Origin
Blaine, MN
Night in Blaine on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Afton, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
38.7 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Afton, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across Minnesota, the 38.7-mile journey from Blaine to Afton is an efficient option. Expect to spend about 49 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, the route is as affordable as it is straightforward. You will primarily utilize US 10, the Voyageur Highway, and Saint Croix Trail South to complete your travel. Since both the origin and destination sit within the Midwest, you can anticipate a familiar regional atmosphere throughout the drive. It is an ideal path for those who prioritize a direct, highway-focused connection over a leisurely backroads tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 26.5 mi | 31m |
| Voyageur Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Saint Croix Trail South | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| MN 95 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Afton Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 26.5 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Afton, MN.
1
Start on MN 65
26 ft
·
8 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on MN 65
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 10 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto US 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 10
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 10
Exit 28A
Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 10
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Voyageur Highway
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 10
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit onto MN 95
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MN 95
Exit 258
Toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CH 18
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
13
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
15
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
17
Continue on CH 18
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto CH 18
80 ft
·
1 sec
·
Afton Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
CH 18
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Blaine, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward US 10 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 10 East
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28A
Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
9
12.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 10 / Voyageur Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
9
18.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th...
8
34.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
MN 95
Take the exit onto MN 95 toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 258
Toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.76 one way
$11.52 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.21 | $12.41 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.91 | $13.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Afton, MN
Night in Afton on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
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
49m 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 defined by its reliance on major thoroughfares, with 69% of your time spent on the highway. You will settle into a consistent rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 26.5 miles exclusively on US 10. As you transition from the suburban feel of Blaine, the road character shifts to accommodate higher speeds and more sustained movement. The experience is primarily designed for efficiency rather than technical driving or winding curves. By keeping your focus on these main arteries, you can maintain steady progress toward your destination in Afton without unnecessary navigation hurdles.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and Voyageur Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 38.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
989 ft
712 ft
Total Climb
283 ft
Total Descent
474 ft
Highest Point
989 ft
~27.6 mi in
Elevation Range
277 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Blaine, MN to Afton, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Ch 18: Stillwater along the way.
Ch 18: Stillwater
34.2 mi in
|
~41m
|
via MN 95
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 38.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Afton, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Afton, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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