Origin
Cloquet, MN
Afternoon in Cloquet on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 31m
Distance
135.9 mi
219 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cloquet, MN
Tom Fisk
Brooklyn Park, MN
Sasha Zilov
Connecting Cloquet to Brooklyn Park, this 135.9-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Minnesota. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 31 minutes behind the wheel, making it an easy day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. The route primarily utilizes I-35, I-35W, and MN-610 to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, it is an affordable way to transition from the northern reaches of the state toward the Twin Cities metro area. Since this is entirely within the Midwest, you will find the infrastructure consistent and easy to navigate for a single day of travel.
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
67.9 miles from Cloquet, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
This is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on major interstates. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 109.7 miles along I-35. Because the vast majority of the route is interstate, you can anticipate a fast-paced experience rather than a winding backroads tour. While the road is efficient, be prepared for the transition from open highway cruising to the busier, higher-traffic environment as you approach Brooklyn Park via MN-610. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed for speed and directness.
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 near MN 33.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 135.9 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 (MN 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto MN 33 toward I 35 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 14: Zane Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 109.7 mi | 1h 57m |
| I 35W | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| MN-610 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| US 10 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| MN 33 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Zane Avenue North | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Cloquet Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cloquet, MN and Brooklyn Park, MN.
Start on 4th Street
Turn left onto CR 45
Turn left onto MN 33
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
Continue on MN 33
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Merge onto US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 14
Arrive at destination
To keep your trip efficient, plan for at least one stop during the 2.5-hour duration to stretch your legs. Since the route is short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours near the destination will make for a smoother arrival. Keep in mind that your fuel budget of $19 is an estimate, so check your vehicle's range before leaving Cloquet to ensure you have enough to cover the full 135.9 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on I-35, keep an eye on traffic reports for the interstate before you head out. Utilizing this single-day itinerary allows you to reach Brooklyn Park without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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.
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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.9 miles or 1h 14m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn Park, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cloquet, 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 Cloquet, MN
This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 2h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.9 mi from Cloquet, MN · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67.9 miles from Cloquet, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.7 miles.
The final approach into Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, 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.
Regular Gas
$19.44 one way
$38.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $20.98 | $41.96 |
| premium | $4.39 | $23.50 | $47.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.19 | $60.38 |
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: 47.5 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 | $14.27 | $6.52 |
| Efficient EV | 34 | 0 | $11.89 | $5.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.03 | $8.70 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Cloquet on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Brooklyn Park on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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