The drive from Blaine, MN to Glenwood, MN covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, MN 28, MN-610 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.68 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
62.7 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 125.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 125.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and MN 28. The longest continuous stretch is about 73 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 73 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 28. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort6/10
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 125.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 (MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Continue onto MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 10 West
6
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in|MN 610 / MN-610
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
15.7 mi into trip|~19m in|I 94 / I-94 W
Merge onto I 94 / I-94 W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
101.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Blaine, MN to Glenwood, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Sauk Centre along the way.
Sauk Centre
101.3 mi in|~1h 50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
73 mi
1h 18m
MN 28
23.5 mi
34m
MN-610
12.8 mi
14m
I-94 W
12.6 mi
13m
Central Avenue Northeast
1.8 mi
2m
US 10
0.8 mi
<1m
Main Street South
0.4 mi
<1m
Minnesota Avenue East
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 73 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Glenwood, MN.
1
Start on MN 65
26 ft·8 sec·Central Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on MN 65
1.8 mi·2 min·Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 10 WestUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 10
0.8 mi·49 sec·US 10
5
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610
13 mi·14 min·MN-610
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 94
13 mi·13 min·I-94 W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
73 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre
9
Turn left onto US 71; MN 28
0.4 mi·46 sec·Main Street South
10
Turn right onto MN 28
23 mi·34 min·MN 28
11
Arrive at destination
MN 28
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 62.7 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glenwood, 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 125.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Blaine, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 73 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.7 mi from Blaine, MN
· 1h 9m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.68 one way
$37.35 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$20.12
$40.25
premium
$4.53
$22.39
$44.78
diesel
$5.61
$27.71
$55.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.18
$6.02
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.98
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Blaine, MN
Afternoon
in Blaine on Friday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glenwood, MN
Afternoon
in Glenwood on Friday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
23 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 27m 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 Glenwood, MN covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, MN 28, MN-610. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.7 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 $18.68 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 125.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 (MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Blaine, MN to Glenwood, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Sauk Centre along the way.
