Forest Lake Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Bloomington, MN to Chisholm, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
223.1 mi
359 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Chisholm, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Bloomington, MN to Chisholm, MN is 223.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m via I-35W and US 53, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single day of travel. The route is well-suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from the Twin Cities area north into the Iron Range region.
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
111.5 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 105 mi | 1h 52m |
| I 35W | 38.7 mi | 46m |
| US 53 | 31.5 mi | 36m |
| MN 33 | 19.8 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 37 | 17.7 mi | 22m |
| East Beltline | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| 40th Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 73 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,469 veh/hr typical · worst 4,080
Quietest
2 AM
~214 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Chisholm, MN.
1
Start on West 90th Street
163 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 90th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 35W North
3
Merge onto I 35W
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 35W
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
I 35
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft
·
1 sec
·
MN 33
12
Continue on MN 33
19 mi
·
25 min
·
MN 33
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
MN 33
14
Merge onto US 53
31 mi
·
36 min
·
US 53
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
16
Turn left
173 ft
·
2 sec
17
Continue on Specialist Noah Pierce Bridge
384 ft
·
6 sec
·
Specialist Noah Pierce Bridge
18
Continue on MN 37
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 37
19
Enter roundabout onto MN 37
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 37
20
Continue on MN 37
14 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 37
21
Continue on MN 37
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
40th Street
22
Enter roundabout onto US 169; MN 73
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Beltline
23
Continue on US 169; MN 73
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East Beltline
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit onto MN 73
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
MN 73
25
Enter roundabout onto MN 73
149 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 73
26
Continue on MN 73
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 73
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on MN 73
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Lake Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
29
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning from Bloomington is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Chisholm with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing, perhaps pausing midway for a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $36 cost suggests you'll want to fill up before departing or at a major junction. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but plan your final stretch on US 53 with its slightly different road characteristics in mind.
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 111.5 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 49 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.5 miles or 2h 5m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chisholm, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, MN
This is one driving day of about 223.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Bloomington, 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 I 35 for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.5 miles from Bloomington, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Goose Creek Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Culkin Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Anchor Lake Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
US-53: Independence Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
General Andrews Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Kettle River Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 35W North
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
6
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.53 one way
$75.06 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $40.42 | $80.84 |
| premium | $5.04 | $44.23 | $88.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.53 | $99.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.9 | 0 | $23.43 | $10.71 |
| Efficient EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.52 | $8.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.23 | $14.28 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Bloomington, MN
Night in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
10:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
WSW 5 to 10 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 9:03AM CDT until May 15 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 3:38AM CDT until May 15 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Chisholm, MN
Night in Chisholm on Friday
Local time
10:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
W 15 to 20 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 9:03AM CDT until May 15 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 3:38AM CDT until May 15 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
14 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
4h 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 223.1 miles on major roads like I-35W and US 53. You'll experience a longest stretch of 105 miles on I-35, offering a consistent cruising experience. Most of the route will feel like efficient highway travel, with fewer surface road transitions until you get closer to Chisholm. Be prepared for the typical density of exits and merging traffic you'd expect on interstates in Minnesota.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 223.1 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,539 ft
826 ft
Total Climb
805 ft
Total Descent
92 ft
Highest Point
1,539 ft
~223.1 mi in
Elevation Range
713 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bloomington, MN to Chisholm, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
Iron Range
144.2 mi in
|
~2h 40m
|
via MN 33
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, MN
Full guide →Founded 1843
Bloomington, Minnesota is a suburb of Minneapolis. It is near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) and home to the Mall of America, the United States' largest shopping mall. Bloomington has a population of 89,000 people (as of 2021). Bloomington was established as a post–World War II housing boom suburb connected to Minneapolis's urban street grid, and is served by two major freeways: Interstate 35W and Interstate 494.
Top landmarks
- • Nickelodeon Universe — amusement park inside Mall of America
- • SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge — amusement ride
- • SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 223.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Chisholm, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Chisholm, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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