Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Morning in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Crystal, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Crystal, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 18.8-mile drive from Saint Paul to Crystal, Minnesota, is easily manageable in about 28 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily utilizing the Purple Heart Memorial Highway and MN 100, with a brief stint on I-394, this route offers a convenient way to navigate between these Midwest locations. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical choice for a quick journey. Since there are no recommended stops, you can likely complete the entire trip without needing to break it up, offering plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 30% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.9 miles along the Purple Heart Memorial Highway. This section will likely feel like a typical highway commute, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to MN 100 and I-394, the character of the drive may shift slightly, but the overall profile remains that of a practical, efficient connection between points in the Midwest.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 394 West, US 12 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 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
8
13.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B-A
Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-X...
7
17.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward CR 9, CR 81 South: 42nd Avenue
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.
Toward CR 9, CR 81 South: 42nd Avenue
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CR 9 / 42nd Avenue North
Turn uturn onto CR 9 / 42nd Avenue North
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 Saint Paul, MN to Crystal, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 9 along the way.
Cr 9
17.8 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Memorial Highway | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| MN 100 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| I 394 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Wabasha Street North | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
— 9.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Crystal, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Take the ramp
347 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 94 West
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 94 West
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 94
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 394
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
Exit 5B-A
Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 100 North
9
Merge onto MN 100
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward CR 9, CR 81 South: 42nd Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CR 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
42nd Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn uturn onto CR 9
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
42nd Avenue North
13
Arrive at destination
CR 9
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.80 one way
$5.60 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.01 | $6.03 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.35 | $6.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Crystal, MN
Morning in Crystal on Friday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
28m 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 Crystal, MN covers 18.8 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Memorial Highway, MN 100, I 394. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.4 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 $2.80 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Saint Paul, MN to Crystal, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 9 along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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