Origin
Big Lake, MN
Morning in Big Lake on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Lake, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
48 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48-mile drive from Big Lake, MN to Saint Paul, MN takes about 1 hour to complete, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily travel on Voyageur Highway and US 10, with a portion on Jefferson Boulevard. Given its short distance and manageable duration, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion rather than an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The drive offers a local feel, connecting two points within the Midwest region of Minnesota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Voyageur Highway | 32.3 mi | 39m |
| US 10 | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Robert Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wabasha Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Voyageur Highway
— 32.3 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Lake, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on US 10; MN 25
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Boulevard
2
Continue on US 10
27 mi
·
32 min
·
Voyageur Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 10
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 10
Exit 28A
Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on US 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 10
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Voyageur Highway
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Use the slight right lane.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft
·
10 sec
Toward 10th Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on 10th Street East
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
10th Street East
12
Turn left onto Robert Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Street North
13
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard East
14
Turn right onto Wabasha Street North
162 ft
·
5 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
15
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Big Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 27.4 and 47.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28A
Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
9
41.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 10 / Voyageur Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
9
46.7 mi into trip
|
~56m 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...
8
47.1 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.14 one way
$14.29 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.70 | $15.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.56 | $17.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morning in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
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
24 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
1h 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?
The character of this drive is best described as a turn-heavy local exploration. Only 29% of the journey is on highways, meaning you'll encounter more local roads and traffic signals. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 32.3 miles on Voyageur Highway, offering a brief period of steady travel before transitioning to more varied road conditions. Expect a mix of faster highway segments and more deliberate local driving as you navigate from Big Lake to Saint Paul.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on Voyageur Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.4 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48 miles you will encounter 10 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 27.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.8 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 48 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 miles on Voyageur Highway. 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 Saint Paul, 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: at 27.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.8 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Paul, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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