Duluth, Minnesota, July 14 — A year and a half after visiting the south end of I-35 in Laredo, I made it to the other end, clinching its entire mainline length in the United States. I also made it to Lake Superior, my last Great Lake.
Route: US 169, to MN 13, I-35W, I-35E, MN 36, I-35W, I-94 (to x245 and turn around), US 61, MN 36, I-35E, I-35 (with jump-off to MN 70), I-535, US 53, US 2, Hammond Ave, I-535, I-35, MN 61, CSAH 61, MN 61 to CSAH 3 and turn around, MN 61, I-35
The day was mostly overcast, with a couple small showers, the only rain I’d have the whole trip.
I drove up I-35E, but also went over to Minneapolis to see TCF Bank Stadium and drive on the new I-35W bridge.
Carved into TCF Bank Stadium are the names of all Minnesota’s counties. Also around the stadium are large informative markers about various tribes in the state.
Good concrete on I-35E north and then on much of I-35 itself. There was construction going on south of Duluth.
My Minnesota Atlas and Gazetteer showed MN 361 running along old US 61 at Pine City, but Google Street View showed it had been turned over north of MN 70. Since then, though, the entire route has been decommissioned, and the county put up “Old 61” markers. I went west on MN 70 for two counties just off the interstate.
To be historically accurate, the cutout should say “Minnesota” instead of “Hwy” across the top, and perhaps use blocky numbers. But a big compliment for marking the route.
I-35’s northernmost rest area, in Duluth, is a joint one off the interstate with a scenic view.
WI 35 was closed between US 2 and I-535, thwarting my plans for a full loop in Superior. However, I did get pictures of the route, which was down to one lane across the bridge.
With about 30 seconds of traveling, I clinched Wisconsin’s interstates. The light ahead marks the end of I-535.
Continuing north, I clinched I-35 in Minnesota and unsuffixed I-35 in the entire country, missing only I-35E through Dallas. I kept on going, on MN 61, seeing a lot of vehicles heading south with canoes. I followed the scenic route, likely the oldest 61, northward and followed MN 61 up until CSAH 3 north of Two Harbors. Cook County was just too far away.
It was lighter this time when I got back to Duluth so I took I-535 down again, with a double loop back.
I drove back north to downtown, then on Lake Street into a long spit of land on Minnesota Avenue. Went to very end, down to the beach, and touched the water of Lake Superior.
Neither Two Harbors nor Thunder Bay is used as a control city at the end of I-35, just the “North Shore” of Lake Superior. Beside the van are signs that say “End 35 1/4 mile” and “Signal Ahead 1/4 Mile”.
New counties so far: 21 (4 NE, 2 SD, 8+6 MN, 1 WI)