Origin
North Branch, MN
Morning in North Branch on Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Branch, 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
41m
Distance
33.8 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Branch, MN
Tom Fisk
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
North Branch to Blaine is 33.8 miles and takes about 41m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the same region. It's a short trip, primarily on interstate highways, making it an easy option for a quick transition or a day trip. You'll find this route to be quite direct, with most of your time spent on well-maintained, high-speed roads. Plan for minimal stops needed given the short distance.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 20.2 mi | 21m |
| 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 |
| Saint Croix Trail | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Forest Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 20.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Branch, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on CR 30
36 ft
·
8 sec
·
Forest Boulevard
2
Turn left onto MN 95
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MN 95
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 33
Toward CR 17: Lexington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CR 17
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lexington Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto 109th Avenue Northeast
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
109th Avenue Northeast
10
Turn left onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
11
Turn left onto MN 65
103 ft
·
10 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
12
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 29.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
29 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
29.2 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
$5.03 one way
$10.06 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.42 | $10.84 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.03 | $12.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.46 | $14.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
41m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 20.2 miles on I 35, offering a consistent, high-speed experience. The main roads guiding you are I 35 and I 35W, culminating on 109th Avenue Northeast. Expect a smooth, uninterrupted flow for most of the 41-minute trip, characterized by limited changes in scenery and a focus on efficient travel. This route is designed for direct transit rather than a leisurely cruise.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 33.8 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 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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