Blaine, MN to Dilworth, MN is 227.5 miles and takes about 4h 8m via I 94 W, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is almost entirely highway, making it a straightforward drive. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, this is a good option if you're looking for a quick, no-fuss trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.8 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
194.2 mi
3h 28m
MN-610
12.8 mi
14m
I-94 W
12.6 mi
13m
US 10
2.9 mi
4m
70th Street South
2.2 mi
2m
Central Avenue Northeast
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 194.2 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,997 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,669
Quietest
2 AM
~127 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Blaine, MN and Dilworth, 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 WestUse 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
194 mi·3 hr 28 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward MN 336
9
Turn right onto MN 336
2.2 mi·2 min·70th Street South
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Dilworth
11
Turn straight onto US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·US 10
12
Turn right
72 ft·7 sec
13
Turn right
90 ft·6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 5 hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic around the Twin Cities. You'll have one recommended stop, which is ample for a trip of this length; use it to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on I 94 where services might be spaced further apart.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113.8 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.2 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 50 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.8 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dilworth, 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 227.5 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 I 94 for about 194.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 227.5 — 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.
5
224.9 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Turn left toward Dilworth
Navigation decision point
Toward Dilworth
5
227.5 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.07 one way
$76.13 round trip
$4.25/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$40.55
$81.09
premium
$5.11
$45.76
$91.52
diesel
$6.28
$56.21
$112.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.89
$10.92
Efficient EV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
EV Truck/SUV
91
1
$31.85
$14.56
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Blaine, MN
Morning
in Blaine on Saturday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dilworth, MN
Morning
in Dilworth on Saturday
Local time
6:43 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
15 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 98% of this drive. The longest continuous stretch is 194.2 miles on I 94. This means you'll experience mostly rural cruising with a few urban merges as you pass through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area early on. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal transitions to surface roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN-610. 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 Effort6/10
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 227.5 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.
Dilworth is in Minnesota. It began as a somewhat industrial railroad town, and has developed into a quaint small suburb to the east of Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 227.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m 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 194.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Dilworth, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Dilworth, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
