Origin
Paynesville, MN
Late night in Paynesville on Wednesday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paynesville, MN to Blaine, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
90.2 mi
145 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 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paynesville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Blaine, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Paynesville, MN to Blaine, MN covers 90.2 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, MN 23, MN 610 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.9 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.28 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.1 miles from Paynesville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 47.9 mi | 51m |
| MN 23 | 23.7 mi | 29m |
| MN 610 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Business 23 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 10 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Lake Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 47.9 mi, about 51m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,901 veh/hr typical · worst 3,756
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 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 Paynesville, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on CR 66
7 ft
·
3 sec
·
Lake Avenue South
2
Turn right onto CR 85; MN 23 BUS
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Business 23
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto MN 23
24 mi
·
29 min
·
MN 23
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward Interstate 94 East
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 94
48 mi
·
51 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto MN 610
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN 610
Exit 212
Toward MN 610 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 10
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 10
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto MN 65
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
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 45.1 miles from Paynesville, MN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.1 miles or 53m 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 24m
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 Paynesville, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Paynesville, MN
This is one driving day of about 90.2 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Paynesville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 47.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.1 miles from Paynesville, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 25.7 and 88.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
25.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward Interstate 94 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Interstate 94 East
5
26 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
74 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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
87.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m 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
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
$14.28 one way
$28.57 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $15.21 | $30.42 |
| premium | $4.85 | $17.22 | $34.43 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $19.88 | $39.77 |
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: 31.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.47 | $4.33 |
| Efficient EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.89 | $3.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.63 | $5.77 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Wednesday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
19 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 44m 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?
90.2 mi in 1h 44m, mostly highway — 47.9 mi of that is on I 94.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.9 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 23. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.7 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 90.2 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 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74 miles (MN 610): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,170 ft
858 ft
Total Climb
86 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
1,170 ft
Elevation Range
312 ft
About the Cities
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 44m. Total distance: 90.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.9 miles on I 94. 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 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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