Driving from Little Falls to Bloomington covers a straightforward 104.9-mile stretch across central Minnesota. You can easily complete this trip in about 2 hours and 8 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a total fuel budget estimated at approximately $15, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly. By utilizing a combination of US 10, I-94, and I-494, you move smoothly through the Midwest landscape toward the Twin Cities metro area. Because the duration is relatively short, there is no need to split this into an overnight trip unless your schedule requires extra flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Little Falls, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
50.3 mi
58m
I 494
21.9 mi
27m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
1st Street Southeast
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Haven Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 50.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Falls, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on 1st Street Southeast
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Street Southeast
2
Continue on CR 76
1.1 mi·1 min·Haven Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
4
Merge onto US 10
24 mi·27 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
6
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
7
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
8
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
10
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
11
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
12
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
14
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 494
22 mi·27 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
19
Merge onto I 35W
1.0 mi·1 min·I 35W
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 7BToward 90th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto West 90th Street
207 ft·5 sec·West 90th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick drive, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever it suits your schedule without needing extensive planning. If you want to avoid the heaviest traffic near the Twin Cities, consider timing your arrival to miss typical morning or evening rush hours. Because there are no scheduled stops required for a trip of this length, you have the freedom to drive straight through or pull off whenever you need a quick break. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $15, so topping off in Little Falls before you depart ensures you won't need to hunt for gas once you enter the busier highway corridors.
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 52.4 miles from Little Falls, MN, or about 1h 3m 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
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 Little Falls, 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 Little Falls, MN
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Little Falls, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 50.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 104.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
103 mi into trip|~2h 5m 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
104.6 mi into trip|~2h 7m 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
104.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.61 one way
$31.22 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$16.82
$33.64
premium
$4.53
$18.72
$37.43
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Little Falls, MN
Night
in Little Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, MN
Night
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
11:37 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
8 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 8m 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 highway-focused experience, as 90% of this journey is spent on major thoroughfares. The drive transitions from the regional flow of US 10 to the high-speed connectivity of the interstate system. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, with 50.3 miles of travel along US 10. While the character of the road is primarily functional and fast-paced, it offers a consistent, predictable rhythm for the driver. You won’t deal with complex navigation, allowing you to focus on the steady transition from the northern reaches into the denser suburban environment of Bloomington.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near US 10.
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 11 significant decision points across 104.9 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 2.8 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 103 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on US 10. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 103 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.
