Origin
Fairfax, MN
Evening in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
7:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, MN to Bloomington, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
88.5 mi
142 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, MN
Tom Fisk
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 88.5-mile drive from Fairfax to Bloomington, Minnesota, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 212 and State Highway 15, the route is heavily focused on highway driving, with about 80% of the mileage on faster roads. With an estimated fuel cost of around $13, this trip is quite budget-friendly. Since the distance is manageable and you won't need to break it up with an overnight stay, you have plenty of flexibility for your departure time and any spontaneous stops along the way. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Fairfax, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 50.3 mi | 1h |
| Lincoln Avenue East | 17.2 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 15 | 12.6 mi | 15m |
| MN 5 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| I 35W | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Park Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 50.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on Park Street North
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Park Street North
2
Turn left onto MN 19
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Lincoln Avenue East
3
Turn left onto MN 15
13 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 15
4
Turn right onto US 212
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 212
5
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 212
6
Continue on US 212
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 212
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
27 mi
·
32 min
·
US 212
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
12
Merge onto I 35W
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 50-minute duration, this drive from Fairfax to Bloomington offers considerable flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Bloomington. With only 88.5 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $13, you likely won't need to plan for extensive fuel or rest stops, though it's always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that longest stretch of 50.3 miles on US 212. A practical tip: familiarize yourself with the transition points between US 212 and Lincoln Avenue East to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.2 miles from Fairfax, MN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfax, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairfax, MN
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fairfax, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 212 for about 50.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Fairfax, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 80.2 and 88.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 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.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
86.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
7
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward 90th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7B
Toward 90th Street
7
88.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.17 one way
$26.34 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $14.19 | $28.38 |
| premium | $4.53 | $15.79 | $31.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.54 | $39.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.29 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bloomington, MN
Evening in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
7:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
15 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
1h 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 88.5-mile trip, with 80% of your travel time spent on faster roads like US 212 and State Highway 15. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.3 miles on US 212, offering a good period of consistent cruising. While the route is predominantly highway, it's not necessarily a monotonous interstate grind; you'll likely experience a mix of comfortable highway speeds and potentially some stretches on Lincoln Avenue East that might feel more like a main arterial road. The road's personality is geared towards efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and Lincoln Avenue East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 80.2 miles in near MN 5.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.5 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 80.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bloomington, MN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 88.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on US 212. 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 Bloomington, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 80.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 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 Bloomington, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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