If you are planning a trip from Brooklyn Park to Cloquet, you are looking at a straightforward 136.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 31 minutes. Since this route is easily manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you want to extend your time in the area. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising along I-35, I-35W, and MN-610. Budgeting roughly $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip, making this a budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. Overall, this is a practical, highway-focused drive that connects two parts of Minnesota efficiently. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct path over winding backroads.
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
68.1 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
I 35W
16.5 mi
17m
MN-610
5.1 mi
5m
US 10
3.4 mi
3m
MN 33
2.7 mi
4m
Zane Avenue North
2.2 mi
4m
Cloquet Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn Park, MN and Cloquet, MN.
1
Start on CR 14
2.2 mi·4 min·Zane Avenue North
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward MN 610 EastUse the right lane.
3
Merge onto MN 610
5.1 mi·5 min·MN-610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto US 10
3.4 mi·3 min·US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 236Toward I 35W North: DuluthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 35W
16 mi·17 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
8
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
9
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
10
Continue on MN 33
2.1 mi·3 min·MN 33
11
Turn right onto CR 45
465 ft·14 sec·Cloquet Avenue
12
Turn right onto 4th Street
26 ft·1 sec·4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
4th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 136.1-mile trek, consider leaving early in the day to take full advantage of the highway-heavy route while traffic remains light. You only need to plan for one major stop, which provides the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refresh before completing the final leg of your journey. Since I-35 accounts for the longest stretch of your travel, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 105-mile segment to avoid any unnecessary stops in busier corridors. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the short duration gives you plenty of room to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Prioritizing a single, well-timed break will help you maintain your energy levels throughout the entire 2-hour and 31-minute drive.
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 68.1 miles from Brooklyn Park, MN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cloquet, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brooklyn Park, 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 Brooklyn Park, MN
This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Brooklyn Park, 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 I 35 for about 105 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 11.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward MN 610 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 610 East
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|MN 610 / MN-610
Merge onto MN 610 / MN-610
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.7 mi into trip|~10m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North: Duluth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 236
Toward I 35W North: Duluth
5
11.9 mi into trip|~16m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.25 one way
$40.51 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.82
$43.65
premium
$4.53
$24.28
$48.57
diesel
$5.61
$30.05
$60.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.91
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.05
$8.71
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Brooklyn Park, MN
Late night
in Brooklyn Park on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NNW 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cloquet, MN
Late night
in Cloquet on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Sunny
E 5 mph1% chanceLive 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
18 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 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient drive, as 97% of this journey is spent on major highways. The character of the road is defined by its interstate focus, highlighted by a significant 105-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-35 that allows for steady cruising. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can anticipate a consistent pace from start to finish. While the drive lacks the complexity of technical local roads, it offers the reliability of a well-maintained interstate system. You will find that the rhythm of the drive remains remarkably steady, helping you reach Cloquet without the fatigue often associated with navigating smaller, slower roadways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on I 35. 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 Cloquet, 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: at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cloquet, MN before heading back.
