Bloomington, MN to Turtle River, MN is 239 miles and takes about 4h 54m via US 10 and State Highway 64, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, moving from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area into more rural Minnesota. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive. It’s a good option if you need to get to Turtle River efficiently without a lengthy overnight commitment.
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
119.5 miles from Bloomington, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
85.9 mi
1h 39m
State Highway 64 Southwest
33.7 mi
42m
State 64
28.6 mi
35m
I 94
22.6 mi
24m
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
US 71
14.2 mi
18m
Voyageur Highway
11 mi
14m
Paul Bunyan Expressway
4.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 39m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Turtle 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-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
32 mi·35 min·US 10
19
Turn right onto MN 210
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Highway 210
20
Turn left onto MN 64
34 mi·42 min·State Highway 64 Southwest
21
At end of road, turn left onto MN 64; MN 87
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64
Toward US 71 North, MN 197: Interinational Falls, Bemidji
31
Enter roundabout onto US 71
120 ft·1 sec·Voyageur Highway
32
Continue on US 71
9.5 mi·11 min·Voyageur Highway
33
Turn right onto CR 22
0.6 mi·1 min·Island View Drive Northeast
34
Turn left onto Main Avenue West
0.8 mi·3 min·Main Avenue West
35
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue East
Trip Plan
To make the most of this one-day drive, consider departing Bloomington in the morning to arrive in Turtle River with plenty of daylight. With a 4-hour 54-minute estimated drive time, you'll have flexibility for a single stop. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is $38, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. Since the longest stretch without exiting is 85.9 miles, be mindful of your fuel gauge as you approach that point. The transition from US 10 to State Highway 64 marks a change in the driving environment, so be prepared for potentially different road conditions.
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 119.5 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.5 miles or 2h 23m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Turtle 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 239 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 85.9 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 23
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
$37.68 one way
$75.35 round trip
$4.00/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$40.14
$80.28
premium
$4.82
$45.37
$90.74
diesel
$5.35
$50.32
$100.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-03.
EV Charging Along Route
15 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Bloomington, MN - Tesla Supercharger
Bloomington, MN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Eden Prairie, MN - Tesla Supercharger
Eden Prairie, MN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Walmart EV Charging
Bloomington, MN
WALMART
8 DCFC
Cub Foods - Tesla Supercharger
Minneapolis, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Simon-Twin Cities Premium Outlets (Eagan, MN)
Eagan, MN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Target T2313 (Edina, MN)
Edina, MN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
CircleK - Burnsville, MN
Burnsville, MN
CIRCLE_K
4 DCFC
Burnsville, MN Rechargery Relay @ Circle K - Nicollet Ave South
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.91
$9.56
EV Truck/SUV
95.6
1
$33.46
$15.30
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, MN
Late night
in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
12:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NNW 0 to 5 mph71% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Turtle River, MN
Late night
in Turtle River on Wednesday
Local time
12:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 1 to 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls 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
11 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
4h 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 spend about 79% of this 239-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 85.9 miles, primarily on US 10. Eventually, you'll transition from US 10 to State Highway 64 Southwest and then State 64, indicating a shift to less-trafficked, possibly more rural roads. Expect a significant portion of the drive to involve cruising at higher speeds before reaching your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. 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 23 significant decision points across 239 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
1,429 ft826 ft
Total Climb
656 ft
Total Descent
158 ft
Highest Point
1,429 ft
~187.8 mi in
Elevation Range
604 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 Turtle River, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Bemidji 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 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 4h 54m. Total distance: 239 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on US 10. 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 Turtle 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Turtle River, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
