Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Blaine, MN to Kasota, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
84.3 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Kasota, MN
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
Blaine to Kasota is 84.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m via US 169, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a relatively straightforward trip. With a short duration, this route is ideal for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time or potential detours. Consider this a practical option for getting between these two points without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.2 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 51 mi | 59m |
| MN 100 | 15.3 mi | 19m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Rabbit Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Louisville Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| I 694 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 494 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| 147th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 51 mi, about 59m
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~3,446 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~246 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 4 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 Kasota, 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
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
226 ft
·
7 sec
Toward CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on CR 78
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
County Road 78
16
Turn right onto Louisville Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Louisville Road
17
Turn right onto 147th Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
147th Street
18
Turn left onto Red Rock Drive
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Red Rock Drive
19
Take the ramp
261 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 169 South
20
Merge onto US 169
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 169
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 169
23 mi
·
26 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto MN 99
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Broadway Avenue
24
Continue on MN 99
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail
25
Turn right onto CR 45
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Rabbit Road
26
At end of road, turn right onto CR 21
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Hill Street
27
Turn right onto North Rice Street
103 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Rice Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Rice Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 48-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should provide ample daylight. You can comfortably complete this route without needing to split it, allowing for spontaneous stops if desired. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's wise to ensure you have enough gas before departing Blaine, as there are no designated stops mentioned for this route. The bulk of your driving will be on US 169, so keep an eye out for the transition to surface streets as you get closer to Kasota.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.2 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kasota, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blaine, MN
This is one driving day of about 84.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Blaine, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 51 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.2 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 40.8 — 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
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
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 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
8
40.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.24 one way
$28.48 round trip
$4.29/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.77 | $15.83 | $31.66 |
| premium | $5.31 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $20.52 | $41.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.05 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.40 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Blaine, MN
Morning in Blaine on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
NW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 1 at 9:36PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 1 at 8:44PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Kasota, MN
Morning in Kasota on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 1 at 9:36PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 1 at 8:44PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 48m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 82% of the 84.3 miles on paved, high-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 51 miles on US 169, which means extended cruising without frequent turns. The remaining portion will transition to surface roads like Central Avenue Northeast as you approach your destination. Expect a moderate number of exits on the highway sections, typical for routes connecting suburban areas to smaller towns.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and MN 100. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.3 miles you will encounter 20 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
992 ft
755 ft
Total Climb
289 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
992 ft
~60.2 mi in
Elevation Range
237 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Blaine, MN
Full guide →Founded 1877
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 48m. Total distance: 84.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Kasota, 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 Kasota, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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