Origin
Blaine, MN
Afternoon in Blaine on Friday
Local time
1:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
138.9 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Cross Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN covers 138.9 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Avenue Northeast, US 10 West, Highway 169 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.67 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
69.5 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 138.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 59m drive with frequent turns across 138.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Avenue Northeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN is easy. At 2h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| US 10 West | — | — |
| Highway 169 | — | — |
| Central Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 18 | — | — |
| Highway 6 | — | — |
| East Front Street | — | — |
| Archibald Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Cross Lake, MN.
1
Start on Central Avenue Northeast
26 ft
·
9 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on Central Avenue Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
3
Take the exit slight right toward US 10 West
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 10 West
4
Merge slight left
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
5
Keep slight left
19 mi
·
21 min
6
Take the exit slight right
27 mi
·
30 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on US Highway 169
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US Highway 169
8
Continue on Central Avenue
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue
9
Continue on US Highway 169
37 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 169
10
Turn left onto State Highway 18
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 18
11
Turn right onto State Highway 6
9.4 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 6
12
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Front Street
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Front Street
13
Turn right onto Archibald Road
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
Archibald Road
14
Continue on Voyageur Highway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Voyageur Highway
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Main Street
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Exit the roundabout onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
17
Turn right
4.7 mi
·
8 min
18
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Road 11
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road 11
20
Exit the roundabout onto County Road 11
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 11
21
Turn right onto County Road 39
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 39
22
Turn right onto Fawn Lake Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Fawn Lake Road
23
Turn left onto County Road 11
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 11
24
Arrive at your destination
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 69.5 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.5 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cross Lake, 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 138.9 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.5 mi from Blaine, MN · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.5 miles from Blaine, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cross Lake, MN
The final approach into Cross Lake, 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 Cross Lake, 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
$20.67 one way
$41.34 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $22.27 | $44.55 |
| premium | $4.53 | $24.78 | $49.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.67 | $61.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.58 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Cross Lake, MN
Afternoon in Cross Lake on Friday
Local time
1:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°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
29 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 59m 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 Cross Lake, MN covers 138.9 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Avenue Northeast, US 10 West, Highway 169. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.5 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 $20.67 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.
The drive from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN is easy. At 2h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Blaine, MN to Cross Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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