Origin
Forest Lake, MN
Morning in Forest Lake on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN is 18 miles and takes about 24 minutes via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a very short trip within the Midwest region, specifically connecting two points in Minnesota. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward and quick transit. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for a quick errand, a short commute, or a brief leg of a longer journey without significant time commitment. You won't need to worry about overnight stays or extensive planning for this particular route.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| I 35 | 4 mi | 4m |
| 109th Avenue Northeast | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| West Broadway Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lexington Avenue Northeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lake Street South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 7.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Lake, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on US 61
273 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lake Street South
2
Continue on US 61
306 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lake Street South
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 2
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Broadway Avenue
4
Continue on CH 2
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broadway Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 131
Toward CR 2: Forest Lake
6
Merge onto I 35
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 33
Toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto CR 17
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lexington Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
109th Avenue Northeast
11
Turn left onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
12
Turn left onto MN 65
103 ft
·
10 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
13
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Enter roundabout onto CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward CR 2: Forest Lake
Navigation decision point
Exit 131
Toward CR 2: Forest Lake
7
5.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
6
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto CR 17 / Lexington Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.68 one way
$5.36 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.89 | $5.77 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Blaine, MN
Morning in Blaine on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 66% of the drive taking place on major highways like I 35W and I 35. You'll experience a fairly consistent driving environment for most of the 18 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.8 miles on I 35W, offering a period of steady travel. Expect a direct, efficient transit rather than a scenic tour. The transition to 109th Avenue Northeast marks the final approach, but the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 18 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 2: Forest Lake along the way.
Cr 2: Forest Lake
1.1 mi in
|
~2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on I 35W. 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 Blaine, 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 0.1 miles (CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blaine, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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