Best route Minneapolis to Twin Lakes

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jbenn

New member
Hello,

We have been coming to the UP for the past 7 years from Minneapolis. Every year we take 35 north to hwy 2 to m28 to 45 and finish on m26. I have always wondered if it would be any faster to go hwy 8 across Wisconsin to Rhinelander to 45 north. Which way do most of you Twin Cities guys go and roughly how long does it take you?

Thanks
 
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Firecatguy

New member
we go 94 to Baldwin[hwy63} take that north to Hayward then 77 out of hayward to clam lake {GG} to mellen then back onto 77 right into Ironwood.......you should know the rest the way.....we take 6hr to get to twin lakes.....
 
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rp7x

Well-known member
g g sucks

go straight to 13 left to melen is only 6 miles longer but very straight ,turn rt before the school makes a short cut
 
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zimmbob

Member
The route you take is what we take all the time. It's longer in miles (not much though), but faster in time. Driving 75 most of the way doesn't hurt....

Always thought about going through Wisconsin a different way too, but just decided it was probably slow going...
 
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classic_chic

New member
We too go up through Duluth and Superior. We went through Hayward to Clam Lake on to Mellon etc once - but with the roads up there - after a snow/ice fall - it was slow going. Had a cabin - years back in Cable, WI and the way they plow the roads once you're in the "country" left a lot to be desired. So we take the interstate instead.......
 
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mikeyd

New member
jbenn -

I always go the same way as you almost every Friday night; coming back on Sunday I take the Wisconsin route. Ironwood west on 77, south on 53, south on 63, west on 8 to 35 south.

The time is just about the same; Wisconsin route is about 40 miles shorter. I don't take it Friday night to stay away from the Wisconsin deer, I've had too many hit my truck.
 
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xcr440

Well-known member
Not sure of distance, or time, but taking 94 east to 29, then East to Wausau and up Hwy 51 sure is a breeze to the North East part of WI. Except for a tiny bit around Wausau, it's 65MPH and NO TOWNS all the way to Tomahawk (In fact, you don't even go through Tomahawk)......Just something to think about.
 
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roundhouse

Member
I know it sounds odd but Hayward-Clam Lake-Mellen-Ironwood isn't much faster than going Hayward-Ashland-Ironwood. On the former route I always take GG which is paved nicely these days, there are curves on the north 10 miles but I can keep the cruise on 65 on the south ten miles. If I was trailering maybe the extra 6 miles would be worth it.
On the second route you do have to go through Ashland but there are no long slow stretches comparable to Iron Belt, Pence, Montreal, Hurley on 77. I take both ways but depending upon the timing Ashland can be a nice stop for food and supplies. Bear in mind, I live not far from hwy 63 in western WI, if I were right in the cities it would be tempting to jump on I-35 north.
In the UP, going via White Pine and Ontonagon between Bergland and Greenland is about the same as via Bruce Crossing. I'll go up 64 for a change of pace and a look at the lake.
 
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polarfreek

New member
xcr440 said:
Not sure of distance, or time, but taking 94 east to 29, then East to Wausau and up Hwy 51 sure is a breeze to the North East part of WI. Except for a tiny bit around Wausau, it's 65MPH and NO TOWNS all the way to Tomahawk (In fact, you don't even go through Tomahawk)......Just something to think about.
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Bingo! We have been taking this route for past 4-years. It may be about the same distance but you don't have to deal with the small towns and slow downs.

We used to go through Hayward, Ashland and Ironwood but thinking about it now, that route was just plain painful.
 
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xcr440

Well-known member
polarfreek said:
Bingo! We have been taking this route for past 4-years. It may be about the same distance but you don't have to deal with the small towns and slow downs.

We used to go through Hayward, Ashland and Ironwood but thinking about it now, that route was just plain painful.
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Painful is an understatement. If it's the same distance, is that mileage or time? If Mileage, it HAS to be over an hour time wise shorter.

I even found getting to Winter, WI that taking 94 to 29 to Chippewa Falls on 29 then north on 178 north to Cornell and up Hwy 27 was quicker by about 1/2 hour. Distance wise, it was a wash, within 5 miles of that jacking around on 63/8 (Never again will I go that way).
 
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big_motor_guy

New member
As others have stated if your already on 35 in forest lake, don't get off it is faster to go up to duluth and over on hwy 2 than the rinky dink throught WI. actually if you live in taylors falls on hwy 8, it is faster to go back to 35 then up and over on 2. Tried it both ways many times. My folks have a place in Wi just off 8 so we go through WI if we're leaving from there, but if coming from the cities it hwy 35 every time.
 
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polarfreek

New member
xcr440 said:
Painful is an understatement. If it's the same distance, is that mileage or time? If Mileage, it HAS to be over an hour time wise shorter.

I even found getting to Winter, WI that taking 94 to 29 to Chippewa Falls on 29 then north on 178 north to Cornell and up Hwy 27 was quicker by about 1/2 hour. Distance wise, it was a wash, within 5 miles of that jacking around on 63/8 (Never again will I go that way).
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We come up from Lakeville so taking 94 and staying away from St Paul area and shooting over to 29 was all interstate. Going through Hayward and those small towns and taking 63 down to Ashland most of the time the roads were icy and slow. I guess I just prefer going 70 all the way. We made it to Rockland in 6-hrs compared to 6 1/2 the other way.
 
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xcr440

Well-known member
Lakeville, I'll be there tonight! I drive there every other weekend to hang with my kids. This weekend, sleds in tow! My parents live just east of Aronson (sp?) Park.
 
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sledboy482

Member
Why don't you go to Mapquest and enter your beginning and ending addresses. THen, just grab and drag the highlighted route to some of the suggested ones. It will automatically recalculate your mileage and time of arrival. The ETA is always later than it really takes to get there from my experience. If you have a big rig and are towing a trailer, I would run the interstate as much as possible. Those are straighter and will be plowed before the others. You also could just take a few different routes and see which one you prefer.
 
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catmandoo

New member
I go threw Duluth and take the second bridge think it's 535 and follow the signs for 53 south witch runs in to 2 by the Perkans if the sun's out then you can try 77 or 63 but with any wether I feel better being on the 35 & 2 they have shoulder if you need to stop and more places to stop
 
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polarfreek

New member
xcr440 said:
Lakeville, I'll be there tonight! I drive there every other weekend to hang with my kids. This weekend, sleds in tow! My parents live just east of Aronson (sp?) Park.
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You will be pleased with the amount of snow. My kids are looking forward to a ride this weekend!
 
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