Connecting the northern reaches of Bemidji to the urban center of Minneapolis, this 219.6-mile journey takes approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes to complete. Because the duration is manageable, you can easily tackle this route as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $31 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Minnesota hubs. Navigating this path requires moving through local streets like 6th Street Northwest, Bemidji Avenue North, and Paul Bunyan Drive South. Since both cities reside within the Midwest, you will experience consistent regional surroundings throughout your travel.
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
107.9 miles from Bemidji, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
86 mi
1h 39m
I 94
34.1 mi
38m
State Highway 64 Southwest
33.7 mi
42m
State 64
28.6 mi
35m
MN 197
8.4 mi
11m
US 71
7.2 mi
8m
State Highway 200
4.6 mi
5m
Broadway Street East
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 86 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bemidji, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
47 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 6th Street Northwest
193 ft·10 sec·6th Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto MN 197
0.3 mi·43 sec·Bemidji Avenue North
4
Continue on MN 197
385 ft·9 sec·Paul Bunyan Drive South
5
Continue on MN 197
0.9 mi·1 min·Midway Drive South
6
Turn right onto Shevlin Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·57 sec·Shevlin Avenue Southwest
7
Turn right onto MN 197
8.4 mi·11 min·MN 197
8
Continue on US 71
7.2 mi·8 min·US 71
9
Continue on MN 200
4.6 mi·5 min·State Highway 200
10
Turn right onto MN 64
16 mi·19 min·State 64
11
At end of road, turn right onto MN 34; MN 64
0.6 mi·58 sec·Broadway Street East
12
Turn left onto MN 64
0.9 mi·1 min·Marie Avenue Southeast
13
Continue on MN 64
13 mi·16 min·State 64
14
Continue on MN 64; MN 87
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64
15
Turn right onto MN 64
34 mi·42 min·State Highway 64 Southwest
16
At end of road, turn right onto MN 210
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 210
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 10
60 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
19
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
20
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
21
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
22
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
23
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
24
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
25
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
26
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
27
Merge onto I 94
28 mi·31 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi·7 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward 4th Street NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
32
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi·35 sec·2nd Avenue North
33
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi·1 min·North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
35
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Since this is a localized drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential city traffic upon arrival in Minneapolis. Plan for at least one stop during your 3 hour and 43 minute transit to stretch your legs and stay alert. Given the $31 fuel estimate, check your levels before leaving Bemidji to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like Bemidji Avenue North, keep your navigation tools handy to stay on track through the turns. Prioritize steady pacing to handle the frequent transitions between local streets effectively.
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 107.9 miles from Bemidji, MN, or about 2h 16m 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 2h 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 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bemidji, 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 Bemidji, MN
This is one driving day of about 215.7 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Bemidji, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 207.1 and 215 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
207.1 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
213.2 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
213.6 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
214.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
215 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.10 one way
$64.20 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$34.59
$69.18
premium
$4.53
$38.49
$76.97
diesel
$5.61
$47.62
$95.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.35
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.20
$13.80
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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
Bemidji, MN
Evening
in Bemidji on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Evening
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
31 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul, as this route features 0% highway travel. You will spend your time navigating through local roadways, which means you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience. The longest stretch of the journey occurs on 6th Street Northwest, where you will find 0 miles of uninterrupted highway-style cruising. As you progress from Bemidji toward Minneapolis, the road demands your full attention due to its technical nature. This is a trip for those who prefer local navigation over the monotony of high-speed, long-distance highway driving.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 207.1 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 215.7 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 207.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 215.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Minneapolis, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 207.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Minneapolis, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
