Origin
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Friday
Local time
3:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Arnold, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
150.4 mi
242 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Arnold, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Blaine, MN to Arnold, MN covers 150.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, I 35W, Howard Gnesen Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.8 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.38 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.2 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 150.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 150.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35W. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.8 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast.
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 150.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.5 miles (CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left toward I 35W North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35W North
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
142.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
|
MN 194 / Mesaba Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194 / Mesaba Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 123.8 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 35W | 12.7 mi | 13m |
| Howard Gnesen Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| 109th Avenue Northeast | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Kenwood Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Mesaba Avenue | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| West Tischer Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| MN 194 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 123.8 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Arnold, MN.
1
Start on MN 65
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto CR 12
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
109th Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto CR 17
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 35W North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35W
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
124 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 35
7
Take the exit onto MN 194
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
MN 194
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
MN 194
9
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 194
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mesaba Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto East 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 13th Street
11
Turn left onto East Skyline Parkway
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Skyline Parkway
12
Turn straight onto Kenwood Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Avenue
13
Continue on CH 34
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Howard Gnesen Road
14
Turn right onto CH 2
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Tischer Road
15
Turn left onto CH 36
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Arnold Road
16
Arrive at destination
CH 36
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.2 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.8 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.2 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arnold, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blaine, 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 Blaine, MN
This is one driving day of about 150.4 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Blaine, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 123.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.2 mi from Blaine, MN · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.2 miles from Blaine, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.8 miles.
Arriving in Arnold, MN
The final approach into Arnold, 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 Arnold, MN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.38 one way
$44.76 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $24.12 | $48.23 |
| premium | $4.53 | $26.84 | $53.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.21 | $66.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.79 | $7.22 |
| Efficient EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.16 | $6.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.06 | $9.63 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Arnold, MN
Late night in Arnold on Friday
Local time
3:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 54m 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 Blaine, MN to Arnold, MN covers 150.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35W, Howard Gnesen Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.2 miles from Blaine, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.38 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 150.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.5 miles (CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Blaine, MN to Arnold, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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