Bloomington, MN to Eveleth, MN is 201 miles and takes about 3h 51m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that covers most of its distance on major highways. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area up towards the Iron Range. The relatively short duration means you can plan for a flexible departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.6 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
I 35W
38.7 mi
46m
US 53
35.9 mi
41m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
Fayal Road
0.8 mi
2m
MN 37
0.2 mi
<1m
Grant Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
State Highway 37
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,570 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,160
Quietest
2 AM
~225 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 86 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 Eveleth, 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 22BToward MN 36Use 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
36 mi·41 min·US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto MN 37
0.2 mi·41 sec·MN 37
Toward MN 37 East: Gilbert, Biwabik
16
Turn left onto MN 37
469 ft·13 sec·State Highway 37
17
Continue on CR 101
0.8 mi·2 min·Fayal Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Grant Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Grant Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 51m drive, aim to depart Bloomington in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire trip. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $33, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing to break it up. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 105-mile stretch on I 35, as services can be spaced out in more rural sections. Planning to refuel before leaving the immediate Twin Cities metro area is a smart move.
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 100.6 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 1h 53m 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 1h 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 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eveleth, 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 201.2 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 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
$33.72 one way
$67.44 round trip
$4.26/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$35.91
$71.83
premium
$5.15
$40.77
$81.54
diesel
$6.18
$48.95
$97.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
EV Truck/SUV
80.5
1
$28.17
$12.88
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, MN
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Eveleth, MN
Late night
in Eveleth on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
13 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
3h 51m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 99% of your time on highways, so expect a consistent driving experience for most of the 201 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 105 miles on I 35. Given the high highway percentage, you'll encounter a generally rural cruising feel, punctuated by stretches of dense exits as you pass through populated areas. Surface roads will only become a factor for the final 1% of your travel.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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 Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 201.2 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
1,590 ft826 ft
Total Climb
877 ft
Total Descent
113 ft
Highest Point
1,590 ft
~201.2 mi in
Elevation Range
764 ft
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 Eveleth, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
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 four freeways: Interstate 35W, Interstate 494, US 169, and Minnesota 77.
Top landmarks
•Nickelodeon Universe — amusement park inside Mall of America
•SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge — amusement ride
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 201.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). 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 Eveleth, 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Eveleth, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
