Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
20.2 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN covers 20.2 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 36, I 35E, 60th Street North (South Frontage Road) for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.1 miles on MN 36. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 29m highway drive covering 20.2 miles, with most of the trip on MN 36 and I 35E. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.1 miles on MN 36.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and I 35E. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Robert Street North.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Robert Street North
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto MN 36
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CH 26 / 59th Street North
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| I 35E | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 60th Street North (South Frontage Road) | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Wabasha Street North | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 7th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Penrose Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robert Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 59th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Oak Park Heights, MN.
Start on Wabasha Street North
Turn right onto MN 5
Turn left onto Robert Street North
Turn right onto 11th Street East
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 35E
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 36
Turn right onto CH 24
Turn left onto CH 26
Continue on CH 26
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
Turn left onto 57th Street North
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.01 one way
$6.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.60 | $7.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 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 | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Saint Paul on Saturday
Local time
8:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Oak Park Heights on Saturday
Local time
8:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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