Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Evening in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
25m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Thomas Parker
Edina, MN
Tom Fisk
Spanning just 16 miles, this quick trip from Saint Paul to Edina is an efficient transit across the Minnesota landscape. You can easily complete the drive in 25 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of $2, it is a highly economical route for your schedule. You will primarily utilize Shepard Road, MN 5, and the Crosstown Highway to navigate between these two Midwest locales. Because the distance is so short, you have total flexibility in your timing, whether you are commuting or heading out for a casual visit.
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
8 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you spend about 4 miles on the highway, the route shifts frequently between local roads and faster arterial stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment is the 8.1-mile stretch on the Crosstown Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the journey. The experience is less about cruising on open interstates and more about navigating the varied road types that connect these two cities. Be prepared for a dynamic driving environment that changes character as you transition from city streets to highway lanes.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 16 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 6.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: 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.
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 55 West, MN 62 West: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 55 West, MN 62 West: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 55 West, MN 62: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 55 West, MN 62: Hiawatha Avenue, Minnehaha Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62 / Crosstown Highway toward I 35W South, MN 62
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Saint Paul, MN to Edina, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis along the way.
Minneapolis
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crosstown Highway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| MN 5 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Exchange Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Eagle Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| MN 100 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Mississippi River Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Edina, MN.
Start on Wabasha Street North
Turn left onto 4th Street West
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard West
Turn slight left onto Exchange Street South
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
Turn right onto CH 37
Continue on South Mississippi River Boulevard
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto MN 55; MN 62
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 100
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 62
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 100
Arrive at destination
Given the 25-minute duration, you don't need to worry about complex stop planning or rest breaks, as this route includes zero scheduled stops. Aim to check local traffic patterns before departing, as the reliance on the Crosstown Highway means congestion can impact your travel time. Since fuel costs are quite low at $2, you can complete the entire trip on a single tank without a second thought. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route makes it a more active drive than a simple highway cruise. Use your time wisely by planning your arrival in Edina, as the short travel window gives you maximum freedom to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule.
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.
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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edina, MN than in the middle of the route.
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 16 miles and 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from Saint Paul, MN · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Edina, 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 Edina, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.29 one way
$4.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $2.47 | $4.94 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.77 | $5.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Edina on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
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