Origin
Atwater, MN
Late night in Atwater on Friday
Local time
12:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atwater, MN to Blaine, MN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
91.7 mi
148 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atwater, MN to Blaine, MN covers 91.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Road 37 Northwest, I 94, MN 610 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.8 miles on County Road 37 Northwest. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Atwater, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 91.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Atwater, MN to Blaine, MN covers 91.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Road 37 Northwest is the longest continuous segment at about 20.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Minnesota Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Minnesota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.4 miles (CR 37 / County Road 37 Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.5 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Minnesota Avenue
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
44.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
CR 37 / County Road 37 Northwest
Turn right onto CR 37 / County Road 37 Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
75.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
MN 610
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
6
89.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
6
89.7 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 37 Northwest | 20.8 mi | 28m |
| I 94 | 18.3 mi | 19m |
| MN 610 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Pleasant Avenue East | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| MN 24 | 10.4 mi | 18m |
| County Road 27 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 25 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
County Road 37 Northwest
— 20.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atwater, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on this road
135 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft
·
11 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 2
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street North
4
Turn right onto US 12
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Pleasant Avenue East
5
Turn left onto MN 24
10 mi
·
18 min
·
MN 24
6
Turn right onto CR 27
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 27
7
Continue on CR 37
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 37 Northwest
8
Turn left onto County Highway 2
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 2
9
Continue on CR 37
11 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 37 Northwest
10
Turn right onto MN 55
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 55
11
Turn left onto CR 8
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Oak Avenue North
12
Turn right onto CR 37
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 37 Northwest
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto MN 25
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 25
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
15
Merge onto I 94
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto MN 610
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN 610
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 10
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 10
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto MN 65
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.8 miles from Atwater, MN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blaine, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Atwater, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Atwater, MN
This is one driving day of about 91.7 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Atwater, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on County Road 37 Northwest for about 20.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.8 mi from Atwater, MN · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.8 miles from Atwater, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Blaine, MN
The final approach into Blaine, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Blaine, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.65 one way
$27.29 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $14.70 | $29.41 |
| premium | $4.53 | $16.36 | $32.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.25 | $40.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.84 | $5.87 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Friday
Local time
12:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Annandale, MN
46 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 3m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Atwater, MN to Blaine, MN covers 91.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Road 37 Northwest, I 94, MN 610. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.8 miles from Atwater, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Minnesota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.4 miles (CR 37 / County Road 37 Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.5 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Atwater, MN to Blaine, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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