Origin
La Crescent, MN
Afternoon in La Crescent on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
145.1 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Saint Paul, MN
Thomas Parker
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 145.1 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Walnut Street, North 2nd Street, US 52 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.75 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
72.6 miles from La Crescent, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 18m drive with frequent turns across 145.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Walnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN is easy. At 2h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Walnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 52 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 52 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Plato Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Lafayette Frontage Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wabasha Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Walnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crescent, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on South 1st Street
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
459 ft
·
20 sec
·
North 2nd Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left
6.8 mi
·
8 min
5
Keep slight left
53 mi
·
56 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 52: Rochester
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 52: Rochester
7
Keep slight right to continue on US 52 North: Rochester
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 52 North: Rochester
8
Merge slight left
9.7 mi
·
11 min
9
Continue straight
17 mi
·
19 min
10
Continue straight
9.1 mi
·
10 min
11
Continue straight
40 mi
·
45 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on US 52 North: Saint Paul
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
US 52 North: Saint Paul
13
Take the exit slight right toward Plato Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Plato Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue
14
Continue on East Lafayette Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lafayette Frontage Road
15
Turn left onto Plato Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Plato Boulevard
16
Turn right onto Wabasha Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wabasha Street South
17
Arrive at your destination
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 72.6 miles from La Crescent, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m
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 La Crescent, 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 La Crescent, MN
This is one driving day of about 145.1 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from La Crescent, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.6 mi from La Crescent, MN · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.6 miles from La Crescent, 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
$20.75 one way
$41.51 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $22.40 | $44.80 |
| premium | $4.39 | $25.09 | $50.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.24 | $64.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.24 | $6.96 |
| Efficient EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.70 | $5.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58 | 0 | $20.31 | $9.29 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
2:18 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
35 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
2h 18m 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 La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 145.1 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Walnut Street, North 2nd Street, US 52. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.6 miles from La Crescent, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.75 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.
The drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN is easy. At 2h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Crescent, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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