Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Cloquet, MN

Drive Time

2h 54m

Distance

154.7 mi

249 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 44m ★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
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 Eden Prairie, MN, MN

Eden Prairie, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Cloquet, MN, MN

Cloquet, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Eden Prairie to Cloquet, you are looking at a straightforward 154.7-mile journey through the heart of Minnesota. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 54 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel budget of approximately $22, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. You will primarily navigate via I-35W, MN-100, and the main artery of I-35 as you head north. Because the entire route remains within the Midwest, the transition between these two locations is seamless and familiar. Given the manageable duration, there is no need to book an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace.

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

77.4 miles from Eden Prairie, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel taking place on high-speed roads. You should prepare for a consistent interstate experience, highlighted by a significant 105-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-35. The route maintains a steady, efficient pace, allowing you to cover ground quickly without the frequent stop-and-go traffic found on local surface streets. While the road is largely functional, the shift from the suburban density near Eden Prairie to the more open corridors of the state keeps the drive feeling productive. It is a reliable, no-nonsense route that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Mitchell Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 154.7 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 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Mitchell Road

Turn left onto Mitchell Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward US 212 East, MN 5 East

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward US 212 East, MN 5 East
7
7.6 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward MN 100 North

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

Use the right lane. Exit 108B Toward MN 100 North
7
21 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 694 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 694 East
7
27 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward I 35W North

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

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 41B Toward I 35W North

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 105 mi 1h 52m
I 35W 19.8 mi 21m
MN 100 13.2 mi 16m
I 694 5.3 mi 5m
US 212 4.4 mi 5m
MN 33 2.7 mi 4m
Crosstown Highway 1.9 mi 2m
Scenic Heights Road 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 105 mi, about 1h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Cloquet, MN.

1

Start on Scenic Heights Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Scenic Heights Road
2

Turn left onto Mitchell Road

0.4 mi · 51 sec · Mitchell Road
Use the none lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 212 East, MN 5 East Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto US 212; MN 5

4.4 mi · 5 min · US 212; MN 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on MN 62

1.9 mi · 2 min · Crosstown Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 108B Toward MN 100 North Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto MN 100

13 mi · 16 min · MN 100
Use the none lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 694 East Use the none lane.
9

Merge onto I 694

5.3 mi · 5 min · I 694
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 41B Toward I 35W North Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 35W

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 35W
Use the none lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

17 mi · 18 min · I 35W
Use the none lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

105 mi · 1 hr 52 min · I 35
14

Take the exit onto MN 33

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
15

Enter roundabout onto MN 33

127 ft · 1 sec · MN 33
16

Continue on MN 33

2.1 mi · 3 min · MN 33
17

Turn right onto CR 45

465 ft · 14 sec · Cloquet Avenue
18

Turn right onto 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
19

Arrive at destination

4th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 154.7-mile trek, aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion near the metro areas. Since the itinerary includes just one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel the need. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long 105-mile stretch on I-35, as services can become more spaced out once you move further north. Because the duration is under three hours, you can comfortably complete the drive in one go, but don't hesitate to pull over if you need a quick reset. Prioritizing your departure time will ensure you arrive in Cloquet feeling refreshed rather than rushed.

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 77.4 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 29m 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.4 miles or 1h 29m 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 22m

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 Eden Prairie, 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 Eden Prairie, MN

This is one driving day of about 154.7 miles and 2h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Eden Prairie, 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 77.4 mi from Eden Prairie, MN · 1h 29m 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 77.4 miles from Eden Prairie, 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

$22.13 one way

$44.25 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $23.88 $47.76
premium $4.39 $26.75 $53.50
diesel $5.64 $34.37 $68.74

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: 54.1 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 46.4 0 $16.24 $7.43
Efficient EV 38.7 0 $13.54 $6.19
EV Truck/SUV 61.9 0 $21.66 $9.90

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

Eden Prairie, MN

Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Sunday

Local time

4:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cloquet, MN

Afternoon in Cloquet on Sunday

Local time

4:52 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

11 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 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 154.7 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 77.4 miles from Eden Prairie, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.13 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 15 significant decision points across 154.7 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 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Eden Prairie, MN to Cloquet, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Cloquet, MN to Eden Prairie, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

154.1 mi 2h 54m

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