Origin
Lake City, MN
Late night in Lake City on Friday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake City, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
62.2 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake City, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 62.2-mile drive from Lake City, MN to Saint Paul, MN is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 26 minutes. You'll primarily travel on roads like the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway and Route 61/Route 63. With 46% of the journey on highways, it offers a mix of driving experiences. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, making it an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest region. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 62.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Your drive will feature a mixed profile, blending highway speeds with potentially slower local road sections. Nearly half of the 62.2 miles, specifically 46%, are on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 17.6 miles along the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway. Expect the road character to shift as you progress from the initial trail segments to the more direct Route 61 and Route 63 connections leading into Saint Paul.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 61; US 63 / North Lakeshore Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 61; US 63 / North Lakeshore Drive): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (MN 316 / Highway 316 Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61; US 63 / North Lakeshore Drive
Turn left onto US 61; US 63 / North Lakeshore Drive
Navigation decision point
6
24.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 61 / Route 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 / Route 61
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
29.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
MN 316 / Highway 316 Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto MN 316 / Highway 316 Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
38.7 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Kellogg Boulevard East
Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| Route 61/Route 63 | 14.8 mi | 19m |
| Route 61 | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| Red Wing Boulevard | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Warner Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Highway 316 Boulevard | 2 mi | 2m |
| Polk Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Vermillion Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on West Chestnut Street
181 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Chestnut Street
2
Turn left onto US 61; US 63
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on US 61; US 63
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Route 61/Route 63
4
Continue on US 61; US 63
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 61
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Route 61
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Route 61
Use the straight lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Highway 316 Boulevard
8
Continue on MN 316
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 316 Boulevard
9
Continue on MN 316
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Polk Avenue
10
Continue on MN 316
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Red Wing Boulevard
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
12
Continue on MN 316
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
14
Continue on MN 316
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
15
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
16
Continue on MN 316
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
17
Turn right onto US 61
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Vermillion Street
18
Continue on US 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
19
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Hastings Road South
20
Continue on US 61
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto CH 36
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Warner Road
22
Turn right onto Sibley Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sibley Street
23
Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard East
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard East
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on Kellogg Boulevard East
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard East
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right onto Wabasha Street North
162 ft
·
5 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
26
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.1 mi from Lake City, MN · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Lake City, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.26 one way
$18.51 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.97 | $19.95 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.10 | $22.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.73 | $27.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.53 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Late night in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Vermillion, MN
31 mi in
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
3 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 26m 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 Lake City, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 62.2 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway, Route 61/Route 63, Route 61. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.1 miles from Lake City, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.26 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 61; US 63 / North Lakeshore Drive): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (MN 316 / Highway 316 Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Lake City, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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