Origin
Rock Creek, MN
Morning in Rock Creek on Sunday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rock Creek, 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 15m
Distance
61.8 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rock Creek, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 61.8-mile drive from Rock Creek, MN to Saint Paul, MN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on major interstates like I-35 and I-35E, complemented by a short section on Centerville Road. You can expect a fuel cost of around $9 for this excursion through the Midwest region. Given its manageable length and highway nature, this route is ideal for a quick trip without the need for an overnight stay, offering a direct path to your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 38 mi | 40m |
| I 35E | 17 mi | 19m |
| Centerville Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| MN 70 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Forest Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Robert Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| County Road E | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Kellogg Boulevard East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rock Creek, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on 558 Street
482 ft
·
26 sec
·
558 Street
2
Turn left onto CR 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Forest Boulevard
3
Turn left onto MN 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 70
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
Merge onto I 35
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35E
Toward Saint Paul
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 117
Toward CR 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CH 96
492 ft
·
12 sec
·
CH 96
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto CH 59
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Centerville Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto CH 15
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road E
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the ramp
226 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E South: Saint Paul
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 35E
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward 10th Street, Wacouta Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft
·
10 sec
Toward 10th Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on 10th Street East
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
10th Street East
19
Turn left onto Robert Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Street North
20
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard East
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard East
21
Turn right onto Wabasha Street North
162 ft
·
5 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
22
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 30.9 miles from Rock Creek, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 60.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
8
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South
8
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South, US 10 East: St Paul
9
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
$9.20 one way
$18.39 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.91 | $19.82 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.03 | $22.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 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 | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
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
Morning in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
6:52 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 15m 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-intensive experience for most of this 61.8-mile journey. With 91% of the drive on interstates, the pace is generally brisk. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38 miles on I-35, providing a consistent cruising experience. While primarily an interstate drive, the inclusion of Centerville Road offers a slight variation in scenery and road type before rejoining the main highways. This route offers a predictable and efficient drive, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 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 61.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Rock Creek, MN to Saint Paul, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 96 along the way.
Cr 96
50 mi in
|
~55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38 miles on I 35. 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 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.1 miles (I 35E): 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Saint Paul, MN
More trips to Saint Paul, MN
Explore more options from Rock Creek, MN or browse trips ending in Saint Paul, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.