Origin
Zimmerman, MN
Late night in Zimmerman on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zimmerman, MN to Bloomington, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
51.3 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zimmerman, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Bloomington, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 51.3-mile drive from Zimmerman to Bloomington, Minnesota, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 3 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, with no need to break it up. The route is heavily focused on highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Expect to spend around $8 on fuel for this journey, which traverses within the Midwest region. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so plan for a consistent pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 21.9 mi | 27m |
| US Highway 169 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 35W | 1 mi | 1m |
| 261st Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| POW/MIA Memorial Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 90th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 21.9 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zimmerman, MN and Bloomington, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street West
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
2nd Street West
2
Turn right onto 261st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
261st Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 169
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 169
4
Continue on US 169
383 ft
·
4 sec
·
POW/MIA Memorial Highway
5
Continue on MN 101
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
7
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 494
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 494
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Zimmerman, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.3 — 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
|
261st Avenue
Turn right onto 261st Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
49.4 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
51.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
West 90th Street
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.27 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.23 | $16.45 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.15 | $18.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.33 | $22.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Bloomington, MN
Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 3m 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?
The personality of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 95% share of its mileage on major roads like I-494, US Highway 169, and I-94. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 21.9-mile segment on I-494. This means you're looking at a consistent driving experience with minimal diversions onto local roads. The focus is on covering distance smoothly and efficiently, making it a predictable journey for most of its length.
95% 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: 21.9 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and US Highway 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 261st Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (261st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Zimmerman, MN to Bloomington, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
18.1 mi in
|
~21m
About the Cities
Arriving in Bloomington, MN
Full guide →Founded 1843
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.
Top landmarks
- • Nickelodeon Universe — amusement park inside Mall of America
- • SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge — amusement ride
- • SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium
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 3m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on I 494. 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: near the start (261st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.4 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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