Origin
Albany, MN
Late night in Albany on Saturday
Local time
1:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albany, MN to Blaine, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
82.6 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Albany to Blaine is 82.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 31 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find it straightforward, with most of your travel time spent on the interstate.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Albany, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 65.6 mi | 1h 10m |
| MN 610 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| US 10 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Railroad Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,901 veh/hr typical · worst 3,756
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on MN 238
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto MN 238
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
8th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
4
Merge onto I 94
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto MN 610
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN 610
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 10
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 10
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto MN 65
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick, sub-two-hour trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without a significant turn is over 65 miles, so plan your first fuel or break stop accordingly, perhaps just before or after that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops for this short drive.
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 41.3 miles from Albany, MN, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 18 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
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 Albany, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, MN
This is one driving day of about 82.6 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Albany, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 65.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.3 miles from Albany, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 80.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
MN 610
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
6
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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.
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
6
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.97 round trip
$4.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $14.51 | $29.02 |
| premium | $4.95 | $16.11 | $32.21 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $19.40 | $38.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.67 | $3.96 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.23 | $3.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33 | 0 | $11.56 | $5.29 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Saturday
Local time
1:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
3 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
1h 31m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the route on interstates and major roads like I 94. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 65.6 miles on I 94 before transitioning to other main roads like MN 610 and Central Avenue Northeast. Expect frequent exits as you approach your destination, signaling a shift from open highway cruising to more local traffic.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 610. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.4 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Albany, MN
Full guide →Founded 1890
Arriving in Blaine, MN
Full guide →Founded 1877
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 82.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.4 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blaine, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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