Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Waconia, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine to Waconia is 43.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via Minnesota State Highway 7, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the same region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on well-maintained roads, making it a good option for a quick getaway or a practical commute. Consider this if you're looking for a simple, efficient route between these two locations without significant detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 12.1 mi | 17m |
| MN 100 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Arboretum Boulevard | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 5 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hazeltine Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| I 694 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Waconia, MN.
Start on MN 65
Continue on MN 65
Continue on MN 65
Take the exit
Merge onto I 694
Take the exit
Continue on MN 100
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 7
Turn left onto MN 41
Turn right onto MN 5
Continue on MN 5
Continue on MN 5
Turn right onto CR 59
Turn right onto North Olive Street
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 33.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 694
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto MN 5 / Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.53 | $7.80 | $15.60 |
| premium | $5.15 | $8.86 | $17.71 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $10.63 | $21.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Blaine on Tuesday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Waconia on Tuesday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
About 60% of this 43.7-mile route is highway driving. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 12.1 miles on Minnesota State Highway 7. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen as you approach your destination. Expect some urban merging and exit activity as you navigate through populated areas.
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 6.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
297 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
1,055 ft
~25 mi in
Elevation Range
207 ft
Founded 1877
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 43.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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