Trip from Cloquet, MN to Eden Prairie, MN

Drive Time

2h 54m

Distance

154.1 mi

248 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 44m ★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m

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 Eden Prairie, MN, MN

Eden Prairie, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Cloquet to Eden Prairie covers 154.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because this route is entirely within Minnesota, you will stay in the Midwest throughout your journey. With a manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating primarily via I-35, I-35W, and MN-100, you will find this path straightforward and efficient. It is an ideal choice if you prioritize reaching your destination quickly rather than lingering on 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

77 miles from Cloquet, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 97% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The route features a significant 109.7-mile stretch on I-35, which dominates the majority of your time behind the wheel. You will notice the character of the drive shift as you transition from the interstate system onto MN-100 while approaching the Eden Prairie area. Because it is a highway-focused drive, the pace remains steady and consistent throughout. Be prepared for a functional, no-nonsense commute that favors speed and directness over winding scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 112.5 miles in near I 35W.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 154.1 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 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
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
127.2 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward I 694 West

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 26C Toward I 694 West
7
132.6 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward MN 100

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35A Toward MN 100
6
146.2 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in

Take the exit toward MN 62 West

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward MN 62 West
7
148.4 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in | US 212

Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212

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

Use the none / slight right lanes. Exit 106A Toward US 212

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 109.7 mi 1h 57m
I 35W 14.7 mi 16m
MN 100 13 mi 16m
I 694 4.9 mi 6m
US 212 4.4 mi 5m
MN 33 2.7 mi 4m
Crosstown Highway 1.7 mi 2m
Mitchell Road 0.5 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 Eden Prairie, 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

15 mi · 16 min · I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 26C Toward I 694 West Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 694

4.9 mi · 6 min · I 694
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 35A Toward MN 100 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on MN 100

13 mi · 16 min · MN 100
Use the none lane.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward MN 62 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto MN 62

1.7 mi · 2 min · Crosstown Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto US 212

4.4 mi · 5 min · US 212
Exit 106A Toward US 212 Use the none / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn left onto CR 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · Mitchell Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17

Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
18

Arrive at destination

Scenic Heights Road

Trip Plan

Since the entire drive is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. While the trip only strictly requires one stop, taking a quick break during your 154.1-mile journey can help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cloquet to ensure you stay within your $22 budget, as highway driving can impact efficiency. Because the majority of your travel occurs on I-35, stay alert for potential traffic shifts as you merge onto I-35W and eventually MN-100 near your destination. Planning for a single, well-timed pause will make the transition into the Eden Prairie area much smoother.

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 77 miles from Cloquet, MN, or about 1h 24m 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 77 miles or 1h 24m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eden Prairie, 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 154.1 miles and 2h 54m.

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 77 mi from Cloquet, MN · 1h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Birchwood, MN

77 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 77 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 Eden Prairie, MN

The final approach into Eden Prairie, 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 Eden Prairie, 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

$22.04 one way

$44.08 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $23.79 $47.58
premium $4.39 $26.65 $53.29
diesel $5.64 $34.24 $68.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.2 0 $16.18 $7.40
Efficient EV 38.5 0 $13.48 $6.16
EV Truck/SUV 61.6 0 $21.57 $9.86

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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

3:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

29°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eden Prairie, MN

Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Sunday

Local time

3:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°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

11 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 54m 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 Eden Prairie, MN covers 154.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35W, MN 100. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77 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 $22.04 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 13 significant decision points across 154.1 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 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cloquet, MN to Eden Prairie, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Eden Prairie, MN to Cloquet, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

154.7 mi 2h 54m

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