Blaine to Renville is 120 miles and takes about 2 hours 32 minutes via US Highway 212, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on main highways, making it a simple choice for a day trip. You'll find the route is efficient, allowing you to reach your destination without a significant time commitment.
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
60.2 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 212
55 mi
1h 11m
US 212
41 mi
48m
MN 100
13 mi
16m
Central Avenue Northeast
6.3 mi
9m
I 694
1.8 mi
2m
Crosstown Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Park Avenue East
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US Highway 212
— 55 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Renville, 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 WestUse 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 35AToward MN 100Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 62 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto MN 62
1.7 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 212
4.6 mi·5 min·US 212
Exit 106AToward US 212Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
36 mi·43 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto US 212
145 ft·2 sec·US Highway 212
13
Continue on US 212
55 mi·1 hr 11 min·US Highway 212
14
Arrive at destination
US 212
Trip Plan
For this 2.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a 120-mile distance, pacing isn't a major concern. However, it's wise to fill up your tank before departing Blaine, as fuel stops can become less frequent once you're further into the route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on US Highway 212, to ensure you have enough to reach Renville comfortably.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 15m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renville, 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 120.4 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 US Highway 212 for about 55 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 29 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 694 West
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
6
22.3 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward MN 62 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 62 West
7
24.4 mi into trip|~32m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
6
29 mi into trip|~38m in|US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.92 one way
$35.84 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$19.31
$38.61
premium
$4.53
$21.48
$42.96
diesel
$5.61
$26.58
$53.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.86
$7.71
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Blaine, MN
Late night
in Blaine on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Renville, MN
Late night
in Renville on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Jordan, MN
60 mi in
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
27 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
2h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 120 miles on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 55 miles on US Highway 212 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter a consistent flow of traffic typical of a busy interstate, with numerous exits and merges as you navigate out of the metro area.
92% 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: 55 mi on US Highway 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 212 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
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 9 significant decision points across 120.4 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on US Highway 212. 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 Renville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Renville, MN before heading back.
