Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Late night in Saint Paul on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Columbus, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Saint Paul to Columbus is 26.4 miles and takes about 34 minutes via I 35E, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Minnesota, taking you from the Midwest region of Saint Paul to the Midwest region of Columbus. It's a straightforward trip, mainly focused on the interstate, making it an easy choice for a quick local journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a practical errand, requiring minimal planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Kettle River Boulevard Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| I 694 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Wabasha Street North | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| US 10 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robert Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 19.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Columbus, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Turn right onto MN 5
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
7th Street East
3
Turn left onto Robert Street North
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Robert Street North
4
Turn right onto 11th Street East
451 ft
·
17 sec
·
11th Street East
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
6
Continue on I 35E
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 10
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 694
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 129
Toward MN 97, CR 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
250 ft
·
13 sec
Toward CR 23 West
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 23
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto CH 23
155 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lake Drive Northeast
15
Continue on CH 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto Camp 3 Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Camp 3 Road Northeast
17
Turn right onto CR 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kettle River Boulevard Northeast
18
Arrive at destination
CR 62
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 22.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
8
22.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward MN 97, CR 23
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.
Exit 129
Toward MN 97, CR 23
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 23 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 23 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.93 one way
$7.86 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.23 | $8.47 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Columbus, MN
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
13 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
34m 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 35E. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for the longest stretch, which spans 19.9 miles on I 35E. While much of the drive is characterized by this faster pace, you'll also navigate sections of Lake Drive Northeast and Kettle River Boulevard Northeast, offering a slight change in scenery and speed. Expect a consistent driving experience, largely defined by its highway segments.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.9 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Lake Drive Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 26.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Saint Paul, MN and Columbus, MN, road signs point toward Cr 23 and Cr 23 West.
Cr 23
22.5 mi in
|
~27m
Cr 23 West
22.7 mi in
|
~27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 26.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.9 miles on I 35E. 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 Columbus, 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Columbus, 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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