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Trip from Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

151.7 mi

244 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Minnetonka, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Cloquet, MN, MN

Cloquet, MN

Joel Santos

Trip Overview

The drive from Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 151.7 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on County Road 101, Highway 7, MN 100 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.58 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.9 miles from Minnetonka, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 151.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m 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 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 151.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Road 101 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
County Road 101
Highway 7
MN 100 North
CR 5
I 694 East
I 35W North
MN 33
the route

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: County Road 101 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on County Road 101

0.2 mi · 26 sec · County Road 101
2

Continue on County Road 101

0.2 mi · 33 sec · County Road 101
3

Turn right onto Minnesota State Highway 7

2.1 mi · 2 min · Minnesota State Highway 7
4

Keep slight left to continue on Minnesota State Highway 7

6.0 mi · 9 min · Minnesota State Highway 7
5

Take the exit slight right toward MN 100 North

0.2 mi · 25 sec · MN 100 North
6

Merge slight left onto CR 5

9.4 mi · 11 min · CR 5
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 694 East

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 694 East
8

Merge slight left

5.3 mi · 5 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 35W North

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 35W North
10

Merge slight left

3.0 mi · 3 min
11

Keep slight left

17 mi · 18 min
12

Keep slight left

105 mi · 1 hr 52 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

128 ft · 2 sec · the route
15

Exit the roundabout

2.1 mi · 3 min
16

Turn right onto Cloquet Avenue

466 ft · 15 sec · Cloquet Avenue
17

Turn right onto 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
18

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.9 miles from Minnetonka, MN, or about 1h 25m 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 33 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.9 miles or 1h 25m 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 20m

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 Minnetonka, 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 Minnetonka, MN

This is one driving day of about 151.7 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Minnetonka, 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 75.9 mi from Minnetonka, MN · 1h 25m into the drive

Downtown Circle Pines, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Circle Pines, MN

76 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

Crystal, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Circle Pines, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.9 miles from Minnetonka, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.58 one way

$45.15 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $24.33 $48.65
premium $4.53 $27.07 $54.13
diesel $5.61 $33.49 $66.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.5 0 $15.93 $7.28
Efficient EV 37.9 0 $13.27 $6.07
EV Truck/SUV 60.7 0 $21.24 $9.71

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Minnetonka, MN

Morning in Minnetonka on Thursday

Local time

11:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cloquet, MN

Morning in Cloquet on Thursday

Local time

11:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

38°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

9 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 51m 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 Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 151.7 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Road 101, Highway 7, MN 100 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.9 miles from Minnetonka, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.58 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.
The drive from Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Minnetonka, MN to Cloquet, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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