Origin
Forest Lake, MN
Evening in Forest Lake on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN is 18 miles and takes about 24 minutes via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a very short trip within the Midwest region, specifically connecting two points in Minnesota. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward and quick transit. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for a quick errand, a short commute, or a brief leg of a longer journey without significant time commitment. You won't need to worry about overnight stays or extensive planning for this particular route.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 66% of the drive taking place on major highways like I 35W and I 35. You'll experience a fairly consistent driving environment for most of the 18 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.8 miles on I 35W, offering a period of steady travel. Expect a direct, efficient transit rather than a scenic tour. The transition to 109th Avenue Northeast marks the final approach, but the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 7.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 18 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Enter roundabout onto CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward CR 2: Forest Lake
Navigation decision point
Exit 131
Toward CR 2: Forest Lake
7
5.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
6
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 2: Forest Lake along the way.
Cr 2: Forest Lake
1.1 mi in
|
~2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| I 35 | 4 mi | 4m |
| 109th Avenue Northeast | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| West Broadway Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lexington Avenue Northeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lake Street South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 7.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Lake, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on US 61
273 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lake Street South
2
Continue on US 61
306 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lake Street South
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 2
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Broadway Avenue
4
Continue on CH 2
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broadway Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 131
Toward CR 2: Forest Lake
6
Merge onto I 35
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 33
Toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto CR 17
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lexington Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
109th Avenue Northeast
11
Turn left onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
12
Turn left onto MN 65
103 ft
·
10 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
13
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.68 one way
$5.36 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.89 | $5.77 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Evening in Blaine on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24m 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 Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN covers 18 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 35, 109th Avenue Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9 miles from Forest Lake, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.68 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 18 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 2: Forest Lake along the way.
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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