This 199.8-mile journey from Grant, MN to Blaine, MN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes. With 97% of the drive on highways, it's a focused, efficient route through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $30, making it a budget-friendly option. You'll spend most of your time on I-35, US-53, and MN-33. This route is ideal for those who prefer a straightforward drive to reach their destination without extensive detours.
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
99.9 miles from Grant, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109.7 mi
1h 57m
US 53
42.9 mi
51m
MN 33
19.7 mi
26m
US 169
12.9 mi
15m
I 35W
7.8 mi
8m
109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi
5m
Central Avenue Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Lexington Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grant, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on this road
1.7 mi·6 min·this road
2
Turn left onto US 169
13 mi·15 min·US 169
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 53 SouthUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 53
0.9 mi·1 min·US 53
5
Continue on US 53
4.6 mi·6 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto US 53
114 ft·1 sec·US 53
7
Continue on US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto MN 33
15 mi·18 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on MN 33
3.9 mi·7 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
77 ft·1 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
11
Continue on MN 33
0.5 mi·40 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
12
Merge onto I 35
110 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
7.8 mi·8 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 33Toward CR 17: Lexington AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 17
0.5 mi·58 sec·Lexington Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto 109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi·5 min·109th Avenue Northeast
17
Turn left onto MN 65
0.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue Northeast
18
Turn left onto MN 65
103 ft·10 sec·Central Avenue Northeast
19
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3 hour and 55 minute drive, consider an early morning departure to bypass potential midday traffic, especially on the highway segments. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 109.7 miles, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $30 estimated cost reflects the significant highway mileage. A practical tip is to ensure you're familiar with I-35's specific lane configurations as you approach the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, as it can become quite busy.
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 99.9 miles from Grant, MN, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 44 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.9 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blaine, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grant, 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 Grant, MN
This is one driving day of about 199.8 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Grant, 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 109.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 195.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
14.7 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 53 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 53 South
5
57.8 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|MN 33
Take the exit onto MN 33
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
187.2 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
195 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
195.3 mi into trip|~3h 47m 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
$29.73 one way
$59.47 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$32.04
$64.08
premium
$4.53
$35.65
$71.30
diesel
$5.61
$44.11
$88.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
27 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Blaine, MN Rechargery Relay - Lake Dr
Blaine, MN
IONNA
12 DCFC
Black Bear Casino Resort - Tesla Supercharger
Carlton, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Tobies Restaurant - Tesla Supercharger
Hinckley, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Stationstores - Tesla Supercharger
North Branch, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
MN Rechargery Relay @ Casey's - Lake Drive, Lino Lakes
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.9
0
$20.98
$9.59
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.48
$7.99
EV Truck/SUV
79.9
0
$27.97
$12.79
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 14, 2026
Origin
Grant, MN
Late night
in Grant on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blaine, MN
Late night
in Blaine on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 55m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip, with 97% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 109.7 miles on I-35, offering a consistent driving pace. The character of the drive is largely defined by these efficient, high-speed corridors, minimizing time spent navigating slower local roads. It’s a route designed for covering distance effectively within Minnesota.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.7 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 14.7 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 11 significant decision points across 199.8 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 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.8 miles (MN 33): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Caribou Coffee
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Blaine, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 05:30-21:00; Fr 05:30-22:00; Sa 06...
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 199.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m 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 109.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.8 miles (MN 33): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Blaine, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
