Origin
South Saint Paul, MN
Afternoon in South Saint Paul on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Saint Paul, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
15.3 mi
25 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
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
Trip Overview
This short, 15.3-mile drive from South Saint Paul, MN to Minneapolis, MN will take approximately 26 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a low estimated fuel cost of just $2, you won't break the bank getting there. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 68% of it on major roads like I-94 and Concord Street North. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region, moving from one Minnesota city to another. This quick journey is ideal for a spontaneous outing or an easy commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Concord Street North | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Lafayette Freeway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| US 52 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| John E Carroll Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Concord Exchange North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 8.4 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Saint Paul, MN and Minneapolis, 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
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
I 94; US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 234C
Toward Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto CR 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CR 152
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
11
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 14 / John E Carroll Avenue
Turn right onto CH 14 / John E Carroll Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Concord Street North
Turn left onto Concord Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 94; US 10
Merge onto I 94; US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Cedar Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 234C
Toward Cedar Avenue
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CR 152 / Cedar Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Cedar Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.28 one way
$4.55 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.45 | $4.91 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.73 | $5.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
2 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
26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 15.3-mile trip, with 68% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.4 miles on I-94, providing a consistent pace. You'll primarily navigate I-94 and Lafayette Freeway, which are known for their efficiency and directness. This route offers a straightforward driving experience, prioritizing speed and ease of travel over scenic detours, making it a functional connection between these two Minnesota cities.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Concord Street North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CH 14 / John E Carroll Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 15.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CH 14 / John E Carroll Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Concord Street North): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 94; US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 15.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Minneapolis, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CH 14 / John E Carroll Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Concord Street North): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 94; US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
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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