Origin
Palmer, MN
Evening in Palmer on Wednesday
Local time
7:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, MN to Blaine, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 10, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
87.8 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, MN
Gabriele Romano
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Palmer to Blaine is 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 48m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive between two points in the Midwest, entirely within Minnesota. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a simple transit rather than a scenic adventure. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Palmer, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| I 35W | 29.4 mi | 37m |
| Morristown Boulevard | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 13 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 60 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| US 10 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 410th Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 31.3 mi, about 33m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,040 veh/hr typical · worst 4,740
Quietest
2 AM
~239 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 82 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on CR 22
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
410th Avenue
2
Turn left onto MN 13
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 13
3
Turn right onto MN 60
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 60
4
Continue on MN 60
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Morristown Boulevard
5
Continue on MN 60; I 35 ALT
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 60 West
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 35W
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 10
Toward US 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
222 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn right onto MN 65
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, you have flexibility on when to depart. Consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Blaine. You won't need to plan for extensive stops; perhaps a quick break around the halfway point if desired. The fuel cost is estimated at $14, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Palmer. Pay attention to the transition off I 35 as you get closer to your destination, as this is where the driving environment will change.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.9 miles from Palmer, MN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 Palmer, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palmer, MN
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Palmer, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 31.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Palmer, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 53.2 and 82.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
69.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
6
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 10 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.33 one way
$28.66 round trip
$4.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $15.42 | $30.85 |
| premium | $4.95 | $17.12 | $34.24 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $20.63 | $41.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Evening in Blaine on Wednesday
Local time
7:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 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
1h 48m 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 primarily highway, with 86% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 31.3 miles on I 35. Expect a substantial amount of time cruising on the interstate before transitioning to surface roads like Morristown Boulevard closer to your destination. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter a steady flow of traffic and numerous exits.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 53.2 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 53.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Palmer, MN
Full guide →Arriving in Blaine, MN
Full guide →Founded 1877
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.3 miles on I 35. 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 53.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: 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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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