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Trip from Lester Prairie, 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 16m

Distance

53.1 mi

85 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lester Prairie, MN, MN

Lester Prairie, MN

Tom Fisk

capital of the state of Minnesota, United States; county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 53.1-mile drive from Lester Prairie to Saint Paul, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes. Primarily utilizing MN 7 and MN 5, about 61% of this route involves highway driving, making it a relatively efficient journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this is an economical option for a quick transit. The overall feel of the drive is focused on reaching your destination efficiently, with minimal need for overnight stops, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MN 7 11.6 mi 15m
MN 5 10.7 mi 13m
Minnesota State Highway 7 8 mi 10m
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway 5.6 mi 7m
Shepard Road 5.1 mi 8m
West 78th Street 3.8 mi 4m
John A. Johnson Memorial Highway 2.2 mi 2m
County Highway 9 1.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: MN 7 — 11.6 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lester Prairie, MN and Saint Paul, MN.

1

Start on 1st Avenue South

90 ft · 5 sec · 1st Avenue South
2

Turn right onto Juniper Street South

277 ft · 14 sec · Juniper Street South
3

Turn right onto CR 109

0.6 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto CR 9

1.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway 9
5

Turn right onto MN 7

8.0 mi · 10 min · Minnesota State Highway 7
6

Enter roundabout onto MN 7

125 ft · 2 sec · MN 7
7

Continue on MN 7

2.5 mi · 3 min · MN 7
8

Enter roundabout onto MN 7

185 ft · 3 sec · MN 7
9

Continue on MN 7

5.8 mi · 7 min · MN 7
10

Enter roundabout onto MN 7

139 ft · 2 sec · MN 7
11

Continue on MN 7

3.2 mi · 4 min · MN 7
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto CR 13

1.2 mi · 2 min · Rolling Acres Road
13

Turn left onto MN 5

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Arboretum Boulevard
14

Continue on MN 5

5.6 mi · 7 min · Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on MN 5

3.8 mi · 4 min · West 78th Street
Use the straight lane.
16

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.
17

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.
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.

city in and county seat of Scott County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Shakopee, MN

27 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

Mayer, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Shakopee, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Lester Prairie, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
33.1 mi into trip | ~47m 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
33.3 mi into trip | ~47m 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
43.8 mi into trip | ~1h 1m 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
47.2 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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
47.2 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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

$7.90 one way

$15.80 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $8.51 $17.03
premium $4.53 $9.47 $18.95
diesel $5.61 $11.72 $23.45

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.9 0 $5.58 $2.55
Efficient EV 13.3 0 $4.65 $2.12
EV Truck/SUV 21.2 0 $7.43 $3.40

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Lester Prairie, MN

Morning in Lester Prairie on Sunday

Local time

6:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 16 at 10:04PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Saint Paul, MN

Morning in Saint Paul on Sunday

Local time

6:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 16 at 10:04PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00PM 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

3 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 16m 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?

You'll find this drive to be primarily highway-focused, with a significant 61% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 11.6 miles on MN 7, offering a consistent pace. While the main roads are MN 7 and MN 5, expect a blend of highway speeds and potentially some transitions as you approach your destination. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B in a timely manner.

61% 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: 11.6 mi on MN 7.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 7 and MN 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.1 miles in near MN 5.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 33.1 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 53.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.6 miles on MN 7. 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 33.1 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 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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