Origin
Cottage Grove, MN
Late night in Cottage Grove on Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
36m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottage Grove, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN covers 31.7 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hillside Trail, East Point Douglas Road South, 80th Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.72 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
15.8 miles from Cottage Grove, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 31.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hillside Trail 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN is easy. At 36m 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 Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hillside Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Point Douglas Road South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 80th Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35E North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 694 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35W North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Hillside Trail
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottage Grove, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on Hyde Avenue South
59 ft
·
8 sec
·
Hyde Avenue South
2
Turn left onto Hillside Trail
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Trail
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Point Douglas Road South
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Point Douglas Road South
4
Turn slight right
220 ft
·
12 sec
5
Turn straight onto East Point Douglas Road South
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Point Douglas Road South
6
Turn left onto 80th Street South
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
80th Street South
7
Take the ramp slight right toward US 10 West, US 61 North
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 10 West, US 61 North
8
Merge slight left
8.9 mi
·
11 min
9
Take the exit straight
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
10
Merge slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North, US 10 West
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E North, US 10 West
12
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
13
Continue on I 694 West, US 10 West
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 694 West, US 10 West
14
Take the exit slight right
2.8 mi
·
3 min
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 35W North, US 10 West
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W North, US 10 West
16
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 10 West
17
Take the exit slight right toward MN 65: Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MN 65: Central Avenue
18
Keep slight left
223 ft
·
6 sec
19
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
20
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 15.8 miles from Cottage Grove, MN, or about 18m 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 31.7 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.8 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
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 Cottage Grove, 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 Cottage Grove, MN
This is one driving day of about 31.7 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cottage Grove, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.8 mi from Cottage Grove, MN · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.8 miles from Cottage Grove, 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
$4.72 one way
$9.44 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.08 | $10.17 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.66 | $11.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
21 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
36m 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 Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN covers 31.7 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hillside Trail, East Point Douglas Road South, 80th Street South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.8 miles from Cottage Grove, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.72 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.
The drive from Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN is easy. At 36m 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 Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cottage Grove, MN to Blaine, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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