Origin
Cottonwood, MN
Late night in Cottonwood on Wednesday
Local time
1:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottonwood, MN to Blaine, MN
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
153.5 mi
247 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 5m
★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottonwood, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 153.5-mile drive from Cottonwood, MN to Blaine, MN will take you approximately 3 hours and 17 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You'll be spending about 97% of your time on main roads like US 212, State Highway 23, and MN 100. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, this trip is quite budget-friendly. This route keeps you within the Midwest region, offering a consistent driving experience across Minnesota.
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
76.7 miles from Cottonwood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 153.5-mile route, with 97% of your travel on main roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 112.8 miles on US 212, meaning you can settle in for a good portion of the drive. This segment is characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. You'll likely experience smooth, consistent driving as you transition from US 212 to State Highway 23 and finally to MN 100, making for a predictable journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 97.6 miles in near US 212.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 153.5 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 97.6 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.7 miles (MN 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
97.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
US 212
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
130.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 108B
Toward MN 100 North
5
130.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
MN 100
Merge onto MN 100
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
143.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 694 East
7
146.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 112.8 mi | 2h 23m |
| State Highway 23 | 14.9 mi | 18m |
| MN 100 | 13.2 mi | 16m |
| Highway 65 Northeast | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Crosstown Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 694 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Barstad Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 112.8 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
455 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 32
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Barstad Road
3
Turn right onto CR 10
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
390th Street
4
Turn left onto MN 23
15 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 23
5
Turn right onto US 212; MN 23
72 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
US 212; MN 23
6
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 212
7
Continue on US 212
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 212
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
31 mi
·
36 min
·
US 212
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on MN 62
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 108B
Toward MN 100 North
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto MN 100
13 mi
·
16 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 694 East
13
Merge onto I 694
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 38
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on MN 65
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on MN 65
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 65 Northeast
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 17-minute duration, starting your drive in Cottonwood, MN, in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Blaine, MN with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; you can push through or take a break as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 112.8 miles on US 212, and note the estimated fuel cost of $23. This is an efficient drive, so focus on staying alert and enjoying the straightforward journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.7 miles from Cottonwood, MN, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.8 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.7 miles or 1h 41m 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 41m
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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, MN
This is one driving day of about 153.5 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cottonwood, 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 US 212 for about 112.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.7 mi from Cottonwood, MN · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.7 miles from Cottonwood, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 212 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.8 miles.
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.
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
$22.84 one way
$45.69 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $24.61 | $49.23 |
| premium | $4.53 | $27.39 | $54.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.89 | $67.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.12 | $7.37 |
| Efficient EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.43 | $6.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.49 | $9.82 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Wednesday
Local time
1:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Plymouth, MN
77 mi in
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
5 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
3h 17m 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 Cottonwood, MN to Blaine, MN covers 153.5 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, State Highway 23, MN 100. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.7 miles from Cottonwood, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 10 significant decision points across 153.5 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 97.6 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.7 miles (MN 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cottonwood, MN to Blaine, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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