizing a single, well-timed break will help you maintain your energy levels throughout the entire 2-hour and 31-minute drive.

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 68.1 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 3m

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 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 136.1 miles and 2h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 105 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68.1 mi from Brooklyn Park, MN · 1h 16m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rock Creek, MN

68 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

Mission Creek, MN

Fuel and coffee

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

Pine City, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.1 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 105 miles.

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.

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

$19.47 one way

$38.93 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $21.01 $42.02
premium $4.39 $23.53 $47.07
diesel $5.64 $30.24 $60.47

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: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.91 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.05 $8.71

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Brooklyn Park, MN

Afternoon in Brooklyn Park on Sunday

Local time

3:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cloquet, MN

Afternoon in Cloquet on Sunday

Local time

3:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

29°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

10 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 31m 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 Cloquet, MN covers 136.1 miles and takes about 2h 31m 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 68.1 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 $19.47 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Cloquet, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cloquet, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

135.9 mi 2h 31m

Explore more options from Brooklyn Park, MN or browse trips ending in Cloquet, MN.

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