Origin
Co on Rapids, MN
Late night in Co on Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Co on Rapids, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
20.5 mi
33 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 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Co on Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Coon Rapids to Saint Paul, you are looking at a straightforward 22.5-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 29 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East River Road and I-694 East to complete your transit between these two Midwest locations. With a fuel cost estimated at just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move across the region. Because the duration is so short, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about long-haul fatigue. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 694 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Voyageur Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| University Avenue Northeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East River Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Osborne Road Northeast | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Robert Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 8.8 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Co on Rapids, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
2
Turn right onto CR 1
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto CR 8
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Osborne Road Northeast
4
Turn right onto MN 47
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 694 East
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 694
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 694
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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 19.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Turn left toward I 694 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 694 East
9
13.7 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
19.2 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
19.5 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
$3.05 one way
$6.10 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.29 | $6.57 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.66 | $7.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.53 | $9.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Saint Paul on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:44PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
6 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
29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will utilize I-694 East for a portion of the transit, the route is defined more by its local road connectivity than by long stretches of highway. In fact, the highway share is 0%, meaning you will spend your time navigating through the local infrastructure of the Twin Cities area. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches, as the road configuration on East River Road keeps the pace varied. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that shifts frequently as you transition between local surface streets and the interstate connection.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on I 694.
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 1.9 miles in near MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast.
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 20.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
975 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
214 ft
Total Descent
287 ft
Highest Point
975 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 20.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on I 694. 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 1.9 miles (MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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