How far is Empire, MN from Bloomington, MN?

The driving distance from Empire, MN to Bloomington, MN is about 28.7 miles (46.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.8 miles (30.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
28.71 mi
00h 29m
Flight
18.74 mi
30.16 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Empire.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.74 mi
Kilometers
30.16 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
28.71 mi
Kilometers
46.2 km
Drive Time
00h 29m

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 00h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bloomington
Fri, Apr 24, 9:15 AM CDT
Return by in Empire
Fri, Apr 24, 9:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Empire
2026-04-24T08:46
Arrive Bloomington
Fri, Apr 24, 9:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Empire
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Apple Valley
MN

A city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

From Empire
13 mi
00h 14m
To Bloomington
15.7 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph W
Destination
59°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 200th Street East

    2106 ft · 42 sec · 200th Street East

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward US 52 South

    56 m · 7 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    855 ft · 14 sec

  4. 4

    Take the exit left toward US 52 North

    32 m · 10 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left

    3.6 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 46

    2009 ft · 57 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Brandel Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Brandel Drive

  8. 8

    Continue on 160th Street East

    9.5 mi · 14 min · 160th Street East

  9. 9

    Continue on Isleton Way

    3269 ft · 56 sec · Isleton Way

  10. 10

    Continue on 162nd Street West

    1 mi · 2 min · 162nd Street West

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 35 North

    124 m · 10 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North

    1639 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    7.1 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 90th Street

    879 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto East Bloomington Freeway

    59 m · 11 sec · East Bloomington Freeway

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West 90th Street

    50 m · 4 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 Empire and Bloomington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
62.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
160th Street East
9.52 mi · 33%
I 35 North
8.7 mi · 30%
Brandel Drive
1.39 mi · 5%
162nd Street West
1.03 mi · 4%
Isleton Way
0.62 mi · 2%
200th Street East
0.4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

160th Street East

Continue on 160th Street East

9.52 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 29m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.9 mi
18.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Apple Valley
00h 14m from Empire
Leave By
7:30 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Empire and Mostly Sunny near Bloomington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 28.7 miles (46.2 km) and usually takes 00h 29m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Apple Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13 miles from Empire and 15.7 miles from Bloomington.

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

The direct path is about 18.8 miles (30.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.60 one way or $7.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Empire and Mostly Sunny near Bloomington.

Stop Ideas Near Apple Valley

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley.

RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

26 mi away
Midway Station
RAIL

Red Wing station

57 mi away
420 Levee Street
BUS

Menomonie, WI

103 mi away
302 10th Avenue East
RAIL

St. Cloud

118 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Empire and Bloomington. Straight-line distance: 18.74 mi (30.16 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Empire

Township in Dakota County, Minnesota

Population3,071
Coordinates44.6591300, -93.0146600
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Bloomington

#2 Bloomington

The most populous city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population84,583
Coordinates44.8408000, -93.2982800
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Start: 200th Street East (-93.014661, 44.659188)
End: West 90th Street (-93.29828, 44.84075)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 46 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.01 gal
3.83 L · about $3.60
Round trip
$7.21
2.02 gal · 7.66 L
Estimated CO2
9 kg one way
Round trip: 18 kg / 40 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $3.60 $7.21
Mid-grade $3.92 $3.96 $7.92
Premium $4.39 $4.44 $8.87
Diesel $4.86 $4.91 $9.83

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Empire and Bloomington. The current time is 08:46:01.

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.