Origin
Bloomington, MN
Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, MN to Nisswa, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
147.9 mi
238 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Nisswa, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Bloomington, MN to Nisswa, MN is 147.9 miles and takes about 2h 59m via US 10 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region from a more urban starting point to a less developed destination. With 95% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward cruise for most of the way. It's a manageable one-day trip, ideal if you're looking for a quick escape without a lengthy travel commitment.
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
73.9 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 54.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| MN 371 | 40.9 mi | 49m |
| I 94 | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| I 494 | 21.7 mi | 27m |
| 165th Avenue Southeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| I 35W | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Nisswa, 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 left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
12
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
13
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
14
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
County Road 11
15
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
16
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
17
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 10
18
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
32 mi
·
38 min
·
MN 371
19
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
MN 371
20
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 371
21
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 371
22
Turn right onto Nisswa Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Nisswa Avenue
23
Turn right onto Main Street
406 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
24
Turn left onto Lakers Lane
65 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lakers Lane
25
Turn right
165 ft
·
12 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Consider departing Bloomington mid-morning to avoid the heaviest rush hour traffic. You'll have a substantial stretch of 54.4 miles on US 10, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before embarking on that segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to depart at your leisure and arrive in Nisswa with plenty of daylight remaining for any immediate plans.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 33 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nisswa, 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 147.9 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 US 10 for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.9 miles from Bloomington, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.9 — 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
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
23.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.01 one way
$44.02 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $23.72 | $47.43 |
| premium | $4.53 | $26.39 | $52.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.65 | $65.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.53 | $7.10 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.94 | $5.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.71 | $9.47 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Nisswa, MN
Late night in Nisswa on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 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
4 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
2h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend nearly all your time on highways, with 95% of the 147.9 miles covered on major routes like US 10 and I-94. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 54.4 miles on US 10. Expect periods of rural cruising with fewer exits, particularly after leaving the immediate Twin Cities metro area. The transition to surface roads will be minimal towards the end of your drive.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. 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 19 significant decision points across 147.9 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,232 ft
826 ft
Total Climb
466 ft
Total Descent
59 ft
Highest Point
1,232 ft
~147.9 mi in
Elevation Range
406 ft
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 2h 59m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 10. 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 Nisswa, 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: 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 Nisswa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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