Origin
Ely, MN
Evening in Ely on Thursday
Local time
6:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
55.3 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ely, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 1, West Sheridan Street, Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.5 miles on MN 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 55.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 43 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
43 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 53 South: Virginia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
43.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward MN 135: Gilbert, Biwabik
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 135: Gilbert, Biwabik
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
MN 135 / State Highway 135
Turn left onto MN 135 / State Highway 135
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
MN 37; FH 11 / North Broadway
Turn right onto MN 37; FH 11 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Biwabik along the way.
Biwabik
51.8 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 1 | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| West Sheridan Street | 20.1 mi | 28m |
| Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 135 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| US 53 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| MN 169 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 1
— 21.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, MN and Gilbert, MN.
1
Start on MN 1; MN 169
20 mi
·
28 min
·
West Sheridan Street
2
Continue on MN 1; MN 169
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn straight onto MN 1; MN 169
21 mi
·
29 min
·
MN 1; MN 169
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
Continue on MN 169
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
MN 169
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
6
Merge onto US 53
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 53
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward MN 135: Gilbert, Biwabik
9
Turn left onto MN 135
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 135
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto MN 37; FH 11
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Broadway
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue East
27 ft
·
1 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue East
12
Arrive at destination
Minnesota Avenue East
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.6 mi from Ely, MN · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Ely, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gilbert, MN
The final approach into Gilbert, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.23 one way
$16.46 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.87 | $19.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Gilbert, MN
Evening in Gilbert on Thursday
Local time
6:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Virginia, MN
28 mi in
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
1 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
1h 18m 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 Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 1, West Sheridan Street, Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.6 miles from Ely, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.23 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ely, MN to Gilbert, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Biwabik along the way.
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