Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Bloomington, MN to Pine River, MN

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 17m

Distance

163.1 mi

262 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 5m ★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Bloomington, MN, MN

Bloomington, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Pine River, MN, MN

Pine River, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Bloomington, MN to Pine River, MN covers 163.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MN 371, US 10, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.3 miles on MN 371. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.83 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

81.5 miles from Bloomington, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MN 371 56.3 mi 1h 8m
US 10 54.4 mi 1h 3m
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: MN 371 — 56.3 mi, about 1h 8m

Traffic on I-494

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~3,860 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~224 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 84 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 Pine River, 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

22 mi · 27 min · MN 371
22

Turn right onto MN 84

64 ft · 1 sec · Barclay Avenue
Use the right lane.
23

Arrive at destination

MN 84

Trip Plan

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 81.5 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 36 miles or 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 81.5 miles or 1h 39m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine River, 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 163.1 miles and 3h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 MN 371 for about 56.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Cloud, MN

82 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

Albertville, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Watab, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 81.5 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 16

5 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

$25.83 one way

$51.65 round trip

$4.02/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.28 $27.50 $55.00
premium $4.85 $31.13 $62.26
diesel $5.60 $35.95 $71.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.9 0 $17.13 $7.83
Efficient EV 40.8 0 $14.27 $6.52
EV Truck/SUV 65.2 0 $22.83 $10.44

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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 Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Bloomington, MN

Late night in Bloomington on Saturday

Local time

2:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Mostly Sunny

ESE 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 2:44AM CDT until August 30 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Destination

Pine River, MN

Late night in Pine River on Saturday

Local time

2:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

E 10 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 2:44AM CDT until August 30 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

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

12 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 17m 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?

163.1 mi in 3h 17m, mostly highway — 56.3 mi of that is on MN 371.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on MN 371.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 371 and US 10. 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 163.1 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 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

1,296 ft 826 ft

Total Climb

537 ft

Total Descent

67 ft

Highest Point

1,296 ft

~163.1 mi in

Elevation Range

470 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

Arriving in Pine River, MN

Full guide →

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 3h 17m. Total distance: 163.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 17m 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 56.3 miles on MN 371. 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 Pine River, 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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Pine River, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Bloomington, MN

Baudette, MN 328.2 mi · 6h 48m Thief River Falls, MN 303.6 mi · 5h 54m Grand Marais, MN 274.1 mi · 5h 29m Dilworth, MN 240.4 mi · 4h 26m Turtle River, MN 239 mi · 4h 54m Chisholm, MN 223.1 mi · 4h 19m

More trips to Pine River, MN

Woodbury, MN 90.5 mi
Escape planner: Bloomington, MN Scenic drives in MN

Explore more options from Bloomington, MN or browse trips ending in Pine River, MN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.