Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Afternoon in Saint Paul on Thursday
Local time
4:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 7th Street East, Robert Street North, 11th Street East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 1m drive with frequent turns across 48.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
7th Street East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN is easy. At 1h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Street East | — | — |
| Robert Street North | — | — |
| 11th Street East | — | — |
| I 35E North | — | — |
| US 10 West | — | — |
| I 694 West | — | — |
| I 35W North | — | — |
| Jefferson Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
7th Street East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Big Lake, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Turn right onto 7th Street East
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
449 ft
·
18 sec
·
11th Street East
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, US 10 West
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 35E North, US 10 West
6
Continue straight
4.9 mi
·
6 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
Continue on I 694 West, US 10 West
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 694 West, US 10 West
9
Take the exit slight right
2.8 mi
·
3 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 35W North, US 10 West
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W North, US 10 West
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
US 10 West
12
Keep slight left
30 mi
·
37 min
13
Turn uturn onto Jefferson Boulevard
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
14
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24 mi from Saint Paul, MN · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Lake, MN
The final approach into Big Lake, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.32 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.71 | $15.43 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.58 | $17.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Big Lake, MN
Afternoon in Big Lake on Thursday
Local time
4:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
24 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
1h 1m 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 Big Lake, MN covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 7th Street East, Robert Street North, 11th Street East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24 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 $7.16 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.
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN is easy. At 1h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Paul, MN to Big Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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