Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Blue Earth, MN to Saint Paul, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 33m

Distance

135.9 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

29 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 24m ★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Minnesota, United States

Blue Earth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

capital of the state of Minnesota, United States; county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Blue Earth, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, I 90, I 35E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.22 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

67.9 miles from Blue Earth, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 75 mi 1h 20m
I 90 39.6 mi 42m
I 35E 14.8 mi 17m
Shepard Road 2.9 mi 5m
South Main Street 1 mi 2m
US Highway 169 0.5 mi <1m
Fairgrounds Road 0.4 mi <1m
Kellogg Boulevard West 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 75 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Earth, MN and Saint Paul, MN.

1

Start on this road

58 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left

53 ft · 9 sec
3

Turn left onto East 7th Street

150 ft · 8 sec · East 7th Street
4

Turn right onto CR 6

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
5

Turn right onto CR 44

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Fairgrounds Road
6

Enter roundabout onto US 169

293 ft · 12 sec · US Highway 169
7

Continue on US 169

0.5 mi · 40 sec · US Highway 169
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albert Lea
9

Merge onto I 90

40 mi · 42 min · I 90
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto I 35

75 mi · 1 hr 20 min · I 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

15 mi · 17 min · I 35E
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 103A Toward Shepard Road Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

501 ft · 12 sec
Toward Shepard Road, Great River Road Minnesota Use the right lane.
15

Merge onto Shepard Road

2.9 mi · 5 min · Shepard Road
16

Turn left onto Eagle Parkway

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Eagle Parkway
Use the straight lane.
17

Turn right onto Exchange Street South

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Exchange Street South
Use the right lane.
18

Turn straight onto Kellogg Boulevard West

0.2 mi · 52 sec · Kellogg Boulevard West
19

Turn left onto Wabasha Street North

214 ft · 9 sec · Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

Wabasha Street North

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.9 miles from Blue Earth, MN, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 30 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Paul, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth, MN

This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Blue Earth, 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 I 35 for about 75 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Lonsdale, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lonsdale, MN

68 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

Hanlontown, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Walcott, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.9 miles from Blue Earth, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crasqui Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Paul, Minnesota

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 135.9

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19526005578

Visit website

Forepaugh's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Paul, Minnesota

0.6 mi

Cafe Astoria

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Paul, Minnesota

0.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Abogados Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Paul, Minnesota

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 135.9

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

yellowbird coffee bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Paul, Minnesota

2.8 mi

Crasqui Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 4–8 pm

+19526005578

Visit website

Forepaugh's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $100 or ab mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 3:30–10:30 pm

+16516663636

Visit website

Cafe Astoria

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16513409471

Visit website

Teresa's Mexican Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 126.2

Eagan, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16514409147

Visit website

Green Mill Restaurant & Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 116.5

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19524358100

Visit website

Hodma Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+16512733308

Visit website

Nawal Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 116.5

Burnsville, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19524566701

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 126.2

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16517724388

Visit website

Abogados Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

yellowbird coffee bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+16514937134

Visit website

Luminary Coffeehouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

Constellation Coffee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 116.5

Apple Valley, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19529525448

Visit website

Minnesota Children's Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+16512256000

Visit website

Union Depot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+16512022700

Visit website

Eagan Community Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 126.2

Eagan, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+16516755550

Visit website

Center For Lost Objects

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 135.9

St Paul, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+16515042356

Visit website

Owatonna Arts Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 67.9

Owatonna, Minnesota

+15074510533

Visit website

Splash Valley Water Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 116.5

Apple Valley, Minnesota

+19529532300

Visit website

Wild Things Indoor Playground

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 106.8

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19529608796

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 41.8 and 135.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
41.8 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
6
117.1 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward Shepard Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 103A Toward Shepard Road
9
132.2 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Shepard Road, Great River Road Minnesota

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward Shepard Road, Great River Road Minnesota
7
135.9 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | Wabasha Street North

Turn left onto Wabasha Street North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.22 one way

$40.45 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $21.79 $43.58
premium $4.53 $24.25 $48.50
diesel $5.61 $30.01 $60.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

29 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Culver's - Tesla Supercharger

Owatonna, MN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Cub Foods - Tesla Supercharger

Eagan, MN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Apple Valley Ford

Apple Valley, MN

SYNERGEV

9 DCFC

Trails Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Albert Lea, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Apple Ford Pro Elite

Lakeville, MN

SYNERGEV

8 DCFC

Simon-Twin Cities Premium Outlets (Eagan, MN)

Eagan, MN

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Casey's Albert Lea (Albert Lea, MN)

Albert Lea, MN

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Steele Waseca Cooperative Electric

Owatonna, MN

RED_E

4 DCFC

DIRT_ROAD: 5 ChargePoint Network: 3 EV Connect: 3 ZEFNET: 3 Tesla: 3 Electrify America: 2 Blink Network: 2 SYNERGEV: 2 RED_E: 1 eVgo Network: 1 Non-Networked: 1 FCN: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 EVGATEWAY: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.27 $6.52
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.89 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.03 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Blue Earth, MN

Afternoon in Blue Earth on Saturday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Paul, MN

Afternoon in Saint Paul on Saturday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

20 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

2h 33m 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 2h 33m highway drive covering 135.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 75 miles on I 35.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 75 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 135.9 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 41.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 135.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Blue Earth, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35, I 90, I 35E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.9 miles from Blue Earth, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 135.9 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.

The main spots that need attention: at 41.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Blue Earth, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Saint Paul, MN

Clinton, MN 206.7 mi · 4h 9m Cohasset, MN 184.5 mi · 3h 53m Atwater, MN 89.6 mi · 2h 1m Wabasha, MN 76.7 mi · 1h 48m

More from Blue Earth, MN

Lakeville, MN 112.9 mi · 2h 8m

More trips to Saint Paul, MN

Red Lake, MN 259.1 mi Mahnomen, MN 245.4 mi Cormorant, MN 221.8 mi Jordan, MN 206.6 mi Keewatin, MN 187.6 mi Tyler, MN 184.4 mi
Scenic drives in MN

Explore more options from Blue Earth, MN or browse trips ending in Saint Paul, MN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.