Minneapolis to Chisholm is 213.1 miles and takes about 4h 7m via I 35/US 53, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, traveling between two points in Minnesota. It's primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward trip for those looking for efficiency. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this is a good option for a single-day excursion.
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
106.5 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
US 53
31.5 mi
36m
I 35W
27.8 mi
31m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
State Highway 37
17.7 mi
22m
East Beltline
6.6 mi
8m
40th Street
1.6 mi
2m
Washington Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,667 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,202
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Chisholm, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
63 ft·9 sec·Washington Avenue South
2
Continue on CR 152
0.9 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 35W North
4
Merge onto I 35W
3.7 mi·4 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 22BToward MN 36Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 35W
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
7.1 mi·8 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi·18 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
31 mi·36 min·US 53
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
16
Turn left
173 ft·2 sec
17
Continue on Specialist Noah Pierce Bridge
384 ft·6 sec·Specialist Noah Pierce Bridge
18
Continue on MN 37
3.9 mi·4 min·State Highway 37
19
Enter roundabout onto MN 37
136 ft·2 sec·State Highway 37
20
Continue on MN 37
14 mi·17 min·State Highway 37
21
Continue on MN 37
1.6 mi·2 min·40th Street
22
Enter roundabout onto US 169; MN 73
20 ft·0 sec·East Beltline
23
Continue on US 169; MN 73
6.6 mi·8 min·East Beltline
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit onto MN 73
0.5 mi·50 sec·MN 73
25
Enter roundabout onto MN 73
149 ft·8 sec·State Highway 73
26
Continue on MN 73
0.6 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on MN 73
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Lake Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest
64 ft·2 sec·3rd Avenue Southwest
29
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
Consider departing Minneapolis in the morning to make the most of daylight for your 4-hour drive. The route has only one suggested stop, so you have flexibility to plan your breaks or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the longest stretch on I 35 is 105 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $34, so plan accordingly before you leave. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 106.5 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 58m 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chisholm, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 213.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Minneapolis, 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 12.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35W North
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
6
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.5 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.74 one way
$67.49 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$35.93
$71.87
premium
$4.85
$40.67
$81.35
diesel
$5.60
$46.97
$93.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.38
$10.23
Efficient EV
53.3
0
$18.65
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.83
$13.64
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Aug 12, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night
in Minneapolis on Wednesday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
ENE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chisholm, MN
Late night
in Chisholm on Wednesday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Woodbury, MN
107 mi in
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
10 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 7m 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?
You'll spend about 95% of the 213.1 miles on highways like I 35 and US 53. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 105 miles on I 35. After the highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads for the final stretch into Chisholm. Expect a fairly continuous cruising experience with minimal interruptions for much of the trip.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?
9/10
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 213.1 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,539 ft830 ft
Total Climb
762 ft
Total Descent
53 ft
Highest Point
1,539 ft
~213.1 mi in
Elevation Range
709 ft
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 Minneapolis, MN to Chisholm, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Minneapolis Institute of Art — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
•Walker Art Center — contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
•Weisman Art Museum — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 213.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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 9 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 Chisholm, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Chisholm, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
