The drive from Co on Rapids, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35W, I 90, I 94 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.2 miles on I 35W.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.82 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
73.3 miles from Co on Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 146.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 35W and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 91.2 miles on I 35W.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 91.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 1 / East River Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 146.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 1 / East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 1 / East River Road
Turn right onto CR 1 / East River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 35B
Toward I 94 East
6
9.4 mi into trip|~15m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.7 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 233B
Toward I 35W South
6
104.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
91.2 mi
1h 40m
I 90
39.2 mi
42m
I 94
7.7 mi
9m
East River Road
3.7 mi
6m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
US Highway 169
0.6 mi
<1m
Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi
<1m
I 694
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 91.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi·32 sec·Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2
Turn right onto CR 1
3.7 mi·6 min·East River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 694
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 35BToward I 94 EastUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 94
4.4 mi·5 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 233BToward I 35W SouthUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto MN 65
0.2 mi·14 sec·MN 65
Toward I-35W South
10
Merge onto I 35W
91 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Sioux FallsUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 90
39 mi·42 min·I 90
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 169: Blue Earth
14
Turn left onto US 169
0.6 mi·46 sec·US Highway 169
15
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft·1 sec·Fairgrounds Road
16
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Fairgrounds Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
18
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft·8 sec·East 7th Street
19
Turn right
53 ft·6 sec
20
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
21
Arrive at 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 73.3 miles from Co on Rapids, MN, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.2 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Co on Rapids, 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 Co on Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 146.6 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Co on Rapids, 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 35W for about 91.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.3 mi from Co on Rapids, MN
· 1h 26m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Morning
in Co on Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Earth, MN
Morning
in Blue Earth on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
20 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 49m 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 Co on Rapids, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 90, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.3 miles from Co on Rapids, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.82 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 is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 146.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 1 / East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Co on Rapids, MN to Blue Earth, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
