Pipestone, MN to Saint Paul, MN is 201.2 miles and takes about 4h 19m via US 212 and State Highway 23, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Minnesota, moving from the southwestern part of the state towards the Twin Cities metropolitan area. With over 90% of this route on highways, you'll find it a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel. It's a practical option if you're looking to get from point A to point B without too many detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100.6 miles from Pipestone, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 212
50.3 mi
1h
State Highway 23
44.3 mi
55m
State Highway 19
34.4 mi
43m
MN 19
31.3 mi
42m
State Highway 15
12.6 mi
15m
MN 5
10.7 mi
13m
West Bridge Street
7.2 mi
10m
Shepard Road
5.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 50.3 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,010 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~339 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 18 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pipestone, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on Main Street East
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street East
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 75; MN 23
0.2 mi·11 sec·8th Avenue Northeast
3
Turn right onto MN 23
44 mi·55 min·State Highway 23
4
Turn right onto MN 19; MN 68
0.5 mi·53 sec·East College Drive
5
Continue on MN 19; MN 68
13 mi·16 min·State Highway 19
6
Continue on MN 19
21 mi·26 min·State Highway 19
7
Continue on MN 19; MN 67
0.6 mi·1 min·West Bridge Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 19
6.6 mi·9 min·West Bridge Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto MN 19
31 mi·42 min·MN 19
Toward MN 19: Morton, Fairfax
10
Turn left onto MN 15
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 15
11
Turn right onto US 212
13 mi·15 min·US 212
12
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft·2 sec·US 212
13
Continue on US 212
10 mi·11 min·US 212
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
27 mi·32 min·US 212
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi·17 sec·MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
10 mi·13 min·MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto MN 5
2.2 mi·2 min·John A. Johnson Memorial Highway
Exit 1AToward MN 5: Terminal 1Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on MN 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Fort Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
197 ft·4 sec
Toward Edgcumbe Road, Shepard Road, River BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
223 ft·5 sec
Toward Shepard Road, River BoulevardUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Gannon Road
285 ft·7 sec·Gannon Road
22
Turn left onto Shepard Road
5.1 mi·8 min·Shepard Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi·44 sec·Eagle Parkway
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi·34 sec·Exchange Street South
Use the right lane.
25
Turn straight onto Kellogg Boulevard West
0.2 mi·52 sec·Kellogg Boulevard West
26
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft·9 sec·Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated drive time and 201.2 miles, leaving Pipestone, MN in the morning should allow you to reach Saint Paul with plenty of daylight. The $30 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check local prices. You'll spend most of your time on US 212 and State Highway 23, so keep an eye out for the transition points where you'll move onto State Highway 19. With only one recommended stop and a predominantly highway profile, this is a manageable drive for a single day, offering flexibility in when you depart.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.6 miles from Pipestone, MN, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Paul, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pipestone, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pipestone, MN
This is one driving day of about 201.2 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Pipestone, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 212 for about 50.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 181.2 and 195.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
181.2 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
192 mi into trip|~4h 3m 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
195.3 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
195.4 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
$30.22 one way
$60.44 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.63
$65.26
premium
$4.60
$36.45
$72.89
diesel
$4.80
$37.99
$75.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
EV Truck/SUV
80.5
1
$28.17
$12.88
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Pipestone, MN
Late night
in Pipestone on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Paul, MN
Late night
in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
89°F
Gaylord, MN
101 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
6 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
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
For over 3,000 years, Indigenous people have quarried the red stone at this site to make pipes used in prayer and ceremony - a tradition that continues to this day and makes this site sacred to many p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 91% of the 201.2 miles on high-speed roads like US 212 and State Highway 23. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 50.3 miles on US 212 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a generally consistent cruising experience with fewer exits for extended periods on the highway segments. The route is characterized by its predominantly highway profile.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and State Highway 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 181.2 miles in near MN 5.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 201.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 181.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,806 ft789 ft
Total Climb
246 ft
Total Descent
1,191 ft
Highest Point
1,806 ft
~14.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,017 ft
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 Pipestone, MN to Saint Paul, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfax along the way.
Pipestone is a city in southwestern Minnesota. It is the seat of Pipestone County and has a population of 4554.
Pipestone is home to the famous Indian quarry at Pipestone National Monument. Many North American Indian tribes - including Ojibwa, Dakota, Oto, Pawnee, Sac Fox, and Lakota - came to quarry the sacred redstone known as pipestone or catlinite. The soft red pipestone is found under layers of the very hard Sioux quartzite. The pipestone became a valued trade item and was responsible for Pipestone becoming a Crossroads of the Indian World. The Song of Hiawatha Pageant has played at the pipestone quarry lake for nearly 60 years.
Saint Paul (or St. Paul) is the capital city and the second largest city of the US state of Minnesota. Along with the slightly larger Minneapolis it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolis in the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Minnesota State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Minnesota
•Cathedral of Saint Paul, National Shrine of the Apostle Paul — cathedral in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
•Saint Paul Union Depot — train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 201.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on US 212. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 181.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192 miles (MN 5 / John A. Johnson Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pipestone National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Paul, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
