How far is Thief River Falls, MN from Bloomington, MN?

The driving distance from Thief River Falls, MN to Bloomington, MN is about 306.8 miles (493.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.8 miles (426.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 11m 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
306.86 mi
05h 05m
Flight
264.76 mi
426.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thief River Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.76 mi
Kilometers
426.09 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
306.86 mi
Kilometers
493.84 km
Drive Time
05h 05m

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 05h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bloomington
Wed, Apr 22, 11:35 PM CDT
Return by in Thief River Falls
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thief River Falls
2026-04-22T18:29
Arrive Bloomington
Wed, Apr 22, 11:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:06 AM to 1:06 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
6:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thief River Falls
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
Aldrich
MN

City in Wadena County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Thief River Falls
151.4 mi
02h 32m
To Bloomington
155.5 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 17 mph SSE
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 Thief River Falls and Bloomington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thief River Falls and Bloomington.

  1. 1

    Start on 3rd Street East

    9.5 mi · 12 min · 3rd Street East

  2. 2

    Turn left

    85 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  3. 3

    Turn left

    44.9 mi · 52 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    20 m · 1 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Ash Avenue Northwest

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest

  7. 7

    Continue on West Mason Avenue

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min · West Mason Avenue

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    26.1 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  11. 11

    Continue on County Road 11

    1.1 km · 58 sec · County Road 11

  12. 12

    Turn right onto State Highway 25

    540 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 25

  13. 13

    Continue on Pine Street

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Pine Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Broadway Street East

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street East

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Fenning Avenue

    1727 ft · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the ramp left

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South

    2227 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    21.9 mi · 27 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

    1038 ft · 25 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on I 35W South: Albert Lea

    2054 ft · 50 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward 90th Street

    1145 ft · 35 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West 90th Street

    63 m · 6 sec · West 90th Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 90th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thief River Falls and Bloomington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Mason Avenue
105 mi · 34%
I 494 South
22.3 mi · 7%
Fenning Avenue
21.8 mi · 7%
3rd Street East
9.54 mi · 3%
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.26 mi · 2%
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

85 mi · 01h 37m

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
05h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42 mi
264.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Aldrich
02h 32m from Thief River Falls
Leave By
6:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Thief River Falls and Sunny near Bloomington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thief River Falls to Bloomington?

The road trip is about 306.8 miles (493.8 km) and usually takes 05h 05m 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?

Aldrich is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.4 miles from Thief River Falls and 155.5 miles from Bloomington.

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

The direct path is about 264.8 miles (426.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 42 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 6:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.65 one way or $77.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Thief River Falls and Sunny near Bloomington.

Stop Ideas Near Aldrich

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

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

RAIL

Staples

11 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

Detroit Lakes

85 mi away
116 Pioneer Street
RAIL

St. Cloud

109 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thief River Falls and Bloomington. Straight-line distance: 264.76 mi (426.09 km).

Thief River Falls

#1 Thief River Falls

City in Pennington County, Minnesota, USA

Population8,688
Coordinates48.1191400, -96.1811500
Altitude345
CountryUnited States
Bloomington

#2 Bloomington

The most populous city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population84,583
Coordinates44.8408000, -93.2982800
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Start: 3rd Street East (-96.18115, 48.119121)
End: West 90th Street (-93.29828, 44.84075)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 494 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.83 gal
40.99 L · about $38.65
Round trip
$77.30
21.66 gal · 81.98 L
Estimated CO2
96.2 kg one way
Round trip: 192.5 kg / 424 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $38.65 $77.30
Mid-grade $3.92 $42.46 $84.93
Premium $4.39 $47.57 $95.13
Diesel $4.86 $52.68 $105.35

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Thief River Falls and Bloomington. The current time is 18:29:44.

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.