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Trip from Milaca, 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 26m

Distance

72.4 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m

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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city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

Milaca, MN

Wikimedia Commons

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

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Milaca to Saint Paul, you are looking at a straightforward 72.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly transit across the Minnesota landscape. Because both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two points, ideal for those prioritizing travel time over detours.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 169 32.9 mi 37m
US 169 17.2 mi 20m
US 10 13.9 mi 15m
Voyageur Highway 5.5 mi 6m
4th Street 0.8 mi <1m
Robert Street North 0.5 mi 1m
Central Avenue North 0.3 mi <1m
Kellogg Boulevard East 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US Highway 169 — 32.9 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Street Northwest

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 2nd Street Northwest
2

Turn right onto CR 36

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Central Avenue North
3

Turn left onto MN 23

0.8 mi · 59 sec · 4th Street
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
5

Merge onto US 169

6.5 mi · 7 min · US Highway 169
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 169

26 mi · 30 min · US Highway 169
7

Continue on US 169

383 ft · 4 sec · POW/MIA Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit onto US 169

17 mi · 20 min · US 169
Toward US 10 East, US 169: Anoka Use the right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

7.3 mi · 8 min · US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto US 10

0.6 mi · 55 sec · US 10
Exit 28A Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on US 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 10
12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

3.9 mi · 4 min · US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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.
14

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.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
16

Keep slight right at fork

409 ft · 10 sec
Toward 10th Street Use the slight right lane.
17

Continue on 10th Street East

0.2 mi · 43 sec · 10th Street East
18

Turn left onto Robert Street North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Robert Street North
19

Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Kellogg Boulevard East
20

Turn right onto Wabasha Street North

162 ft · 5 sec · Wabasha Street North
21

Arrive at destination

Wabasha Street North

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elk River, MN

36 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

Zimmerman, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk River, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Milaca, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 34.7 and 71.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
34.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | US 169

Take the exit onto US 169 toward US 10 East, US 169: Anoka

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward US 10 East, US 169: Anoka
7
59.2 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | US 10

Take the exit onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Saint Paul

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28A Toward US 10 East: Saint Paul
9
65.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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
71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 22m 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
71.5 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$10.77 one way

$21.55 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $11.61 $23.22
premium $4.53 $12.92 $25.84
diesel $5.61 $15.99 $31.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.7 0 $7.60 $3.48
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.34 $2.90
EV Truck/SUV 29 0 $10.14 $4.63

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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 12, 2026

Origin

Milaca, MN

Night in Milaca on Saturday

Local time

11:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Patchy Fog

SE 10 mph 60% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:05PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:04PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Saint Paul, MN

Night in Saint Paul on Saturday

Local time

11:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 10 to 15 mph 66% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:05PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:04PM 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

5 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 26m 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?

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of the route spent on major thoroughfares like US Highway 169 and US 10. You will spend a significant portion of your time on US 169, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.9 miles. Expect a steady, predictable pace as you navigate these primary roads, which offer a high-speed driving experience rather than a winding, technical path. As you transition between these highways, the character of the road remains functional and direct. It is a reliable route for drivers who prefer keeping a consistent speed rather than dealing with frequent local road changes.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.9 mi on US Highway 169.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 169 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.7 miles in near US 169.

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 72.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 34.7 miles (US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.2 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 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

1,078 ft 789 ft

Total Climb

196 ft

Total Descent

486 ft

Highest Point

1,078 ft

Elevation Range

289 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on US Highway 169. 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 34.7 miles (US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.2 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 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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