Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Oak Park Heights, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 36.9 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 494, MN 95, Saint Croix Trail North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on I 494. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 48m highway drive covering 36.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 494 and MN 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 494.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and MN 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.1 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 36.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 694 North, I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 90th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 20.3 mi | 25m |
| MN 95 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| I 35W | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Minnesota Street South | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Street North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 56th Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Penfield Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park Heights, MN and Bloomington, MN.
Start on this road
Turn right onto 57th Street North
Turn right onto Penfield Avenue North
Turn right onto CH 23
Turn left onto CH 21
Turn right onto MN 95
Continue on MN 95
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 95
Continue on MN 95
Take the ramp onto MN 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on I 494
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35W
Take the exit
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Oak Park Heights, MN · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Oak Park Heights, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.58 | $13.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Oak Park Heights on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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