Origin
Minnetonka, MN
Morning in Minnetonka on Wednesday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minnetonka, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
37m
Distance
24.1 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minnetonka, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward drive from Minnetonka to Saint Paul, Minnesota, covers just 24.1 miles and is estimated to take about 37 minutes. With 85% of the route on highways, it's an efficient journey that's perfect for a single day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this short hop within the Midwest region. The primary roads you'll be using are I-94, Minnesota State Highway 7, and I-394, making it a convenient commute or short excursion. This trip is ideal for those looking for a quick, no-fuss transit between two points in Minnesota.
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 miles from Minnetonka, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 85% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on I-94, including a longest stretch of 9.3 miles without needing to exit. The route is designed for steady progress, largely following the character of interstate travel. While primarily highway, you'll also navigate sections of Minnesota State Highway 7 and I-394, which maintain a similar efficient pace. This drive prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly and directly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Minnesota State Highway 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 24.1 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 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
13 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
22.7 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
7
24 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Wabasha Street North
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Minnetonka, MN to Saint Paul, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 along the way.
Cr 5
8.6 mi in
|
~13m
|
via MN 100
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| I 394 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| MN 100 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Saint Peter Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| County Road 101 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 9.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
County Road 101
2
Continue on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
County Road 101
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto MN 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
4
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MN 100 North
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto MN 100
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 100
Toward CR 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 394
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward 10th Street
14
Continue on 10th Street West
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Street West
15
Turn right onto Saint Peter Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Peter Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
394 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Trip Plan
Given the short 24.1-mile distance and 37-minute duration, this drive from Minnetonka to Saint Paul offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart at your leisure, as there's no need to break up the journey. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $4, so you won't need extensive refueling stops. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 9.3 miles on I-94, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the city, though frequent exits are available. Consider this a simple transit where the main focus is efficient travel.
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 miles from Minnetonka, MN, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.3 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 24.1 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
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 Minnetonka, 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 Minnetonka, MN
This is one driving day of about 24.1 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minnetonka, 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 I 94 for about 9.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12 mi from Minnetonka, MN · 18m 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 24.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12 miles from Minnetonka, 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
$3.59 one way
$7.17 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.86 | $7.73 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.30 | $8.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
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: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Morning in Saint Paul on Wednesday
Local time
7:15 AM
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
27 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
37m 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 Minnetonka, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 24.1 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, Minnesota State Highway 7, I 394. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12 miles from Minnetonka, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.59 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 15 significant decision points across 24.1 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 2.4 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Minnetonka, MN to Saint Paul, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 5 along the way.
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