Connecting Highland Park to Bloomington

[Inspiribomb]

In my quest to bike everywhere this summer, I need a good route from my place right by the Ford Plant (Ford Pkwy and Cretin Ave.) to Bloomington, specifically the Lifetime Fitness off 84th St. It looks like I can take American Blvd. most of the way there, but how to get from Highland to there?

Any help is much appreciated, thanks in advance!

PS - This route needs to be road-bike friendly, or at least road-bike non-menacing...

[charliebrown]

This is a great site to create rides:

http://www.mapmyride.com/

[Inspiribomb]

I can always map my own, but was hoping someone was already familiar with a good route.

[jeffgude]

Take Mississippi River Blvd down to the Hwy 5 bridge, cross over to Fort Snelling, ride through to Fort Snelling State Park, then I think you can take Post Road around the south side of the airport, to 34th Ave, follow that south to American Blvd.

Some good climbing on this route. :)

[GearDaddy]

Here's a route that shows a couple alternatives:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1688304

Some notes: After going past Nokomis to the intersection at Cedar Ave (right where Fat Lorenzo's is) you'll turn left and follow Cedar for only a 100 feet or so and then stay to the right on a frontage road that leads to where you go past the 5-8 Club. It's actually a one way street for a bit, but I've ridden it both ways many a time without problems.

American Blvd. is fine until you get to about Lyndale Ave, where it starts getting busy and more narrow. I wouldn't recommend it.

The route that goes further south and follows 86th St. is going to be the least busy as far as traffic. The route that goes further north is OK until the 35W crossing and Penn Ave area, which can get pretty busy at rush hour times.