Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Late night in Saint Paul on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
114.8 mi
185 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Sleepy Eye, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN covers 114.8 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 212, State Highway 15, MN 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.4 miles on US 212. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.08 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
57.4 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 114.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 212 and State Highway 15. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.4 miles on US 212.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 15. 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 17 significant decision points across 114.8 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 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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
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
|
US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
101.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
US 14; MN 68 / North Broadway
Turn right onto US 14; MN 68 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 36.4 mi | 43m |
| State Highway 15 | 29.7 mi | 37m |
| MN 5 | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 212 | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| US Highway 14 | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| North Broadway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street East | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 36.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Sleepy Eye, 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
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 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 left at fork onto US 212
36 mi
·
43 min
·
US 212
Use the slight left lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 212
145 ft
·
2 sec
·
US Highway 212
15
Continue on US 212
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 212
16
Turn left onto MN 15
30 mi
·
37 min
·
State Highway 15
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 15
141 ft
·
6 sec
·
US Highway 14
18
Continue on US 14; MN 15
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US Highway 14
19
Continue on US 14; MN 15
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
7th North Street
20
Turn right onto US 14; MN 68
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 14; MN 68
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
20th North Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 14; MN 68
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Highway 14 West
Use the straight lane.
23
Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 68
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Highway 14 West
24
Continue on US 14; MN 68
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Highway 14 West
25
Continue on US 14; MN 68
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 14
Use the straight lane.
26
Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 68
97 ft
·
4 sec
·
US Highway 14
27
Continue on US 14; MN 68
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 14
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Continue on US 14; MN 68
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street East
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
US 14; MN 68
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 57.4 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sleepy Eye, 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 114.8 miles and 2h 29m.
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 US 212 for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.4 mi from Saint Paul, MN · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.4 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sleepy Eye, MN
The final approach into Sleepy Eye, 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 Sleepy Eye, 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
$17.08 one way
$34.17 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $18.41 | $36.82 |
| premium | $4.53 | $20.48 | $40.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.35 | $50.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.05 | $5.51 |
| Efficient EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.07 | $7.35 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Sleepy Eye, MN
Late night in Sleepy Eye on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Plymouth, MN
57 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
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
2h 29m 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 Sleepy Eye, MN covers 114.8 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, State Highway 15, MN 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.4 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 $17.08 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 17 significant decision points across 114.8 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 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Saint Paul, MN to Sleepy Eye, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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