Blaine, MN to Eveleth, MN is 179.6 miles and takes about 3h 26m via I 35 and US 53, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways. It's a manageable distance, making it a solid option for a single-day trip. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Minneapolis area north towards the Iron Range.
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
89.8 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
US 53
35.9 mi
41m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
I 35W
12.7 mi
13m
109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi
5m
Fayal Road
0.8 mi
2m
Lexington Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Central Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,068 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,574
Quietest
1 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 86 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 Eveleth, MN.
1
Start on MN 65
0.5 mi·47 sec·Central Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto CR 12
3.5 mi·5 min·109th Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto CR 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Lexington Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I 35W NorthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35W
13 mi·13 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
7
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
8
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
9
Continue on MN 33
19 mi·25 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.4 mi·29 sec·MN 33
11
Merge onto US 53
36 mi·41 min·US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto MN 37
0.2 mi·41 sec·MN 37
Toward MN 37 East: Gilbert, Biwabik
13
Turn left onto MN 37
469 ft·13 sec·State Highway 37
14
Continue on CR 101
0.8 mi·2 min·Fayal Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Grant Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Grant Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 26m driving time, leaving in the morning from Blaine, MN, allows you to reach Eveleth, MN, with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Budget around $29 for fuel, but check current prices before you depart. Pay attention as you transition from I 35 to US 53 and MN 33; while still highway, these shifts require brief adjustments in awareness.
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 89.8 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.8 miles or 1h 39m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eveleth, 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 179.6 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 35 for about 105 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 123.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 35W North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35W North
5
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
122.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|MN 33
Take the exit onto MN 33 toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
5
123.1 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|MN 33
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$30.28
$60.57
premium
$4.85
$34.28
$68.56
diesel
$5.60
$39.59
$79.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.9
0
$18.86
$8.62
Efficient EV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.18
EV Truck/SUV
71.8
0
$25.14
$11.49
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Blaine, MN
Afternoon
in Blaine on Friday
Local time
3:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued September 4 at 3:51AM CDT until September 4 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 3:51AM CDT until September 4 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Eveleth, MN
Afternoon
in Eveleth on Friday
Local time
3:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
E 5 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued September 4 at 3:51AM CDT until September 4 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 3:51AM CDT until September 4 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
17 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
3h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates and major US roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 105 miles on I 35. You'll experience rural cruising for the majority of the trip, with minimal time on surface streets. Expect a smooth ride with limited need for complex navigation.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 179.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,590 ft901 ft
Total Climb
771 ft
Total Descent
84 ft
Highest Point
1,590 ft
~179.6 mi in
Elevation Range
690 ft
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 Eveleth, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 179.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Eveleth, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 12 / 109th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Eveleth, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
