Origin
Stillwater, MN
Afternoon in Stillwater on Friday
Local time
12:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stillwater, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
21.7 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stillwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 21.7-mile drive from Stillwater, MN to Saint Paul, MN takes about 30 minutes and is perfect for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on highways, with 85% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, making it an economical excursion. Since it's a quick journey, you won't need an overnight stay. This route keeps you within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, offering a straightforward connection between these two cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 21.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 85% of the route utilizing major roads like MN 36 and I 35E. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.7 miles on MN 36. While the profile is primarily highway, you'll also navigate some sections of Saint Croix Trail North, offering a slight variation. This means you'll experience consistent speeds for significant portions of the journey, punctuated by transitions between these main arteries.
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.
MN 36 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 10 decision points packed into just 21.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
7
16.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South, US 10 East: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: Saint Paul
9
20.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th...
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
8
20.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 10th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 10th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| I 35E | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Robert Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 10 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 36
— 14.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stillwater, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on MN 95
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Main Street South
2
Continue on MN 95
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint Croix Trail North
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto MN 36
15 mi
·
18 min
·
MN 36
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: Saint Paul
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35E; US 10
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35E; US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 10
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
9
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft
·
10 sec
Toward 10th Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on 10th Street East
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
10th Street East
11
Turn left onto Robert Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Street North
12
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard East
13
Turn right onto Wabasha Street North
162 ft
·
5 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
14
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.23 one way
$6.46 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.48 | $6.96 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Saint Paul, MN
Afternoon in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
12:54 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
30m 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 Stillwater, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers 21.7 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 36, I 35E, Saint Croix Trail North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.9 miles from Stillwater, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.23 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 10 decision points packed into just 21.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Stillwater, MN to Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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