Origin
Cokato, MN
Night in Cokato on Tuesday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cokato, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
58.9 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cokato, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 58.9-mile drive from Cokato to Saint Paul, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes. The route primarily utilizes Babcock Boulevard, US 12, and I-94, with a significant portion on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this is an economical journey for those looking to travel within the Midwest region. It’s a practical option for a quick transit between these two Minnesota locales, offering a direct path with minimal time commitment. You can expect a mixed driving experience that balances faster highway speeds with local road navigation.
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
29.4 miles from Cokato, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive presents a mixed profile, with 53% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving on I-94, interspersed with more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 14.5 miles on Babcock Boulevard, offering a consistent experience before transitioning to other road types. Expect the road conditions to vary as you move from more rural approaches to the urban landscape surrounding Saint Paul. This blend ensures you're not locked into one type of driving for the entire trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Babcock Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 14.5 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 47.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 58.9 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 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West
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.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
8
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
8
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward 10th Street, 5th Street
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.
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
6
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Kellogg Boulevard West
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Wabasha Street North
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| US 12 | 13.9 mi | 19m |
| I 94 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| I 394 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| 60th Street Southwest | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 6th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Babcock Boulevard
— 14.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cokato, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on CR 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Broadway Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 12
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cokato Street East
3
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
4
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
5
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
6
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
7
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
8
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
9
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
10
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
11
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
12
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
13
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
14
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
15
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
16
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
17
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Merge onto I 394
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward 10th Street
24
Continue on 10th Street West
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Street West
25
Turn right onto Saint Peter Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Peter Street
26
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
394 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
Use the left / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over an hour, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart Cokato at your leisure, perhaps aiming to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic into Saint Paul. With only 58.9 miles to cover and a modest fuel cost of $9, there's no need to rush or plan extensive stops. However, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Saint Paul, as gas prices can sometimes be higher in urban areas. The longest stretch on Babcock Boulevard is a good point to be aware of for consistent driving before the road network becomes more complex.
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 29.4 miles from Cokato, MN, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.5 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 58.9 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.4 miles or 42m 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 9m
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 Cokato, 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 Cokato, MN
This is one driving day of about 58.9 miles and 1h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cokato, 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 Babcock Boulevard for about 14.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.4 mi from Cokato, MN · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 59.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Cokato, 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
$8.77 one way
$17.53 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.44 | $18.89 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.00 | $26.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.18 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Night in Saint Paul on Tuesday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Plymouth, MN
29 mi in
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
29 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
1h 23m 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 Cokato, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 58.9 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Babcock Boulevard, US 12, I 94. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.4 miles from Cokato, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.77 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 13 significant decision points across 58.9 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 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cokato, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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