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Trip from Blaine, MN to Benson, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

140.4 mi

226 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 36m ★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States

Blaine, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Benson, MN, MN

Benson, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Blaine, MN to Benson, MN is 140.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m via MN 23 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, ideal if you're looking for an efficient trip. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, it’s perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.

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

70.2 miles from Blaine, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MN 23 40 mi 47m
I 94 36 mi 38m
MN 9 35.8 mi 47m
MN-610 12.8 mi 14m
I-94 W 12.6 mi 13m
Central Avenue Northeast 1.8 mi 2m
US 10 0.8 mi <1m
Atlantic Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MN 23 — 40 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Benson, MN.

1

Start on MN 65

26 ft · 8 sec · Central Avenue Northeast
2

Continue on MN 65

1.8 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 10 West Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto US 10

0.8 mi · 49 sec · US 10
5

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610

13 mi · 14 min · MN-610
Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 94

13 mi · 13 min · I-94 W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

36 mi · 38 min · I 94
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward MN 23 West: Paynesville
9

Merge onto MN 23

15 mi · 19 min · MN 23
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on MN 23

1.1 mi · 1 min · MN 23
11

Continue on MN 23

24 mi · 27 min · MN 23
12

Turn right onto MN 9

36 mi · 47 min · MN 9
13

Turn right onto US 12; MN 9

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Atlantic Avenue
14

Turn left

132 ft · 9 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 47m drive time, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. You'll want to plan for roughly one stop along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 40-mile stretch on MN 23, as services might be spaced out. The primary roads are well-maintained, so focus on enjoying the efficient travel time and arriving at your destination in Benson, MN, refreshed.

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 70.2 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 31 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70.2 miles or 1h 18m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benson, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Blaine, 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 Blaine, MN

This is one driving day of about 140.4 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Blaine, 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 MN 23 for about 40 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Cloud, MN

70 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

Big Lake, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avon, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.2 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rogers, Minnesota

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 20.1

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Osseo, Minnesota

1.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Cloud, Minnesota

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 60.2

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Cairo Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Blaine, Minnesota

2.6 mi

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 20.1

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 10

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

El Loro Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17637549065

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 60.2

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Cairo Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Blaine, Minnesota

Metta Coffee Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 10

Anoka, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+17634215036

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 10

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 60.2

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 140.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward US 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 10 West
6
2.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | MN 610 / MN-610

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
15.7 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 94 / I-94 W

Merge onto I 94 / I-94 W

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
64.4 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | MN 23

Merge onto MN 23

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
140.4 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.89 one way

$41.79 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $22.51 $45.03
premium $4.53 $25.05 $50.10
diesel $5.61 $31.00 $62.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.1 0 $14.74 $6.74
Efficient EV 35.1 0 $12.29 $5.62
EV Truck/SUV 56.2 0 $19.66 $8.99

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Blaine, MN

Night in Blaine on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Benson, MN

Night in Benson on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

21 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 47m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of it utilizing major roads. You'll spend most of your time on MN 23 and I-94, experiencing a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 40 miles on MN 23. Expect a smooth, efficient journey with minimal detours from high-speed roadways, making it a predictable and easy drive.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on MN 23.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and I 94. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

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 140.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 140.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 40 miles on MN 23. 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 Benson, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 94 / I-94 W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benson, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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