Community Forums

tnrzryd · 12-01-2021, 08:22 AM

Next July traveling 35W/35 north from Prior Lake MN to Duluth - 45’ coach w/tow. We’ve heard about “lake traffic” and wondering how bad it might be on a Saturday morning?

bobmar · 12-01-2021, 08:42 AM

Lake traffic going north of the Twin Cities can be an issue but Saturday morning you’ll be fine. Seems Thursday is the new Friday and that’s when people start their migration north. Sunday evening heading south can be troublesome. I35 goes near downtown Minneapolis, good road but 494/694 to 35E around the cities is a good alternative just a bit longer. Check your map app or 511 for road conditions. Have fun!!

tscarps · 12-01-2021, 08:43 AM

We've made that drive a few times from the Mankato area after visiting family and haven't run into much trouble. Driving through the Minneapolis are is the hardest part but still not terrible. The only slow downs we ran into were due to construction but nothing of much concern.

Duluth is an awesome place to visit. Lakehead Boat Basin was a great place to stay for proximity to things to do and to watch the ships coming and going

tnrzryd · 12-01-2021, 09:01 AM

Good info everyone! Saturday it is. My iMaps show from Prior Lake take 169 to 464 to MN100 north to 694 east to 35w. That should get us around downtown Minneapolis.

STRich · 12-01-2021, 12:46 PM

What is going to toss a wrench into things is the huge reconstruction project that they have going on in Duluth. 35 and the interconnecting highways from Wisconsin are being rebuilt and rerouted.
https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/proje...nge/index.html
The project runs into 2024.
You should be fine, but the lanes are very narrow. Early Saturday morning you can just drive at your pace, but you may rub a few cones. Enjoy the North Shore, it is a magical place.

tnrzryd · 12-01-2021, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STRich

What is going to toss a wrench into things is the huge reconstruction project that they have going on in Duluth. 35 and the interconnecting highways from Wisconsin are being rebuilt and rerouted.
https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/proje...nge/index.html
The project runs into 2024.
You should be fine, but the lanes are very narrow. Early Saturday morning you can just drive at your pace, but you may rub a few cones. Enjoy the North Shore, it is a magical place.

Good to know! The construction won’t impact us as we are actually going to Saginaw. Leaving, we are headed into the Up, so there is a good “go around” to get us past the construction and back on highway 2 headed west.

Bobby F · 12-01-2021, 02:03 PM

On a Saturday morning, I'd just head over on 13 and take 35 straight up. No reason to wander all over 169/494/100/694. Just added miles and turns and merges. Even as 35 passes through Minneapolis, it's wide and even and not crowded (on a Saturday morn.) No lake traffic on Saturdays.

tnrzryd · 12-01-2021, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby F

On a Saturday morning, I'd just head over on 13 and take 35 straight up. No reason to wander all over 169/494/100/694. Just added miles and turns and merges. Even as 35 passes through Minneapolis, it's wide and even and not crowded (on a Saturday morn.) No lake traffic on Saturdays.

Good advice. Thanks! Will check traffic the morning we leave. We know our options. Take the quickest route.

amosnandy · 12-01-2021, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnrzryd

Good info everyone! Saturday it is. My iMaps show from Prior Lake take 169 to 464 to MN100 north to 694 east to 35w. That should get us around downtown Minneapolis.

Stay off Hwy 100. If there is no traffic it’s not a bad road but just a little traffic and you can sit standing still for an hour. There is a lot of heavy truck traffic, and Saturday morning is no exception. Big Super Value warehouse and a lot of other small industrial parks. If coming in on 169 your better off taking 494 east and 35w north. 169 or 35W both take you through the metro. 35 is a lot better road. Only slowdown is where 35 meets 94. One Sharp 35mph curve right at the junction then clear sailing. Stay off 35E though. There’s a stretch that has a 10,000# GVW limit.

Where are you coming from in Prior Lake. The casino or horse track. Anywhere east of them your just as well off to take 13 over to 35W and go. Another good option if you go up 169 to 494 is to take 494 all the way to US 52 north to 94/35 junction and go north.

Most of the Lake traffic you ear about is over on 94. And that can be bumper to bumper for 100 miles going north Thursday to Saturday noon.

tnrzryd · 12-01-2021, 09:41 PM

We’ll be coming from the RV park at the casino.

bobmar · 12-01-2021, 09:47 PM

“Most of the Lake traffic you ear about is over on 94. And that can be bumper to bumper for 100 miles going north Thursday to Saturday noon.”

Can’t argue that!!!

amosnandy · 12-02-2021, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnrzryd

We’ll be coming from the RV park at the casino.

From there I would go north on Mystic Lake Dr to 169 north to 494. 494 east to 35W. On a Saturday morning traffic going into and through tow will be lite. North of downtown it will pick up but still not bad. If

MN_Traveler · 12-03-2021, 07:50 AM

I live right off of 35w on the south side of mpls, and my rigid opinion is ... any of the stated options will work great for you. Sat morning traffic will be light in the cities. The construction on 35w in south mpls has finished, and it is a great wide open road... youll jus have to deal with some rather sharp turns, but just take it somewhat slow. But if you go that route, you will have to do more navigating to get from the casino to 35w.

Honestly? The most straightforward approach with the simplest navigating is to jump onto 169 northbound just north of the casino, go up to 694 eastbound, then catch 35w north. The road is fine, and though you will goright by that supervalue warehouse ... i drive by it all the time, and i see the trucks in the parking lot, not on the road!

But again, any of the options would be fine. Up by duluth, there are not a lot of options to I35. If there is construction, you likely just have to put up with it.

The rv park at the casino is nice. Enjoy your stay!