Origin
Saint Francis, MN
Late night in Saint Francis on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
53m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Francis, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 40.1-mile drive from Saint Francis to Saint Paul, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 53 minutes. You'll navigate primarily along US 10 and Voyageur Highway, with a section of 7th Avenue Northwest. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this route offers a convenient journey within the Midwest region. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of road types, so expect some variety as you travel. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a quick excursion or a commute.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The character of this 40.1-mile drive is a mixed bag, with 49% of the journey on highway. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving, including a notable 19.5-mile segment on US 10. As you progress towards Saint Paul, the drive will likely transition, offering a blend of highway efficiency and potentially more local road engagement. This varied terrain means you won't encounter a monotonous journey, but rather a dynamic route that changes its pace and feel.
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 13.7 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 40.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left toward US 10 East, MN 47 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward 10th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 19.5 mi | 22m |
| Voyageur Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| 7th Avenue Northwest | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Rum River Boulevard Northwest | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Rum River Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Roanoke Street Northwest | 2 mi | 2m |
| Robert Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 165th Avenue Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Francis, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
Start on CR 24
Turn left onto CR 24
Continue on CR 24
Enter roundabout onto CR 7
Continue on CR 7
Continue on CR 7
Continue on CR 7
Continue on CR 7
Turn left
Merge onto US 10; MN 47
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Take the exit onto US 10
Continue on US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on 10th Street East
Turn left onto Robert Street North
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East
Turn right onto Wabasha Street North
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Saint Francis, MN · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Saint Francis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Saint Paul, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.97 one way
$11.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.43 | $12.86 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Saint Francis on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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