Forest Lake Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Minneapolis, MN to Hoyt Lakes, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
211.9 mi
341 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
7 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 59m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minneapolis, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Hoyt Lakes, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Hoyt Lakes, MN covers 211.9 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 53, I 35W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
105.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 105 mi | 1h 52m |
| US 53 | 35.9 mi | 41m |
| I 35W | 27.8 mi | 31m |
| MN 33 | 19.8 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 135 | 11.4 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Memorial Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Highway 110 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South Broadway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Hoyt Lakes, 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 22B
Toward MN 36
Use 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
36 mi
·
41 min
·
US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto MN 37
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
MN 37
Toward MN 37 East: Gilbert, Biwabik
16
Turn right onto MN 37
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 37
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on MN 37; FH 11
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Broadway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto MN 135
11 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 135
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on CR 100; FH 11
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
County Highway 100
20
Continue on CR 100; FH 11
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Avenue North
21
Turn right onto CR 100; FH 11
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street North
22
Turn left onto CH 110; FH 11
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 110
23
Continue on CH 110; FH 11
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 110
24
Continue on CH 110; FH 11
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Kennedy Memorial Drive
25
Arrive at destination
CH 110; FH 11
Trip Plan
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 105.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 57m 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 105.9 miles or 1h 57m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hoyt Lakes, 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 211.9 miles and 4h 12m.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.9 miles from Minneapolis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Goose Creek Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Culkin Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Anchor Lake Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
US-53: Independence Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
General Andrews Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Kettle River Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 190.2 — 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
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.
6
190.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 37m in
|
MN 37 / State Highway 37
Turn right onto MN 37 / State Highway 37
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.55 one way
$67.11 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $35.73 | $71.46 |
| premium | $4.85 | $40.44 | $80.89 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $46.71 | $93.42 |
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: 74.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Robbinsdale, MN - Tesla Supercharger
Robbinsdale, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Cedar Commons
Minneapolis, MN
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Costco St. Louis Park (St. Louis Park, MN)
St Louis Park, MN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Luther Westside Volkswagen - DCFC
St. Louis Park, MN
Blink Network
4 DCFC
394 HYUNDAI CUSTOMER PARK
St. Louis Park, MN
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
AR MPLS SN 2954 EXPRESS 250
St. Louis Park, MN
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ROBBINSDALECITY LVT PARK 1
Robbinsdale, MN
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 3
Tesla: 1
Blink Network: 1
eVgo Network: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.25 | $10.17 |
| Efficient EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.8 | 1 | $29.67 | $13.56 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 5 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 3 at 11:46PM CDT until September 4 at 12:30AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 3 at 11:43PM CDT until September 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Hoyt Lakes, MN
Late night in Hoyt Lakes on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph
76% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 3 at 11:46PM CDT until September 4 at 12:30AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 3 at 11:43PM CDT until September 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
55°F
Woodbury, MN
106 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
14 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 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
211.9 mi in 4h 12m, mostly highway — 105 mi of that is on I 35.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 Effort
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 211.9 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,472 ft
830 ft
Total Climb
698 ft
Total Descent
56 ft
Highest Point
1,472 ft
~211.9 mi in
Elevation Range
643 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Minneapolis, MN and Hoyt Lakes, MN, road signs point toward Iron Range and Biwabik.
Iron Range
134.2 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via MN 33
Biwabik
189.9 mi in
|
~3h 36m
|
via MN 37
About the Cities
Starting in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →Founded 1850
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
Arriving in Hoyt Lakes, MN
Full guide →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 4h 12m. Total distance: 211.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Hoyt Lakes, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hoyt Lakes, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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