Trip from Red Lake, MN to Saint Paul, MN

Drive Time

5h 30m

Distance

259.1 mi

417 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Paul, MN

Thomas Parker

Trip Overview

The drive from Red Lake, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 259.1 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.1 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.06 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

129.5 miles from Red Lake, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 30m highway drive covering 259.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 86.1 miles on US 10.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,469 ft 890 ft

Total Climb

479 ft

Total Descent

760 ft

Highest Point

1,469 ft

~75.6 mi in

Elevation Range

579 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.9 miles in near US 2 / Paul Bunyan Expressway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 259.1 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 30.9 miles (US 2 / Paul Bunyan Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 240.6 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.3 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

30.9 mi into trip | ~53m in | US 2 / Paul Bunyan Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 2 / Paul Bunyan Expressway toward US 2, US 71 South: Grand Rapids, Park Rapids

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 2, US 71 South: Grand Rapids, Park Ra...

240.6 mi into trip | ~5h 6m in | I 694

Keep slight left at fork onto I 694

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

252.3 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in | US 10 / Voyageur Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul

257.8 mi into trip | ~5h 26m in | US 10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 107A Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th...

258.1 mi into trip | ~5h 27m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 10th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward 10th Street

Towns Along This Route

Between Red Lake, MN and Saint Paul, MN, road signs point toward Park Rapids and Bemidji.

Park Rapids

30.9 mi in | ~53m | via US 2

Bemidji

36.6 mi in | ~59m | via US 71

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 10	86.1 mi	1h 39m
State Highway 64 Southwest	33.7 mi	42m
State 64	28.6 mi	35m
I 94	28 mi	31m
Highway 89 Northwest	14.7 mi	25m
Washington Avenue South	13.7 mi	17m
I 694	11.7 mi	12m
State Highway 89	11.1 mi	19m

Longest stretch: US 10 — 86.1 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Lake, MN and Saint Paul, MN.

Start on MN 1

1.5 mi · 2 min · MN 1

Turn left onto MN 89

0.2 mi · 21 sec · State Highway 89

Continue on MN 89

15 mi · 25 min · Highway 89 Northwest

Continue on MN 89

11 mi · 19 min · State Highway 89

Take the ramp

484 ft · 13 sec

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Merge onto US 2

2.9 mi · 3 min · US 2

Keep slight right at fork onto US 2

5.7 mi · 6 min · Paul Bunyan Expressway

Toward US 2, US 71 South: Grand Rapids, Park Rapids

Take the exit onto US 71

0.4 mi · 48 sec · US 71

Toward US 71 South, MN 197: Park Rapids, Bemidji

Turn right onto US 71

14 mi · 17 min · Washington Avenue South

Continue on MN 200

4.6 mi · 5 min · State Highway 200

Turn right onto MN 64

16 mi · 19 min · State 64

At end of road, turn right onto MN 34; MN 64

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Broadway Street East

Turn left onto MN 64

0.9 mi · 1 min · Marie Avenue Southeast

Continue on MN 64

13 mi · 16 min · State 64

Continue on MN 64; MN 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64

Turn right onto MN 64

34 mi · 42 min · State Highway 64 Southwest

At end of road, turn right onto MN 210

0.3 mi · 20 sec · State Highway 210

At end of road, turn left onto US 10

60 mi · 1 hr 8 min · US 10

Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

26 mi · 30 min · US 10

Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

Continue on County Road 11

0.7 mi · 57 sec · County Road 11

Turn right onto MN 25

0.1 mi · 11 sec · State Highway 25

Continue on MN 25

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Pine Street

Turn left onto CR 75

1.5 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street East

Turn right onto CR 18

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Merge onto I 94

28 mi · 31 min · I 94

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 694

12 mi · 12 min · I 694

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

5.5 mi · 6 min · Voyageur Highway

Exit 46 Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

0.1 mi · 7 sec · US 10

Exit 107A Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street

Keep slight right at fork

409 ft · 10 sec

Toward 10th Street Use the slight right lane.

Continue on 10th Street East

0.2 mi · 43 sec · 10th Street East

Turn left onto Robert Street North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Robert Street North

Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Kellogg Boulevard East

Turn right onto Wabasha Street North

162 ft · 5 sec · Wabasha Street North

Arrive at destination

Wabasha Street North

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 129.5 miles from Red Lake, MN, or about 2h 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 80 miles or 1h 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 129.5 miles or 2h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 35m

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 Red Lake, 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 Red Lake, MN

This is one driving day of about 259.1 miles and 5h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Lake, MN.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 86.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.5 mi from Red Lake, MN · 2h 56m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avon, MN

130 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

Cross Lake, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avon, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.5 miles from Red Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.

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

$37.06 one way

$74.12 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$40.00	$79.99
premium	$4.39	$44.80	$89.60
diesel	$5.64	$57.56	$115.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77.7	0	$27.21	$12.44
Efficient EV	64.8	0	$22.67	$10.36
EV Truck/SUV	103.6	1	$36.27	$16.58

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Red Lake, MN

Afternoon in Red Lake on Sunday

Local time

2:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Paul, MN

Afternoon in Saint Paul on Sunday

Local time

2:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

37°F

Avon, MN

130 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

4 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

5h 30m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Red Lake, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 259.1 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.5 miles from Red Lake, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Red Lake, MN and Saint Paul, MN, road signs point toward Park Rapids and Bemidji.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 890 ft to 1,469 ft elevation with about 479 ft of total climbing.

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