Origin
South Saint Paul, MN
Morning in South Saint Paul on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Saint Paul, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
18.1 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Saint Paul, MN
Tom Fisk
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 18.1-mile drive from South Saint Paul to Apple Valley in Minnesota is easily manageable in about 25 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused route, with 64% of the journey on major roads like I-35E and I-494. Given its brevity, this trip is perfect as a single-day excursion and doesn't require an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $3, making it an economical option. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region for the entire trip, experiencing a straightforward commute between two Minnesota cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 18.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this journey, with 64% of the drive utilizing interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 6.1 miles on I-35E, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate through a mix of I-35E, I-494, and Cedar Avenue, providing a dynamic yet efficient drive. The character of the road is geared towards direct travel, prioritizing speed and ease of navigation over scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35E is the longest continuous segment at about 6.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 18.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Sa...
7
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
7
14 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 92
Toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
7
14.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
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 South Saint Paul, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
6.9 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| I 494 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Cedar Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Concord Street North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| John E Carroll Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Concord Exchange North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 6.1 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Saint Paul, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on Concord Exchange North
29 ft
·
2 sec
·
Concord Exchange North
2
Turn right onto CH 14
188 ft
·
9 sec
·
John E Carroll Avenue
3
Turn right onto CH 56
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Concord Street North
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 494 West
5
Merge onto I 494
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 494
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35E
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 92
Toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto MN 77
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 42
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.69 one way
$5.39 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.90 | $5.80 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.23 | $6.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.00 | $7.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
1 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
25m 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 Apple Valley, MN covers 18.1 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35E, I 494, Cedar Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 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 $2.69 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 18.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from South Saint Paul, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
How this page is built
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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