Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Thursday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Babbitt, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
234.8 mi
378 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 26m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Babbitt, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Babbitt, MN covers 234.8 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Avenue South, I 35W North, MN 36 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 234.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 39m drive with frequent turns across 234.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Washington Avenue South 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Babbitt, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Avenue South | — | — |
| I 35W North | — | — |
| MN 36 | — | — |
| MN 33 | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| MN 169 | — | — |
| Highway 169 | — | — |
| Highway 21 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Washington Avenue South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Babbitt, MN.
1
Start on Washington Avenue South
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
2
Continue on Washington Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
3
Take the ramp left toward I 35W North
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 35W North
4
Merge slight left
3.7 mi
·
4 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward MN 36
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
MN 36
6
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
7
Keep slight left
7.1 mi
·
8 min
8
Keep slight left
17 mi
·
18 min
9
Keep slight left
105 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
12
Exit the roundabout
19 mi
·
25 min
13
Take the exit straight
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
14
Merge slight right
37 mi
·
43 min
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
112 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
16
Exit the roundabout
10 mi
·
13 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward MN 169: Ely
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
MN 169: Ely
18
Continue on State Highway 169
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 169
19
Turn right onto Highway 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 21
20
Continue on County Highway 21
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
County Highway 21
21
Continue on Highway 21
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 21
22
Continue on Ely-Babbitt Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ely-Babbitt Road
23
Continue on County Highway 70
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
County Highway 70
24
Turn right onto Babbitt Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Babbitt Road
25
Turn left onto South Drive
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Drive
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 2h 19m 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.4 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Babbitt, 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 234.8 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Minneapolis, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.4 mi from Minneapolis, MN · 2h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Babbitt, MN
The final approach into Babbitt, 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 Babbitt, 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
$34.94 one way
$69.89 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $37.65 | $75.30 |
| premium | $4.53 | $41.89 | $83.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.84 | $103.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.4 | 0 | $24.65 | $11.27 |
| Efficient EV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.54 | $9.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.9 | 1 | $32.87 | $15.03 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Babbitt, MN
Afternoon in Babbitt on Thursday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
6 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
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Babbitt, MN covers 234.8 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Avenue South, I 35W North, MN 36. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.4 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 $34.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Minneapolis, MN to Babbitt, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minneapolis, MN to Babbitt, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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