Origin
New Brighton, MN
Evening in New Brighton on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Brighton, MN to Bloomington, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
29m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Brighton, MN
Tom Fisk
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from New Brighton to Bloomington, MN? This short 18.8-mile drive will take you about 29 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I 35W, which accounts for a significant portion of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at just $3, this is a very budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest region. Given the short duration and minimal stops (0 recommended), you can easily complete this drive in one go without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.4 miles from New Brighton, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 72% of the journey taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.9 miles on I 35W, offering a consistent pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, you'll also navigate segments on Silver Lake Road and Silver Lake Road Northeast, providing a slight shift in scenery and traffic flow before rejoining the interstate. This mix means you'll experience both the efficiency of the highway and the more local feel of surface streets.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 12.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Silver Lake Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (CH 44 / Silver Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the exit toward Silver Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39
Toward Silver Lake Road
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CH 44 / Silver Lake Road
Turn left onto CH 44 / Silver Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
18.7 mi into trip
|
~29m 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 | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| Silver Lake Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Silver Lake Road Northeast | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| New Brighton Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 694 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Saint Anthony Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Quarry Center Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 12.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Brighton, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on I 694
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 694
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 39
Toward Silver Lake Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn left onto CH 44
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Silver Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on CR 136
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Silver Lake Road Northeast
5
Turn left onto Saint Anthony Boulevard
426 ft
·
16 sec
·
Saint Anthony Boulevard
6
Turn right onto CR 88
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
New Brighton Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Quarry Center Drive
253 ft
·
7 sec
·
Quarry Center Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 35W South
9
Merge onto I 35W
13 mi
·
17 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
For this short 29-minute drive covering 18.8 miles, flexibility is key. You can easily depart at any time that suits your schedule, as there are no recommended stops to plan around. The estimated fuel cost is a low $3, so you likely won't need frequent refueling. Pay attention to local traffic patterns, especially when transitioning between I 35W and Silver Lake Road, as this is where speeds and road types change. This straightforward route is best tackled in one go, maximizing your time at your destination.
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 9.4 miles from New Brighton, MN, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.9 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 18.8 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.4 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving New Brighton, MN.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Brighton, MN
This is one driving day of about 18.8 miles and 29m.
At 18.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 12.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.4 mi from New Brighton, MN · 16m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.4 miles from New Brighton, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bloomington, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bloomington, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.80 one way
$5.60 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.01 | $6.03 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.35 | $6.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
29m 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 New Brighton, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 18.8 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, Silver Lake Road, Silver Lake Road Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.4 miles from New Brighton, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.80 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (CH 44 / Silver Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from New Brighton, MN to Bloomington, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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