Origin
Blaine, MN
Afternoon in Blaine on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Cedar Lake, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 15, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Blaine to Cedar Lake is 47.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via MN 100, Panama Avenue, and Central Avenue Northeast, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface streets as you navigate between these two points. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick excursion or a simple relocation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 100 | 15.3 mi | 19m |
| Panama Avenue | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| US 169 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Eagle Creek Avenue | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Herrgott Memorial Drive | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| I 694 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 494 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 100
— 15.3 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Cedar Lake, MN.
1
Start on MN 65
26 ft
·
8 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on MN 65
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on MN 65
300 ft
·
5 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 694 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 694
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MN 100
15 mi
·
19 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 494; MN 5
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 10A
Toward US 169 South, US 169 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward US 169 South
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 169
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 115
Toward CR 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CR 21
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Herrgott Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on CR 21
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Eagle Creek Avenue
16
Turn right onto Duluth Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Duluth Avenue Southeast
17
Turn right onto MN 13
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
18
Continue on MN 13
491 ft
·
14 sec
·
Langford Boulevard/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
19
Turn left onto CR 23
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Panama Avenue
20
Turn left onto CR 56
57 ft
·
2 sec
·
250th Street East
21
Arrive at destination
CR 56
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 32.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
7
24.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
26.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 169 South, US 169 North
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 10A
Toward US 169 South, US 169 North
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 169 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 169 South
7
32.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward CR 21
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 115
Toward CR 21
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.02 one way
$16.05 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $8.64 | $17.28 |
| premium | $5.04 | $9.46 | $18.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.59 | $21.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Cedar Lake, MN
Afternoon in Cedar Lake on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:26AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 3:37AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
9 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
1h 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 47.7-mile route features a 50% highway share. You'll spend about 23.8 miles on MN 100, which is your longest stretch, before transitioning to surface roads like Panama Avenue and Central Avenue Northeast. Be prepared for a change in pace as you exit the highway, moving from faster-paced cruising to more controlled speeds on local streets.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.3 mi on MN 100.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
973 ft
700 ft
Total Climb
367 ft
Total Descent
325 ft
Highest Point
973 ft
~40.9 mi in
Elevation Range
274 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 Cedar Lake, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 21 along the way.
Cr 21
32.2 mi in
|
~42m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Caribou Coffee
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
22min in
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Saint Louis Park, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteEdelweiss Bakery
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
51min in
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Prior Lake, MN
Visit websiteCaribou Coffee
Cafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
29min in
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-15:00; Su 06:30-14:00
Jones Coffee
Cafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
29min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Minneapolis
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-16:00
Visit websiteCaribou Coffee
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
22min in
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Saint Louis Park, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteSebastian Joe's Ice Cream
Cafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
29min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Cuisine: ice_cream
Hours: Su-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-23:00
Chipotle
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Blaine, MN
Cuisine: mexican
Hours: Mo-Su 10:45-22:00
Visit websiteJimmy John's
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Blaine, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteMcDonald's
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Blaine, MN
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 05:00-22:00
Visit websiteKing's
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
7min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
D'Amico & Sons
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
29min in
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Edina, MN
Cuisine: italian
Hours: Su-We 11:00-20:00; Th-Sa 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteSalut Bar Americain
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, short detour
29min in
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Cuisine: american
Hours: Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Visit websiteHare on Bell on Portland Stone Piers
Artwork
Early in the drive, short detour
22min in
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Visit website
Double Curve
Artwork
Early in the drive, short detour
22min in
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Visit website
Sagacious Head 7
Artwork
Early in the drive, short detour
22min in
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Visit website
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Blaine, MN
Full guide →Founded 1877
Arriving in Cedar Lake, MN
Full guide →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 5m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.3 miles on MN 100. 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 Cedar Lake, 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Cedar 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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