The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Parkville, MN covers 195 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 53, I 35E for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.02 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
97.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 195 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 195 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 53. The longest continuous stretch is about 105 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 105 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Robert Street North.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 195 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 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 18 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
8
6.2 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
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 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
7
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E North: Duluth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
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 Parkville, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
Iron Range
130.5 mi in|~2h 23m|via MN 33
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
US 53
43.9 mi
52m
I 35E
22.9 mi
25m
MN 33
19.8 mi
26m
I 694
0.8 mi
<1m
Parkville Street
0.7 mi
1m
Wabasha Street North
0.3 mi
1m
US 10
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Parkville, 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 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·35 sec
Exit 114Toward I 35E North, I 694 EastUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi·59 sec·I 694
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
18 mi·19 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E North: DuluthUse the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
12
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
14
Continue on MN 33
19 mi·25 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.4 mi·29 sec·MN 33
16
Merge onto US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Enter roundabout onto US 53
113 ft·1 sec·US 53
18
Continue on US 53
6.5 mi·9 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto CR 102
0.2 mi·28 sec·9th Street North
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Parkville Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Parkville Street
21
Arrive at destination
Parkville Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 43 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkville, 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 195 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.5 mi from Saint Paul, MN
· 1h 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.02 one way
$58.04 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$31.27
$62.54
premium
$4.53
$34.79
$69.59
diesel
$5.61
$43.05
$86.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.8
0
$17.06
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.30
$12.48
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Night
in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
10:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Parkville, MN
Night
in Parkville on Friday
Local time
10:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Woodbury, MN
98 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
7 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
3h 45m 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 Parkville, MN covers 195 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 53, I 35E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.5 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 $29.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 195 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: 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.
On the drive from Saint Paul, MN to Parkville, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.
