Origin
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Morning in Inver Grove Heights on Sunday
Local time
10:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inver Grove Heights, 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
14m
Distance
8.6 mi
14 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.6-mile drive from Inver Grove Heights to Saint Paul, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking only about 14 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 52, with segments on 70th Street East and Plato Boulevard, this route offers a straightforward journey. With a minimal fuel cost estimated at just $1, it's an economical option for connecting two points within the Midwest region. The majority of this drive is on highway, making it a quick transit between these Twin Cities suburbs. This route is ideal for a swift commute or a quick errand without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| 70th Street East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Plato Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Wabasha Street South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Lafayette Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Wabasha Street North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 5.8 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inver Grove Heights, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on CH 26
24 ft
·
9 sec
·
70th Street East
2
Continue on CH 26
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
70th Street East
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 52 North
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 52
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 130
Toward Plato Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on East Lafayette Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lafayette Frontage Road
Toward US 52 North
7
Turn left onto CH 40
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Plato Boulevard
8
Turn right onto Wabasha Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wabasha Street South
9
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 52 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 52 North
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 52
Merge onto US 52
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward Plato Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130
Toward Plato Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue
3
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Wabasha Street South
Turn right onto Wabasha Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.28 one way
$2.56 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.38 | $2.76 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.53 | $3.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.90 | $3.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.75 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
10:11 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
20 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
14m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 8.6-mile trip, with 67% of the journey on higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.8 miles along US 52, providing a consistent pace. As you travel, the route transitions between these main arteries, offering a blend of swift highway travel and potentially slightly more local road segments. This drive offers a predictable and efficient transit, characterized by its highway orientation and minimal complexity.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.8 mi on US 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and 70th Street East. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 14m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 14m. Total distance: 8.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.8 miles on US 52. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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