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Trip from South Saint Paul, MN to Maple Grove, MN

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

43m

Distance

31.9 mi

51 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown South Saint Paul, MN, MN

South Saint Paul, MN

Tom Fisk

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Maple Grove, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel between South Saint Paul and Maple Grove, expect a straightforward 31.9-mile journey that typically takes about 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to handle without any overnight stops. Budget roughly $5 for fuel, which keeps this drive very budget-friendly for a quick commute or local errand. You will navigate through the Midwest, moving across the metropolitan area with efficiency. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it serves as a practical link between these two Minnesota cities rather than a leisurely vacation path.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

16 miles from South Saint Paul, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive that prioritizes speed and directness, with 86% of your time spent on highways. You will rely on US 10, Concord Street North, and the Lafayette Freeway to move through the region. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24 miles on US 10, giving you a consistent pace once you clear local traffic. While the route feels like a standard metropolitan highway experience, the transition from local roads to the freeway system happens quickly. It is a functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 24 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and Concord Street North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 10.

Route Complexity 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
5.5 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 10

Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West

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 242B Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
10.6 mi into trip | ~17m 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
6
29.5 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 494 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes. Toward I 494 South
7
31.2 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 26 Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
6
31.4 mi into trip | ~43m in | CR 10 / Bass Lake Road

Turn right onto CR 10 / Bass Lake Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 10 24 mi 29m
Concord Street North 2.9 mi 6m
Lafayette Freeway 1.5 mi 2m
I 494 1.2 mi 1m
US 52 0.5 mi 1m
Bass Lake Road 0.5 mi <1m
I 94 0.2 mi <1m
John E Carroll Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 10 — 24 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Saint Paul, MN and Maple Grove, MN.

1

Start on Concord Exchange North

29 ft · 2 sec · Concord Exchange North
2

Turn right onto CH 14

188 ft · 7 sec · John E Carroll Avenue
3

Turn left onto Concord Street North

2.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Street North
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 52 North
5

Merge onto US 52

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lafayette Freeway
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 52
7

Merge onto I 94; US 10

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 94; US 10
8

Take the exit onto US 10

5.1 mi · 6 min · US 10
Exit 242B Toward I 35E North, US 10 West Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 10
Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 10

19 mi · 22 min · US 10
Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 494 South Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Continue on I 494

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 494
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 26 Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn right onto CR 10

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Bass Lake Road
Use the right lane.
15

Arrive at destination

CR 10

Trip Plan

Since this 43-minute trip is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, keeping an eye on local traffic patterns is wise given the heavy reliance on major highways. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, allowing you to complete the 31.9 miles in one go. Make sure your fuel tank is ready for the $5 cost before you head out, as the highway sections do not offer many opportunities for quick errands. Use the 24-mile stretch on US 10 to maintain a steady speed, but stay alert for the transition onto the Lafayette Freeway.

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 16 miles from South Saint Paul, MN, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24 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 31.9 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 16 miles or 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maple Grove, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving South Saint Paul, MN.

Day 1

Settle into the route from South Saint Paul, MN

This is one driving day of about 31.9 miles and 43m.

At 31.9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 24 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16 mi from South Saint Paul, MN · 23m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Plymouth, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Brighton, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16 miles from South Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Maple Grove, MN

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Maple Grove, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.75 one way

$9.49 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $5.12 $10.23
premium $4.53 $5.69 $11.38
diesel $5.61 $7.04 $14.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.6 0 $3.35 $1.53
Efficient EV 8 0 $2.79 $1.28
EV Truck/SUV 12.8 0 $4.47 $2.04

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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

South Saint Paul, MN

Evening in South Saint Paul on Wednesday

Local time

5:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Maple Grove, MN

Evening in Maple Grove on Wednesday

Local time

5:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°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

19 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

43m 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 South Saint Paul, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 31.9 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 10, Concord Street North, Lafayette Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 miles from South 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 $4.75 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from South Saint Paul, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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