How far is Ely, MN from Bloomington, MN?

The driving distance from Ely, MN to Bloomington, MN is about 255.6 miles (411.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
255.62 mi
04h 02m
Flight
222.31 mi
357.78 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ely.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.31 mi
Kilometers
357.78 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
255.62 mi
Kilometers
411.38 km
Drive Time
04h 02m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bloomington
Thu, Apr 23, 3:20 AM CDT
Return by in Ely
Thu, Apr 23, 7:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ely
2026-04-22T23:17
Arrive Bloomington
Thu, Apr 23, 3:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:03 AM to 12:03 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ely
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Barnum
MN

Township in Carlton County, Minnesota

From Ely
127.6 mi
02h 01m
To Bloomington
128.1 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ely and Bloomington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ely and Bloomington.

  1. 1

    Start on West Sheridan Street

    20.1 mi · 29 min · West Sheridan Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    21.5 mi · 29 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    3038 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    1664 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.6 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    35 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    37.3 mi · 43 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    15.3 mi · 19 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    3.9 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South

    24 m · 1 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South

    2829 ft · 40 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    109.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35W: Minneapolis

    34.3 mi · 42 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 90th Street

    1145 ft · 35 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West 90th Street

    63 m · 6 sec · West 90th Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 90th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ely and Bloomington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35 South
110 mi · 43%
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 26%
I 35W
34.3 mi · 13%
West Sheridan Street
20.1 mi · 8%
Main Street
1.42 mi · 1%
US 53 South
0.89 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35 South

Merge slight left

110 mi · 01h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.3 mi
222.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Barnum
02h 01m from Ely
Leave By
8:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ely and Sunny near Bloomington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ely to Bloomington?

The road trip is about 255.6 miles (411.4 km) and usually takes 04h 02m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Barnum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 127.6 miles from Ely and 128.1 miles from Bloomington.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.19 one way or $64.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ely and Sunny near Bloomington.

Stop Ideas Near Barnum

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Barnum, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Barnum.

BUS

Duluth (Greyhound Station), Minnesota

52 mi away
4426 Grand Ave.
BUS

Duluth (University of Minnesota), Minnesota

58 mi away
175 Kirby Student Union

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ely and Bloomington. Straight-line distance: 222.31 mi (357.78 km).

Ely

#1 Ely

City in Minnesota, United States

Population3,325
Coordinates47.9032400, -91.8670900
Altitude436
CountryUnited States
Bloomington

#2 Bloomington

The most populous city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population84,583
Coordinates44.8408000, -93.2982800
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Start: MN 1 (-91.86709, 47.903279)
End: West 90th Street (-93.29828, 44.84075)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 411 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.02 gal
34.14 L · about $32.19
Round trip
$64.38
18.04 gal · 68.28 L
Estimated CO2
80.2 kg one way
Round trip: 160.3 kg / 353 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $32.19 $64.38
Mid-grade $3.92 $35.37 $70.73
Premium $4.39 $39.62 $79.23
Diesel $4.86 $43.87 $87.75

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Ely and Bloomington. The current time is 23:17:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.