Origin
Cottonwood, MN
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
133.1 mi
214 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottonwood, MN
Tom Fisk
Bloomington, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 133.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Barstad Road, 390th Street, Highway 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.04 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.5 miles from Cottonwood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 133.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Barstad Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Barstad Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 390th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 23 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 494 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35W South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 90th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 90th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Barstad Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on Main Street
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Barstad Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Barstad Road
3
Turn right onto 390th Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
390th Street
4
Turn left onto State Highway 23
15 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 23
5
Turn right
72 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
154 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
7
Exit the roundabout
10 mi
·
11 min
8
Keep slight right
27 mi
·
32 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 494 East, MN 5 East
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 494 East, MN 5 East
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494 East, MN 5 East
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 35W South: Albert Lea
12
Continue on I 35W South: Albert Lea
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35W South: Albert Lea
13
Merge slight left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward 90th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
90th Street
15
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 90th Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 66.5 miles from Cottonwood, MN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, MN
This is one driving day of about 133.1 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cottonwood, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.5 mi from Cottonwood, MN · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.5 miles from Cottonwood, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bloomington, MN
The final approach into Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.04 one way
$38.07 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $20.55 | $41.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $23.01 | $46.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.57 | $59.14 |
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: 46.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.98 | $6.39 |
| Efficient EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.63 | $8.52 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Bloomington, MN
Afternoon in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Albertville, MN
67 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
30 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 20m 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 Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 133.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Barstad Road, 390th Street, Highway 23. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.5 miles from Cottonwood, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.04 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.
The drive from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cottonwood, MN to Bloomington, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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