Co on Rapids to Ely is 240.5 miles and takes about 4h 47m via I 35 and US 53, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this is a solid choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
120.3 miles from Co on Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
US 53
47.7 mi
57m
Highway 169
28.6 mi
40m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
I 35W
16.5 mi
17m
State Highway 169
14.4 mi
19m
US 10
4.2 mi
4m
East River Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Ely, MN.
1
Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi·30 sec·Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2
Turn left onto CR 1
1.4 mi·2 min·East River Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Foley Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Foley Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
154 ft·3 sec
Toward US 10 East
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 10 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 10
4.2 mi·4 min·US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 236Toward I 35W North: DuluthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W
16 mi·17 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
12
Continue on MN 33
19 mi·25 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.4 mi·29 sec·MN 33
14
Merge onto US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 53
113 ft·1 sec·US 53
16
Continue on US 53
10 mi·13 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward MN 169: Ely
18
Continue on MN 169
14 mi·19 min·State Highway 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on MN 169
29 mi·40 min·Highway 169
Use the straight lane.
20
Arrive at destination
MN 1; MN 169
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 47 minute drive time, leaving in the morning from Co on Rapids is recommended to allow ample daylight. The single stop suggested along the route should be sufficient for a break, but be aware that the longest stretch without a major road change is 105 miles on I 35. Monitor your fuel, especially as you approach Ely, as services can become more spread out. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra buffer for potential price fluctuations.
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 120.3 miles from Co on Rapids, MN, or about 2h 12m 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ely, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Co on Rapids, 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 Co on Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 240.5 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Co on Rapids, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 10 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 10 East
8
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 10 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East
5
3 mi into trip|~6m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.3 mi into trip|~10m 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
8.1 mi into trip|~12m 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
$35.79 one way
$71.58 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$38.57
$77.13
premium
$4.53
$42.91
$85.82
diesel
$5.61
$53.10
$106.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.1
0
$25.25
$11.54
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.04
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.67
$15.39
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Morning
in Co on Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ely, MN
Morning
in Ely on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
5 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 47m 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?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the drive on major roads. You'll encounter a solid 105 miles on I 35, which means a high-speed, consistent cruising experience for a significant portion. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the trip, offering a change of pace. Expect frequent exits along the initial highway stretches.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
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 240.5 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Co on Rapids, MN to Ely, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
Iron Range
129.5 mi in|~2h 22m|via MN 33
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 240.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m 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 105 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Ely, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Ely, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
