Saint Paul, MN to Canby, MN is 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 48m via US Highway 212, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, specifically Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive across the state. The majority of this trip is on well-maintained highways, making it a practical option for a quick getaway or an efficient transit day. You'll find the road profile is mostly highway, so expect smooth sailing for most of the 169.6 miles. Consider this for a simple, no-fuss trip across the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.8 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 212
73 mi
1h 36m
US 212
36.4 mi
43m
Highway 67
26.9 mi
39m
MN 5
15.2 mi
19m
US 75
7.4 mi
10m
Shepard Road
5.1 mi
8m
State Highway 67
3.2 mi
4m
10th Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 212
— 73 mi, about 1h 36m
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 Saint Paul, MN and Canby, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
198 ft·14 sec·Wabasha Street North
2
Turn left onto 4th Street West
0.1 mi·35 sec·4th Street West
3
Turn left onto Market Street
264 ft·12 sec·Market Street
4
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard West
261 ft·8 sec·Kellogg Boulevard West
5
Turn slight left onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi·40 sec·Exchange Street South
6
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi·43 sec·Eagle Parkway
7
Turn right onto CH 37
5.1 mi·8 min·Shepard Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on South Mississippi River Boulevard
266 ft·7 sec·South Mississippi River Boulevard
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward MN 5 West
10
Merge onto MN 5
13 mi·16 min·MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi·25 sec·I 494; MN 5
12
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.8 mi·2 min·MN 5
Exit 11CToward MN 5 West, US 212 WestUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
36 mi·43 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 212
145 ft·2 sec·US Highway 212
15
Continue on US 212
73 mi·1 hr 36 min·US Highway 212
16
Turn left onto MN 67
3.2 mi·4 min·State Highway 67
17
Continue on MN 67
8.3 mi·12 min·Highway 67
18
Continue on MN 67
1.2 mi·1 min·10th Avenue
19
Continue on MN 67
19 mi·27 min·Highway 67
20
Turn left onto US 75
7.4 mi·10 min·US 75
21
Arrive at destination
US 75
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 48m duration, leaving Saint Paul in the morning should allow you to reach Canby well before evening. The route features only one recommended stop, so you can plan your break strategically around the 73-mile mark on US Highway 212 if needed. With a $28 fuel cost estimate, ensure your tank is full before departing to minimize any potential price differences in smaller towns. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, checking local weather before you head out is always a good idea for any drive.
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 84.8 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73 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 37 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 49m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canby, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, MN
This is one driving day of about 169.6 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Saint Paul, 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 Highway 212 for about 73 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4th Street West
Turn left onto 4th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|CH 37 / Shepard Road
Turn right onto CH 37 / Shepard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
19.9 mi into trip|~29m in|MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
21.6 mi into trip|~31m in|US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.53 one way
$57.06 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$30.73
$61.46
premium
$5.04
$33.63
$67.25
diesel
$5.64
$37.65
$75.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.9
0
$17.81
$8.14
Efficient EV
42.4
0
$14.84
$6.78
EV Truck/SUV
67.8
0
$23.74
$10.85
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Evening
in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Canby, MN
Evening
in Canby on Friday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 169.6 miles on paved, high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 73 miles on US Highway 212, meaning you can settle in for a good amount of time without significant changes in road type. The transition to surface roads will happen late in the trip, closer to Canby, MN. Expect a cruising feel with minimal interruptions for most of the drive.
96% 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: 73 mi on US Highway 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 212 and US 212. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Street West.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 48m. Total distance: 169.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73 miles on US Highway 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Canby, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
