Trip from Cloquet, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

135.9 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 21m ★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 25m

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

Downtown Cloquet, MN, MN

Cloquet, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Brooklyn Park, MN, MN

Brooklyn Park, MN

Sasha Zilov

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

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 109.7 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 near MN 33.

Route Complexity 7/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | MN 33

Enter roundabout onto MN 33 toward I 35 South

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward I 35 South
7
112.5 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | I 35W

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
123.8 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Take the exit toward US 10 West

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 30 Toward US 10 West
6
127.7 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | MN 610 / MN-610

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
133 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward CR 14: Zane Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward CR 14: Zane Avenue

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 35 — 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
2

Turn left onto CR 45

519 ft · 22 sec · Cloquet Avenue
3

Turn left onto MN 33

2.1 mi · 3 min · MN 33
4

Enter roundabout onto MN 33

77 ft · 1 sec · MN 33
Toward I 35 South
5

Continue on MN 33

0.5 mi · 40 sec · MN 33
Toward I 35 South
6

Merge onto I 35

110 mi · 1 hr 57 min · I 35
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W

11 mi · 12 min · I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Exit 30 Toward US 10 West Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto US 10

3.5 mi · 3 min · US 10
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610

5.3 mi · 6 min · MN-610
Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Exit 6 Toward CR 14: Zane Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn left onto CR 14

2.4 mi · 4 min · Zane Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Arrive at destination

CR 14

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.9 miles from Cloquet, MN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cloquet, 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 109.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Rock Creek, MN

Fuel and coffee

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

Rock Creek, MN

Meal break

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 check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.7 miles.

Arriving in Brooklyn Park, MN

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.44 one way

$38.88 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Cloquet, MN

Afternoon in Cloquet on Sunday

Local time

3:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

29°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn Park, MN

Afternoon in Brooklyn Park on Sunday

Local time

3:16 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

10 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 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 Cloquet, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN covers 135.9 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 67.9 miles from Cloquet, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.44 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 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.
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.
The route from Cloquet, MN to Brooklyn Park, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Brooklyn Park, MN to Cloquet, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

136.1 mi 2h 31m

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

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