Origin
Chanhassen, MN
Morning in Chanhassen on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chanhassen, 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
36m
Distance
24.8 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanhassen, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute or a day trip between Chanhassen and Saint Paul, this 24.8-mile drive is a straightforward journey through the Minnesota Midwest. You can expect to spend about 36 minutes behind the wheel, making it an efficient trip that easily fits into a single day of travel. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very economical route for your schedule. Because the distance is relatively short, there is no need for an overnight stay or complex planning. You will navigate a mix of road types as you transition from the suburbs into the state capital, offering a practical way to connect these two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| West 78th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| John A. Johnson Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Fort Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Exchange Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 5
— 10.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chanhassen, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on West 78th Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West 78th Street
2
Turn sharp right onto MN 101
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Chanhassen Road
3
Turn left onto MN 5
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
4
Continue on MN 5
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West 78th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
10 mi
·
13 min
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto MN 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
John A. Johnson Memorial Highway
Exit 1A
Toward MN 5: Terminal 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on MN 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
197 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
223 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Gannon Road
285 ft
·
7 sec
·
Gannon Road
12
Turn left onto Shepard Road
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Shepard Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Eagle Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Exchange Street South
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Kellogg Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
16
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 18.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
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.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway toward MN 5: Terminal 1
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward MN 5: Terminal 1
7
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boulevard
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.
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boule...
9
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.69 one way
$7.38 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.98 | $7.95 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.42 | $8.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.48 | $10.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Saint Paul, MN
Morning in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
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
20 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
36m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed-road experience, balancing suburban transit with more direct highway travel. You will spend roughly 44% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 10.7 miles along MN 5. The route transitions from local streets like West 78th Street to the flow of MN 5 and the riverside path of Shepard Road. You should be prepared for the shift in pace as you move from the quieter outskirts of Chanhassen into the busier urban environment of Saint Paul. It is a functional drive that requires your attention as the road character shifts between residential zones and major arterial roads.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.7 mi on MN 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near MN 5.
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 11 decision points packed into just 24.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
975 ft
708 ft
Total Climb
148 ft
Total Descent
334 ft
Highest Point
975 ft
Elevation Range
267 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 24.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.7 miles on MN 5. 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 4.8 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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