Origin
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Big Lake, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Blaine to Big Lake, you are looking at a straightforward 32.4-mile trek across Minnesota. This drive typically takes about 41 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily stick to US 10, Central Avenue Northeast, and Jefferson Boulevard to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $5, it is an incredibly budget-friendly trip that fits easily into a weekend schedule. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, the transition between these two points is seamless and familiar. You won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the total distance is easily manageable in under an hour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 30.3 mi | 38m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 30.3 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Big Lake, 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 left at fork onto US 10
30 mi
·
37 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
7
Arrive at destination
US 10; MN 25
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Continue onto MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Turn uturn onto US 10; MN 25 / Jefferson Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.64 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.20 | $10.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.78 | $11.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Big Lake, MN
Late night in Big Lake on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
41m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 93% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on a 30.3-mile stretch of US 10, which serves as the backbone of your drive. The road maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a comfortable rhythm behind the wheel. Because the drive is dominated by these primary thoroughfares, you can anticipate a direct and efficient path rather than a winding, technical road. It is a no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and reliability for your trip to Big Lake.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.3 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and Central Avenue Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 41m drive. You will face about 5 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 (MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
938 ft
858 ft
Total Climb
113 ft
Total Descent
79 ft
Highest Point
938 ft
~30.1 mi in
Elevation Range
80 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.3 miles on US 10. 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: near the start (MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Big Lake, 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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