The drive from Minneapolis, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m 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, North Main Street 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 $20.06 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
67.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 134.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 134.8 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 17 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Avenue South.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Avenue South
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-35W South
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35W South
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
5
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
91.2 mi
1h 40m
I 90
39.2 mi
42m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
3rd Avenue South
0.6 mi
2m
US Highway 169
0.6 mi
<1m
MN 65
0.5 mi
<1m
Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi
<1m
South 10th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 91.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
63 ft·9 sec·Washington Avenue South
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
0.6 mi·2 min·3rd Avenue South
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South 10th Street
406 ft·16 sec·South 10th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I-35W South
5
Continue on MN 65
0.5 mi·32 sec·MN 65
6
Merge onto I 35W
91 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Sioux FallsUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 90
39 mi·42 min·I 90
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 169: Blue Earth
10
Turn left onto US 169
0.6 mi·46 sec·US Highway 169
11
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft·1 sec·Fairgrounds Road
12
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Fairgrounds Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
14
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft·8 sec·East 7th Street
15
Turn right
53 ft·6 sec
16
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
17
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 67.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 16m 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
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 Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Minneapolis, 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 67.4 mi from Minneapolis, MN
· 1h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.06 one way
$40.12 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.62
$43.23
premium
$4.53
$24.05
$48.10
diesel
$5.61
$29.76
$59.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
8 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Minneapolis, MN
Tesla
10 DCFC
Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger
Robbinsdale, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
2823 NE Central - Turbo Tim's Anything Automotive
Minneapolis, MN
EV Connect
2 DCFC
Nelson Auto World
Minneapolis, MN
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
Carleton & University
Saint Paul, MN
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
Nelson Auto World
Minneapolis, MN
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
ROBBINSDALECITY LVT PARK 1
Robbinsdale, MN
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
Broadway & Knox
Minneapolis, MN
ZEFNET
1 DCFC
ZEFNET: 4
Tesla: 2
EV Connect: 1
ChargePoint Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Minneapolis, MN
Morning
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Earth, MN
Morning
in Blue Earth on Saturday
Local time
11:30 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 33m 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 Minneapolis, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 90, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.4 miles from Minneapolis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.06 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 straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Minneapolis, 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.
