If you are planning to head south from Cloquet to Minneapolis, you are looking at a straightforward 137-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 2 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance comfortably. You will primarily navigate via Cloquet Avenue, I-35 South, and I-35W to reach your destination. Expect to set aside roughly $19 for fuel to cover the transit between these two Midwestern points. Since the drive is relatively short and efficient, it serves as an excellent connector for anyone needing to bridge the gap between these Minnesota locations without significant travel fatigue.
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
68.4 miles from Cloquet, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109.7 mi
1h 57m
I 35W
23.4 mi
27m
MN 33
2.7 mi
4m
Washington Avenue South
0.8 mi
2m
Cloquet Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
4th Street
<0.1 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 Minneapolis, 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
23 mi·27 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Exit 17CToward Washington AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable two-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best fits your schedule without worrying about complex pacing. Since there are no mandatory stops built into the data, feel free to adjust your departure to avoid peak traffic hours when approaching Minneapolis via I-35W. Keep your $19 fuel budget in mind when filling up, as prices can vary between these two cities. A great way to handle the trip is to ensure your vehicle is ready for the transition from the local streets of Cloquet to the heavier traffic flow of the interstate. By maintaining a steady pace, you can easily complete the entire 137-mile distance in one focused session.
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 68.4 miles from Cloquet, MN, or about 1h 15m 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 15m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, 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 136.9 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 136.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|MN 33
Enter roundabout onto MN 33 toward I 35 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 35 South
5
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
135.9 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.37 one way
$40.75 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.95
$43.91
premium
$4.53
$24.43
$48.85
diesel
$5.61
$30.23
$60.45
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: 47.9 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
41.1
0
$14.37
$6.57
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.98
$5.48
EV Truck/SUV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
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 20, 2026
Origin
Cloquet, MN
Late night
in Cloquet on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
6 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 32m 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 turn-heavy local drive as you navigate out of Cloquet before transitioning onto the interstate system. While the route relies heavily on major arteries like I-35, the initial departure from town requires careful attention to local road transitions. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch on Cloquet Avenue is minimal, meaning you should be prepared for frequent maneuvering early on. The journey lacks long, monotonous highway sections, keeping the driving experience engaging rather than repetitive. Once you merge onto the interstate, the character of the road shifts toward a more consistent, high-speed pace that carries you through the remainder of the trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 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?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near MN 33.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (MN 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
The longest stretch is about 109.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (MN 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
