Bloomington, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is 303.6 miles and takes about 5h 54m via US 10 and US 59, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, keeping you in Minnesota for the entire drive. The route is predominantly highway, making for a straightforward trip. With a single day recommended, this is a solid option if you need to get between these two points efficiently. Plan for a direct drive with minimal detours.
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
151.8 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
156.7 mi
3h
US 59
94.4 mi
1h 48m
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
— 156.7 mi, about 3h
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 15 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,045 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,756
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Thief River Falls, 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-CToward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse 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 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse 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 left at fork onto US 10
38 mi·42 min·US 10
19
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi·9 min·US 10; MN 210
20
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi·12 min·US 10; IC A
21
Turn slight right
67 ft·2 sec
22
Enter roundabout
100 ft·1 sec
23
Continue
96 ft·1 sec
24
Turn straight onto US 10
45 mi·51 min·US 10
25
Turn right onto US 59; MN 34
85 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 59; MN 34
26
Turn left
481 ft·6 sec
27
Merge onto US 59
9.4 mi·11 min·US 59
28
Arrive at destination
US 59
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 54m estimated drive time, leaving Bloomington in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with daylight. The route is efficient enough that you likely won't need to split it over two days. Keep an eye on your fuel as the longest stretch without a major town might be the 156.7 miles on US 10. Factor in a quick stop for gas and a stretch about halfway through the drive. There's only one recommended stop, so plan it strategically along US 10.
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 151.8 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 67 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.8 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thief River Falls, 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 303.6 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 156.7 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 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
$45.60 one way
$91.20 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$49.23
$98.47
premium
$4.60
$54.99
$109.99
diesel
$4.80
$57.33
$114.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.1
1
$31.88
$14.57
Efficient EV
75.9
0
$26.57
$12.14
EV Truck/SUV
121.4
1
$42.50
$19.43
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, MN
Evening
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 3:14PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:41PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Thief River Falls, MN
Evening
in Thief River Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 3:14PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:41PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen 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
5h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 98% of this 303.6-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 156.7 miles on US 10. After the highway sections, you'll transition to surface roads as you approach Thief River Falls. Expect mostly rural cruising with a few small towns along the way.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.7 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and US 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort8/10
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 303.6 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
1,456 ft826 ft
Total Climb
694 ft
Total Descent
384 ft
Highest Point
1,456 ft
~216.8 mi in
Elevation Range
631 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 303.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Thief River Falls, 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 6 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thief River Falls, MN before the return drive.
