Origin
Lester Prairie, MN
Afternoon in Lester Prairie on Friday
Local time
1:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lester Prairie, 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
1h 19m
Distance
56.7 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lester Prairie, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lester Prairie, MN to Blaine, MN covers 56.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 7, Minnesota State Highway 7, MN 100 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.3 miles on MN 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 56.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 19m highway drive covering 56.7 miles, with most of the trip on MN 7 and Minnesota State Highway 7. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.3 miles on MN 7.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 7 and Minnesota State Highway 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR 9 / County Highway 9.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.6 miles (CR 9 / County Highway 9): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 9 / County Highway 9
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9 / County Highway 9
Navigation decision point
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
37.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 100 North
6
37.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
MN 100
Merge onto MN 100 toward CR 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 5
7
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
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 Lester Prairie, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 along the way.
Cr 5
37.7 mi in
|
~54m
|
via MN 100
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 7 | 21.3 mi | 29m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 14 mi | 19m |
| MN 100 | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Highway 65 Northeast | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| I 694 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| County Highway 9 | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 7
— 21.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lester Prairie, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
90 ft
·
5 sec
·
1st Avenue South
2
Turn right onto Juniper Street South
277 ft
·
14 sec
·
Juniper Street South
3
Turn right onto CR 109
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway 9
5
Turn right onto MN 7
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
6
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
MN 7
7
Continue on MN 7
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
MN 7
8
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
185 ft
·
3 sec
·
MN 7
9
Continue on MN 7
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
MN 7
10
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
139 ft
·
2 sec
·
MN 7
11
Continue on MN 7
13 mi
·
17 min
·
MN 7
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MN 100 North
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto MN 100
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MN 100
Toward CR 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 694 East
16
Merge onto I 694
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 38
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on MN 65
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on MN 65
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 65 Northeast
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.4 mi from Lester Prairie, MN · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Lester Prairie, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.44 one way
$16.88 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.09 | $18.18 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.12 | $20.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.52 | $25.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.95 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.94 | $3.63 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Blaine on Friday
Local time
1:57 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
2 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
1h 19m 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 Lester Prairie, MN to Blaine, MN covers 56.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 7, Minnesota State Highway 7, 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 28.4 miles from Lester Prairie, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.44 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 56.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.6 miles (CR 9 / County Highway 9): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lester Prairie, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 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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