Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Bloomington, MN
Drive Time
16m
Distance
10.7 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 10.7 miles and takes about 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, 3rd Avenue South, MN 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.53 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
5.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 16m highway drive covering 10.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and 3rd Avenue South. The longest continuous stretch is about 9 miles on I 35W.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and 3rd Avenue South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Avenue South.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Avenue South
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-35W South
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35W South
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
10.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward 90th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 9 mi | 11m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| MN 65 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 10th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
63 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue South
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South 10th Street
406 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 10th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I-35W South
5
Continue on MN 65
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 65
6
Merge onto I 35W
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
I 35W
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
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 5.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9 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 10.7 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.4 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 14m
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 Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 10.7 miles and 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minneapolis, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.4 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 10.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.4 miles from Minneapolis, 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
$1.53 one way
$3.06 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $1.65 | $3.30 |
| premium | $4.39 | $1.85 | $3.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.38 | $4.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°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
1 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
16m 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 Minneapolis, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 10.7 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, 3rd Avenue South, MN 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.53 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 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Bloomington, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bloomington, MN
More trips to Bloomington, MN
Explore more options from Minneapolis, MN or browse trips ending in Bloomington, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Minneapolis, MN or Bloomington, MN on MapSof.net.