Pipestone, MN to Blaine, MN is 209.7 miles and takes about 4h 27m via US 212, State Highway 23, and State Highway 19, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With 94% of the route on highways, expect a generally efficient trip. It's a straightforward, single-day option for getting between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.9 miles from Pipestone, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 212
53.8 mi
1h 4m
State Highway 23
44.3 mi
55m
State Highway 19
34.4 mi
43m
MN 19
31.3 mi
42m
MN 100
13.2 mi
16m
State Highway 15
12.6 mi
15m
West Bridge Street
7.2 mi
10m
Highway 65 Northeast
6.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 53.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pipestone, MN and Blaine, MN.
1
Start on Main Street East
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street East
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 75; MN 23
0.2 mi·11 sec·8th Avenue Northeast
3
Turn right onto MN 23
44 mi·55 min·State Highway 23
4
Turn right onto MN 19; MN 68
0.5 mi·53 sec·East College Drive
5
Continue on MN 19; MN 68
13 mi·16 min·State Highway 19
6
Continue on MN 19
21 mi·26 min·State Highway 19
7
Continue on MN 19; MN 67
0.6 mi·1 min·West Bridge Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 19
6.6 mi·9 min·West Bridge Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto MN 19
31 mi·42 min·MN 19
Toward MN 19: Morton, Fairfax
10
Turn left onto MN 15
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 15
11
Turn right onto US 212
13 mi·15 min·US 212
12
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft·2 sec·US 212
13
Continue on US 212
10 mi·11 min·US 212
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
31 mi·36 min·US 212
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on MN 62
1.9 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 108BToward MN 100 NorthUse the right lane.
17
Merge onto MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 694 East
19
Merge onto I 694
1.9 mi·2 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 38Toward MN 65: Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on MN 65
0.4 mi·25 sec·Central Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on MN 65
6.3 mi·8 min·Highway 65 Northeast
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
MN 65
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under 5 hours, it's easily manageable in a single day. Aim for a morning departure from Pipestone to maximize daylight. The route has only one suggested stop, but feel free to add more as needed for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 53.8-mile stretch on US 212, as services can be spaced out in some areas. The $31 fuel estimate provides a good baseline for budgeting.
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 104.9 miles from Pipestone, MN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.8 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 46 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 15m 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 39m
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 Pipestone, 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 Pipestone, MN
This is one driving day of about 209.7 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Pipestone, 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 US 212 for about 53.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 202.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|MN 19 / West Bridge Street
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 19 / West Bridge Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
153.9 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|US 212
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 108B
Toward MN 100 North
7
202.8 mi into trip|~4h 17m 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.
Exit 38
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.50 one way
$62.99 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.01
$68.01
premium
$4.60
$37.99
$75.97
diesel
$4.80
$39.60
$79.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.36
$13.42
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Pipestone, MN
Late night
in Pipestone on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:03AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Blaine, MN
Late night
in Blaine on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:03AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
4 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
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
For over 3,000 years, Indigenous people have quarried the red stone at this site to make pipes used in prayer and ceremony - a tradition that continues to this day and makes this site sacred to many p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 209.7 miles covered on faster roads. You'll spend most of your time on US 212, State Highway 23, and State Highway 19. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 53.8 miles, likely offering consistent cruising. You'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 6% of the trip, introducing more local traffic and intersections.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.8 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 209.7 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 0.5 miles (US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles (MN 19 / West Bridge Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.9 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,775 ft857 ft
Total Climb
214 ft
Total Descent
1,045 ft
Highest Point
1,775 ft
~15 mi in
Elevation Range
917 ft
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 Pipestone, MN to Blaine, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfax along the way.
Pipestone is a city in southwestern Minnesota. It is the seat of Pipestone County and has a population of 4554.
Pipestone is home to the famous Indian quarry at Pipestone National Monument. Many North American Indian tribes - including Ojibwa, Dakota, Oto, Pawnee, Sac Fox, and Lakota - came to quarry the sacred redstone known as pipestone or catlinite. The soft red pipestone is found under layers of the very hard Sioux quartzite. The pipestone became a valued trade item and was responsible for Pipestone becoming a Crossroads of the Indian World. The Song of Hiawatha Pageant has played at the pipestone quarry lake for nearly 60 years.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 209.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.8 miles on US 212. 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 0.5 miles (US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles (MN 19 / West Bridge Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.9 miles (US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pipestone National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Blaine, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
