Origin
Bloomington, MN
Morning in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, MN to Inver Grove Heights, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Bloomington, MN to Inver Grove Heights, MN is 16.2 miles and takes about 22 minutes via I 494, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll mostly be on major highways, making it a straightforward drive perfect for a short hop. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick errand or to connect two nearby locations without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| US 52 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 70th Street East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| I 35W | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Inver Grove Heights, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 66
Toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 52 South: Rochester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 52
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CR 26: 70th Street East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CH 26
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
70th Street East
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
CH 26
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.2 — 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
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
12.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 66
Toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
7
13.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 52 South: Rochester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 South: Rochester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.41 one way
$4.82 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Morning in Inver Grove Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 2:05PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 16 at 2:04PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
10 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
22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 80% of the journey on major roadways like I 494 and US 52. You'll experience a fairly consistent pace, especially during the longest stretch of 10.9 miles on I 494. Expect a practical, efficient journey rather than a winding or scenic adventure. The route is designed for direct travel, so the road character remains largely the same, prioritizing speed and accessibility between Bloomington and Inver Grove Heights.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and US 52. 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
10/10
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 10 decision points packed into just 16.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Bloomington, MN and Inver Grove Heights, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Cr 26: 70Th Street East.
Saint Paul
12.5 mi in
|
~16m
Cr 26: 70Th Street East
15 mi in
|
~20m
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, MN
Full guide →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.
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 22m. Total distance: 16.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Inver Grove Heights, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Inver Grove Heights, MN before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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