You can make Minneapolis to Duluth in about 2.5 hours, but the people who love this drive never do it in one straight shot. At around 155 miles on I-35, it is short enough to start after breakfast and long enough to earn a night somewhere memorable close to the park gates.
Open this route in XCRSNLeaving Minneapolis
Aim to clear Minneapolis before the morning rush, or after it, never in it. Fill the tank on the edge of town where prices usually drop, set the playlist, and settle in for the first 81 miles to Hinckley.
The headline stop on this route is Tobies cinnamon rolls in Hinckley. Leave real time for it; it sets the tone for the whole trip.
Hinckley, the last stretch
Hinckley sits about 81 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Nearby, Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park is worth the short detour if the day is going well.
Rolling into Duluth
The final 74 miles always go faster than you expect. Save a little energy for Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore; it is a fitting finish.
By the end you will have seen Tobies cinnamon rolls in Hinckley, Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park and Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore, and you will understand why this corridor is a classic.
When to go and how to pace it
One night is the sweet spot. Duluth, MN is where most people stay, so book ahead on summer weekends.
Check live gas prices along I-35 before you go; they can swing a lot from one state or county to the next. XCRSN prices every leg for your exact car.
