Origin
Chanhassen, MN
Afternoon in Chanhassen on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chanhassen, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Drive Time
36m
Distance
24.8 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanhassen, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Thomas Parker
Trip Overview
The drive from Chanhassen, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 24.8 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 5, Shepard Road, West 78th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.7 miles on MN 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.55 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.4 miles from Chanhassen, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Chanhassen, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 24.8 miles and takes about 36m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near MN 5.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 24.8 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 4.8 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway toward MN 5: Terminal 1
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward MN 5: Terminal 1
7
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boule...
9
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| West 78th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| John A. Johnson Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Fort Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Exchange Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 5
— 10.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chanhassen, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on West 78th Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West 78th Street
2
Turn sharp right onto MN 101
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Chanhassen Road
3
Turn left onto MN 5
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
4
Continue on MN 5
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West 78th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
10 mi
·
13 min
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto MN 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
John A. Johnson Memorial Highway
Exit 1A
Toward MN 5: Terminal 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on MN 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
197 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
223 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Gannon Road
285 ft
·
7 sec
·
Gannon Road
12
Turn left onto Shepard Road
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Shepard Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Eagle Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Exchange Street South
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Kellogg Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
16
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
17
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.4 miles from Chanhassen, MN, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.7 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 24.8 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.4 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
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 Chanhassen, 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 Chanhassen, MN
This is one driving day of about 24.8 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chanhassen, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on MN 5 for about 10.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.4 mi from Chanhassen, MN · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 24.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.4 miles from Chanhassen, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Paul, MN
The final approach into Saint Paul, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Paul, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.55 one way
$7.09 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $3.83 | $7.66 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.51 | $11.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Saint Paul, MN
Afternoon in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
6 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
36m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chanhassen, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 24.8 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 5, Shepard Road, West 78th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.4 miles from Chanhassen, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.55 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 24.8 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 4.8 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chanhassen, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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