How far is Thief River Falls, MN from Blaine, MN?

The driving distance from Thief River Falls, MN to Blaine, MN is about 288.1 miles (463.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.6 miles (398.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
288.08 mi
04h 53m
Flight
247.57 mi
398.43 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thief River Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
247.57 mi
Kilometers
398.43 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
288.08 mi
Kilometers
463.62 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Blaine
Sun, May 31, 11:43 AM CDT
Return by in Thief River Falls
Sun, May 31, 4:37 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thief River Falls
2026-05-31T06:50
Arrive Blaine
Sun, May 31, 11:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:54 AM to 12:54 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thief River Falls
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Verndale
MN

City in Wadena County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Thief River Falls
143.9 mi
02h 26m
To Blaine
144.2 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SE
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thief River Falls and Blaine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thief River Falls and Blaine.

  1. 1

    Start on 3rd Street East

    9.5 mi · 12 min · 3rd Street East

  2. 2

    Turn left

    85 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  3. 3

    Turn left

    44.9 mi · 52 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    20 m · 1 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Ash Avenue Northwest

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest

  7. 7

    Continue on West Mason Avenue

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min · West Mason Avenue

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    57.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2.8 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MN 65: Central Avenue

    2242 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Central Avenue Northeast

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue Northeast

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue Northeast

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thief River Falls and Blaine.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Mason Avenue
139 mi · 48%
3rd Street East
9.54 mi · 3%
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.26 mi · 3%
Central Avenue Northeast
1.94 mi · 1%
MN 65
0.42 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

85 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.5 mi
247.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Verndale
02h 26m from Thief River Falls
Leave By
7:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Thief River Falls and Mostly Cloudy near Blaine.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thief River Falls to Blaine?

The road trip is about 288.1 miles (463.6 km) and usually takes 04h 53m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Verndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.9 miles from Thief River Falls and 144.2 miles from Blaine.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 247.6 miles (398.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.30 one way or $72.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Thief River Falls and Mostly Cloudy near Blaine.

Stop Ideas Near Verndale

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Verndale, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Verndale.

RAIL

Staples

18 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

Detroit Lakes

79 mi away
116 Pioneer Street
RAIL

St. Cloud

114 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thief River Falls and Blaine. Straight-line distance: 247.57 mi (398.43 km).

Thief River Falls

#1 Thief River Falls

City in Pennington County, Minnesota, USA

Population8,688
Coordinates48.1191400, -96.1811500
Altitude345
CountryUnited States
Blaine

#2 Blaine

A city in Anoka County, Minnesota.

Population66,697
Coordinates45.1608000, -93.2349500
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Start: 3rd Street East (-96.18115, 48.119121)
End: MN 65 (-93.234938, 45.160786)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 464 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.17 gal
38.48 L · about $36.30
Round trip
$72.59
20.34 gal · 76.96 L
Estimated CO2
90.4 kg one way
Round trip: 180.8 kg / 399 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $36.30 $72.59
Mid-grade $3.92 $39.88 $79.75
Premium $4.39 $44.67 $89.33
Diesel $4.86 $49.47 $98.93

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Thief River Falls and Blaine. The current time is 06:50:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.