This 38.4-mile drive from Pine City, MN to Bruno, MN is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 51 minutes, making it perfect for a day trip. With a projected fuel cost of around $6, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes I-35 and Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive, offering a predominantly highway experience. Given its short distance and duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and enjoy the journey without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
23.8 mi
25m
Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
12.3 mi
21m
Main Street South
1.1 mi
2m
Henriette Road Northwest
0.3 mi
<1m
County Highway 61
0.2 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue Southeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Railroad Street Southeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 23.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine City, MN and Bruno, MN.
1
Start on Railroad Street Southeast
212 ft·14 sec·Railroad Street Southeast
2
Turn left onto CR 8
414 ft·15 sec·3rd Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street South
4
Continue on I 35 BUS; CR 61
0.2 mi·32 sec·County Highway 61
5
Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11
0.3 mi·32 sec·Henriette Road Northwest
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
7
Merge onto I 35
24 mi·25 min·I 35
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward MN 18, MN 23 East: Finlayson, Askov
9
Turn right onto MN 23
12 mi·21 min·Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
10
Turn right onto CR 44
248 ft·6 sec·Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
CR 44
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Pine City, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South
Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest
Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North: Duluth
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
5
25.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward MN 18, MN 23 East: Finlayson, Askov
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 18, MN 23 East: Finlayson, Askov
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.30 one way
$12.61 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$6.74
$13.49
premium
$4.95
$7.48
$14.96
diesel
$5.35
$8.09
$16.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.5
0
$4.03
$1.84
Efficient EV
9.6
0
$3.36
$1.54
EV Truck/SUV
15.4
0
$5.38
$2.46
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 May 22, 2026
Origin
Pine City, MN
Afternoon
in Pine City on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 22 at 12:04AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 11:59PM CDT until May 22 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Bruno, MN
Afternoon
in Bruno on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 22 at 12:04AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 11:59PM CDT until May 22 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
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
3 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
51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive for 63% of this route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-35, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 23.8 miles. While the interstate offers efficiency, the transition to Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive and then Main Street South in Bruno will introduce more local road elements. The overall feel is one of steady progress, with the latter part of the drive becoming more community-oriented as you approach your destination.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 51m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,193 ft950 ft
Total Climb
325 ft
Total Descent
121 ft
Highest Point
1,193 ft
~32.9 mi in
Elevation Range
243 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 Pine City, MN to Bruno, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Askov along the way.
Askov
25.8 mi in|~29m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Pine City is a city in east central Minnesota with the tagline "North. Nice and close." The Pine City zip code (55063), which is a more accurate reflection of the size of the town, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and even more native pine trees. It's an easy day trip from the Twin Cities to Pine City, the largest city in, and county seat of Pine County.
The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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: near the start (CR 8 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 61 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35 BUS; CR 11 / Henriette Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bruno, MN before heading back.
