Origin
Dassel, MN
Morning in Dassel on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dassel, 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 29m
Distance
64.3 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dassel, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 64.3 miles, this drive from Dassel to Saint Paul is a straightforward journey through the Minnesota Midwest. You can comfortably complete the trip in about 1 hour and 29 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should cover your transit across the state. Because the route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits your plans. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, this route offers a practical connection between these two Minnesota locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| I 94 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| I 394 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| 60th Street Southwest | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| 50th Street Southwest | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dassel, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on 1st Street
75 ft
·
6 sec
·
1st Street
2
Turn left onto US 12
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Parker Avenue East
3
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
4
Continue on US 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
50th Street Southwest
5
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokato Street West
6
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
7
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
60th Street Southwest
8
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
9
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
10
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacific Avenue
11
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
12
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
13
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
14
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
15
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
16
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
17
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
18
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
19
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
20
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Merge onto I 394
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward 10th Street
27
Continue on 10th Street West
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Street West
28
Turn right onto Saint Peter Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Peter Street
29
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
394 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
Use the left / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Dassel, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 53.1 and 64.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West
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.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
8
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
8
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward 10th Street, 5th Street
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.
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
6
64.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
Kellogg Boulevard West
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
Wabasha Street North
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.57 one way
$19.14 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.47 | $22.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Plymouth, MN
32 mi in
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
1 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
1h 29m 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?
This trip features a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to major thoroughfares. You will navigate a highway share of 52 percent, requiring you to shift gears between surface streets and high-speed lanes. US 12 provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 15.9 miles, offering a consistent rhythm before you eventually merge onto I-94. As you make your way toward Saint Paul, expect the character of the road to change as you transition from the smaller roads like Babcock Boulevard into the more heavily trafficked interstate system.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 53.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,090 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
81 ft
Total Descent
382 ft
Highest Point
1,090 ft
Elevation Range
301 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on US 12. 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 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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