Origin
Howard Lake, MN
Late night in Howard Lake on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howard Lake, MN to Blaine, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Howard Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Howard Lake to Blaine, Minnesota? This drive spans 57.1 miles and should take you about 1 hour and 17 minutes. It's a straightforward journey, primarily on highways, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, it's an economical option for getting between these two Midwest locations. The route is focused on efficient travel, so expect a practical, no-frills experience. You'll spend about 63% of your time on highways, ensuring a relatively quick transit time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 610 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| 10th Street Northeast | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| US 12 | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| I 94 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| MN 25 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| 42nd Street Northeast | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Labeaux Avenue Northeast | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
MN 610
— 12.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howard Lake, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
2
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
3
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
4
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
5
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
6
Continue on US 12; MN 25
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; MN 25
7
Take the exit onto MN 25
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
MN 25
8
Turn left onto MN 25
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 25
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Highway 25
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto Settlers Parkway
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Settlers Parkway
11
Continue on Settlers Parkway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Settlers Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on CR 34
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
135 ft
·
3 sec
·
10th Street Northeast
14
Continue on CR 34
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
10th Street Northeast
15
Continue on CR 34
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
10th Street Southeast
16
Continue on CR 34
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
10th Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on CR 34
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Beebe Lake Road Northeast
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR 19
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Labeaux Avenue Northeast
19
Continue on CR 19
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street North
20
Turn right onto MN 241
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Saint Michael Parkway East
21
Continue on MN 241
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Central Avenue East
22
Continue on MN 241
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
42nd Street Northeast
23
Enter roundabout onto MN 241
97 ft
·
2 sec
·
MN 241
24
Continue on MN 241
328 ft
·
6 sec
·
MN 241
25
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
26
Merge onto I 94
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit onto MN 610
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN 610
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto US 10
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 10
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn left onto MN 65
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Howard Lake, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 55.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
MN 25
Turn left onto MN 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Settlers Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Settlers Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
40.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
MN 610
Take the exit onto MN 610 toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
6
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
6
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto MN 65 / Central Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.50 one way
$17.00 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.16 | $18.31 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.19 | $20.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Late night in Blaine on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Albertville, MN
29 mi in
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
21 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
1h 17m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 63% of the mileage dedicated to faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like 10th Street Northeast and significant portions of MN 610, which offers the longest uninterrupted driving segment at 12.9 miles. While the bulk of the journey utilizes main roads like US 12 and MN 610, the character shifts subtly as you transition between these routes. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, characteristic of efficient Midwest travel between towns.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.9 mi on MN 610.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 610 and 10th Street Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near MN 25.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 10.1 miles (MN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (Settlers Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 40.9 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Howard Lake, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
33.7 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.9 miles on MN 610. 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 10.1 miles (MN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (Settlers Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 40.9 miles (MN 610): 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 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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