Traveling from Cloquet to Eden Prairie covers 154.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because this route is entirely within Minnesota, you will stay in the Midwest throughout your journey. With a manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating primarily via I-35, I-35W, and MN-100, you will find this path straightforward and efficient. It is an ideal choice if you prioritize reaching your destination quickly rather than lingering on 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
77 miles from Cloquet, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109.7 mi
1h 57m
I 35W
14.7 mi
16m
MN 100
13 mi
16m
I 694
4.9 mi
6m
US 212
4.4 mi
5m
MN 33
2.7 mi
4m
Crosstown Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Mitchell Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cloquet, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on 4th Street
26 ft·1 sec·4th Street
2
Turn left onto CR 45
519 ft·22 sec·Cloquet Avenue
3
Turn left onto MN 33
2.1 mi·3 min·MN 33
4
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
77 ft·1 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
5
Continue on MN 33
0.5 mi·40 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
6
Merge onto I 35
110 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
15 mi·16 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 26CToward I 694 WestUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 694
4.9 mi·6 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 35AToward MN 100Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 62 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto MN 62
1.7 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 212
4.4 mi·5 min·US 212
Exit 106AToward US 212Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward CR 60: Mitchell RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto CR 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Mitchell Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Scenic Heights Road
Trip Plan
Since the entire drive is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. While the trip only strictly requires one stop, taking a quick break during your 154.1-mile journey can help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cloquet to ensure you stay within your $22 budget, as highway driving can impact efficiency. Because the majority of your travel occurs on I-35, stay alert for potential traffic shifts as you merge onto I-35W and eventually MN-100 near your destination. Planning for a single, well-timed pause will make the transition into the Eden Prairie area much smoother.
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 77 miles from Cloquet, MN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 34 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 24m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eden Prairie, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cloquet, 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 Cloquet, MN
This is one driving day of about 154.1 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Cloquet, 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 109.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 112.5 and 148.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
112.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
127.2 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
7
132.6 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
6
146.2 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward MN 62 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 62 West
7
148.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.93 one way
$45.87 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$24.71
$49.42
premium
$4.53
$27.50
$54.99
diesel
$5.61
$34.02
$68.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.9 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
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
Efficient EV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
EV Truck/SUV
61.6
0
$21.57
$9.86
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cloquet, MN
Night
in Cloquet on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eden Prairie, MN
Night
in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 97% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The route features a significant 109.7-mile stretch on I-35, which dominates the majority of your time behind the wheel. You will notice the character of the drive shift as you transition from the interstate system onto MN-100 while approaching the Eden Prairie area. Because it is a highway-focused drive, the pace remains steady and consistent throughout. Be prepared for a functional, no-nonsense commute that favors speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 112.5 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 154.1 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: at 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 154.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m 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 109.7 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 Eden Prairie, 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 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eden Prairie, MN before heading back.
