Origin
Le Sueur, MN
Late night in Le Sueur on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Le Sueur, 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
1h 21m
Distance
62.9 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Le Sueur, MN
Noor Shalghen
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Le Sueur to Saint Paul is 62.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via US 169 and I-494, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Consider this route if you need a quick and efficient connection between these two points without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 40 mi | 46m |
| I 494 | 8 mi | 10m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| John A. Johnson Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Fort Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 130th Street West | 1 mi | 1m |
| Marystown Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 93 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 40 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Le Sueur, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on CR 22
437 ft
·
14 sec
·
Bridge Street
2
Continue on MN 93
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 93
3
Take the ramp onto MN 93
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
MN 93
Toward US 169 North, MN 93 North
4
Continue on US 169; MN 93
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 169; MN 93
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 169
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
7
Keep slight right at fork
264 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
8
Turn straight onto CR 78
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
County Road 78
9
Continue on CR 78
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Chestnut Boulevard
10
Enter roundabout onto CR 78
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
130th Street West
11
Continue on CR 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
130th Street West
12
Turn left onto CR 15
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marystown Road
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 169 North
14
Merge onto US 169
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 169
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
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.
19
Continue on MN 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
197 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
223 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Shepard Road, River Boulevard
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Gannon Road
285 ft
·
7 sec
·
Gannon Road
23
Turn left onto Shepard Road
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Shepard Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Eagle Parkway
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Exchange Street South
Use the right lane.
26
Turn straight onto Kellogg Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
27
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 31.5 miles from Le Sueur, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 30.5 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
30.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
7
44.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit 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 slight right lane.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
$9.36 one way
$18.72 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.09 | $20.17 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.22 | $22.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.89 | $27.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.60 | $3.02 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.81 | $4.03 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
1 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 21m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the route on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 169, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch of 40 miles. As you progress, you'll transition to I-494 before heading onto Shepard Road. Expect a relatively consistent driving experience, largely characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops off the main thoroughfare.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 30.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.6 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Le Sueur, MN to Saint Paul, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 78: Chaska along the way.
Cr 78: Chaska
30.2 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 62.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 30.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.6 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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