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Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Albany, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

95.8 mi

154 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

capital of the state of Minnesota, United States; county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Albany, MN, MN

Albany, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Albany, MN covers 95.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, US 10, I-94 W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.3 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.26 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.

Midpoint

47.9 miles from Saint Paul, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 95.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 95.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and US 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.3 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 53.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 10. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Robert Street North.

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 95.8 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: at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Robert Street North

Turn left onto Robert Street North

Navigation decision point

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, US 10 West

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

Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
5.9 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
5
6.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 10

Continue onto US 10 toward I 694 West, US 10 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West
5
95.2 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward MN 238, CR 10: Albany

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MN 238, CR 10: Albany

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 53.3 mi 57m
US 10 18.8 mi 23m
I-94 W 17.1 mi 18m
I 35E 4.9 mi 6m
Wabasha Street North 0.3 mi 1m
7th Street East 0.2 mi <1m
Railroad Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Robert Street North 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 53.3 mi, about 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Wabasha Street North

0.3 mi · 1 min · Wabasha Street North
2

Turn right onto MN 5

0.2 mi · 44 sec · 7th Street East
3

Turn left onto Robert Street North

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Robert Street North
4

Turn right onto 11th Street East

451 ft · 17 sec · 11th Street East
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
6

Continue on I 35E

4.9 mi · 6 min · I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 10
Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on US 10

19 mi · 22 min · US 10
Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 94

17 mi · 18 min · I-94 W
Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

53 mi · 57 min · I 94
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward MN 238, CR 10: Albany
12

Turn right onto MN 238

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 8th Street South
13

Turn right onto MN 238

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Railroad Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

MN 238

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 47.9 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.3 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 21 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.9 miles or 57m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Paul, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Paul, MN

This is one driving day of about 95.8 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 53.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.9 mi from Saint Paul, MN · 57m into the drive

city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albertville, MN

48 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

Brooklyn Park, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.9 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Albany, MN

The final approach into Albany, 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

$14.26 one way

$28.51 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $15.36 $30.72
premium $4.53 $17.09 $34.19
diesel $5.61 $21.15 $42.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.7 0 $10.06 $4.60
Efficient EV 24 0 $8.38 $3.83
EV Truck/SUV 38.3 0 $13.41 $6.13

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Saint Paul, MN

Afternoon in Saint Paul on Friday

Local time

4:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albany, MN

Afternoon in Albany on Friday

Local time

4:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

45°F

Albertville, MN

48 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

1 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 49m 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 Saint Paul, MN to Albany, MN covers 95.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, US 10, I-94 W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 47.9 miles from Saint Paul, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.26 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 95.8 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: at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Saint Paul, MN to Albany, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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