Origin
Rice Lake, MN
Afternoon in Rice Lake on Monday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rice Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN
Drive Time
5h 24m
Distance
253.8 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 11m
★
6 AM
5h 25m
8 AM
5h 52m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rice Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rice Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 253.8 miles and takes about 5h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.30 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
126.9 miles from Rice Lake, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 24m highway drive covering 253.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 86 miles on US 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 86 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in near MN 92 / Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 253.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles (MN 92 / Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 229.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 251.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
MN 92 / Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn right onto MN 92 / Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
7
229.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
251.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
7
253.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 24m 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
253.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 24m in
|
West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 86 mi | 1h 39m |
| State Highway 64 Southwest | 33.7 mi | 42m |
| State 64 | 28.6 mi | 35m |
| I 494 | 21.9 mi | 27m |
| I 94 | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| US 71 | 13.9 mi | 17m |
| County Highway 2 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Upper Rice Lake Road | 8.3 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 86 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rice Lake, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on CR 35
76 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lower Rice Lake Road
2
Turn right onto CR 35
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway 35
3
Continue on CR 35
5.9 mi
·
14 min
·
County Highway 35
4
At end of road, turn right onto MN 92
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway
5
Turn left onto Upper Rice Lake Road
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Upper Rice Lake Road
6
Turn right onto CR 2
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
County Highway 2
7
Turn left onto MN 200
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 200
8
Continue on MN 200
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State 200
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 71; MN 200
14 mi
·
17 min
·
US 71; MN 200
10
At end of road, turn right onto MN 200
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 200
11
Turn right onto MN 64
16 mi
·
19 min
·
State 64
12
At end of road, turn right onto MN 34; MN 64
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Broadway Street East
13
Turn left onto MN 64
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marie Avenue Southeast
14
Continue on MN 64
13 mi
·
16 min
·
State 64
15
Continue on MN 64; MN 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64
16
Turn right onto MN 64
34 mi
·
42 min
·
State Highway 64 Southwest
17
At end of road, turn right onto MN 210
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
State Highway 210
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 10
60 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
US 10
Use the right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi
·
30 min
·
US 10
20
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
21
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
22
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
County Road 11
23
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Highway 25
24
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pine Street
25
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Street East
26
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Fenning Avenue
27
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
28
Merge onto I 94
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 494
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
32
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
33
Merge onto I 35W
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
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 126.9 miles from Rice Lake, MN, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86 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 80 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.9 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
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 Rice Lake, 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 Rice Lake, MN
This is one driving day of about 253.8 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rice Lake, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 86 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.9 mi from Rice Lake, MN · 2h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.9 miles from Rice Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86 miles.
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
$36.30 one way
$72.60 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $39.18 | $78.36 |
| premium | $4.39 | $43.89 | $87.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $56.39 | $112.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.65 | $12.18 |
| Efficient EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.21 | $10.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.5 | 1 | $35.53 | $16.24 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Bloomington, MN
Afternoon in Bloomington on Monday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
37°F
Avon, MN
127 mi in
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
17 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
5h 24m 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 Rice Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN covers 253.8 miles and takes about 5h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.9 miles from Rice Lake, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.30 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 demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 253.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles (MN 92 / Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 229.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 251.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rice Lake, MN to Bloomington, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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