Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Afternoon in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Chanhassen, MN
Drive Time
36m
Distance
25.3 mi
41 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Saint Paul, MN
Thomas Parker
Chanhassen, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Chanhassen, MN covers 25.3 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 5, Shepard Road, I 494 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on MN 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.62 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.6 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 36m highway drive covering 25.3 miles, with most of the trip on MN 5 and Shepard Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.5 miles on MN 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 5 and Shepard Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Street West.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 25.3 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: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
4th Street West
Turn left onto 4th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CH 37 / Shepard Road
Turn right onto CH 37 / Shepard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 18.5 mi | 23m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| I 494 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 78th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Exchange Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Eagle Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chanhassen Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 5
— 18.5 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Chanhassen, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
198 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Turn left onto 4th Street West
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
4th Street West
3
Turn left onto Market Street
264 ft
·
12 sec
·
Market Street
4
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard West
261 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
5
Turn slight left onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Exchange Street South
6
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Eagle Parkway
7
Turn right onto CH 37
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Shepard Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on South Mississippi River Boulevard
266 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Mississippi River Boulevard
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MN 5 West
10
Merge onto MN 5
13 mi
·
16 min
·
MN 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 494; MN 5
12
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 5
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 5
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 5
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto MN 101
471 ft
·
15 sec
·
Chanhassen Road
15
Turn left onto West 78th Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
West 78th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 78th Street
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 12.6 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 25.3 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.6 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chanhassen, 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.
+
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 Saint Paul, MN
This is one driving day of about 25.3 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Paul, 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 MN 5 for about 18.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.6 mi from Saint Paul, MN · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 25.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.6 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chanhassen, MN
The final approach into Chanhassen, 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 Chanhassen, 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
$3.62 one way
$7.24 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $3.91 | $7.81 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.37 | $8.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.62 | $11.24 |
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: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Chanhassen, MN
Afternoon in Chanhassen on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
6 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
36m 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 Chanhassen, MN covers 25.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 5, Shepard Road, I 494. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.6 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 $3.62 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 12 significant decision points across 25.3 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: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Paul, MN to Chanhassen, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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